CA2485051A1 - Hair cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

Title of the Invention HAIR CLEANING MACHINE
Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to hair cleaning devices. In particular, the present invention relates to machines for shampooing human hair or pet fur.
Background of the Invention It is known to provide a device for machine-assisted hair cleaning. Examples of such devices include U.S. Patent No. 3,934,596 entitled "Shampooing Apparatus" to Suntheimsr et al. ("Suntheimer"), U.S. Patent No. 4,769,861 to Chang entitled "Automatic Hair-Washing Machine" to Chang ("Chang"), U.S. Patent No. 5,906,012 entitled "Automatic Shampoo Machine" to Sakane et al. ("Sakane") and U.S.
Patent No.
4,834,121 entitled "Hair Treating Apparatus" to Bell ("Bell").
2o Suntheimer teaches a very bulky apparatus employing a large hood extending over the person's head and a catch basin below. Suntheimer would not be easily portable, and would not permit shampooing of the elderly, small children or pets.
Chang describes a highly complex helmet with a plurality of rubbing rods, the helmet to be attached to the person's head. The Chang device includes an actuator mounted on a wall or other fixed structure. As well as not permitting portability, the Chang device would likely prove uncomfortable for the person whose hair is being washed.
The helmet component may not adjust well to various head sizes, and would likely not permit washing of pet fur.
srblsrb02403 z Sakane and Bell disclose devices which permit a person to rest comfortably while leaning their head back into the apparatus. Although smaller than Suntheimer, neither Sakane nor Bell lends itself to portability, does not permit the user to assume a variety of positions, and would not permit cleaning of pets.
It is also know to provide an extraction cleaning machine for cleaning carpets. Such a device is described in U.S. Design Patent No. D462,488 to Santiago. Santiago does not describe use of the extraction cleaning device for hair and fur cleaning.
ro Pet shampoo devices are also known. The ShampetteTM shower massager available online at www.washyotu~et.cam is a handheld brush which permits water to flow through the brush onto the pet's fur. Shampoo may be pre-mixed with the water entering the brush for fur cleaning. The ShampetteTM device does not, however, provide a water is retrieval feature to extract the water hack into the device.
Ideally, a hair cleaning machine should be of a size and design to permit portability, and should permit use on a variety of head sizes and with a variety of hair types and lengths.
It should also be functional for people as well as a variety of furry pets, such as cats and zo dogs.
Description of the Invention As depicted in the drawings, the present invention comprises a portable electric powered zs unit having at least one water reservoir connected by a hose to brushing means. The unit has an actuator to circulate the water out to the brush and re-circulate the water back to the reservoir.

2 srb~srb024(i3 In the preferred embodiment, the unit has filtering means to remove particulate matter from the water as it is circulated, water temperature control means, and a variety of brush attachments for use on a variety of hair types. The filter, reservoirs and brush attachments are easily removable for cleaning between uses.
The invention may be powered by batteries, or may use an alternating current from an electrical outlet or power supply.
In operation, the device sprays clean water, or a mixture of water and shampoo, onto the to person's hair or pet's fur. The shampoo may be massaged manually into the person's hair or pet's fur. The vacuum feature is then activated to extract the water and shampoo from the head of the person or body of the pet. The process may be repeated to conduct a second shampoo step. Finally, the process is repeated with clean water free of until the hair or fur is cleansed of shampoo. A conditioner may be rinsed through the hair or fur in 15 a similar manner.
The device permits the shampooing of the hair of a fragile elderly or infirm person without vigorous scrubbing of the person's head, and the person being washed may assume a comfortable sitting or prone position. Although some liquid will not be 2o recycled to the reservoir during a wash or rinse, the amount so lost is minimal and manageable with absorbent bath towels.
The device may also be used as a traveller's shower for camping or travel in areas where bathing facilities are not readily available. By recycling the water used for the 25 shampooing, rinsing and conditioning steps, less water is required than in a conventional shampooing during a bath or shower, or at a hair stylist.
The portability of the device also allows it to be easily used by animal owners presenting their animals in shows and competitions, such as those associated with agricultural fairs.
srh~Srb02403 In one embodiment, cleaning products such as shampoo or conditioner may be added to the reservoir of the shampooing machine. Alternatively, the cleaning products may instead be added directly to the hair or fur.
The device may have more than one reservoir. .In one embodiment, for exam.pie, one reservoir may contain clean water and a second reservoir may contain water mixed with shampoo or conditioner.
1o In one embodiment, the device may include a blow dryer for drying hair or fur after it has been washed. The device may also contain compartments for holding shampoo and conditioner containers, grooming tools, such as scissors or clippers, and cleaning attachments to facilitate portability of the hair cleaning machine.
15 In a preferred embodiment, the machine of the invention includes means for muffling the sound of the motor and vacuum to avoid the discomfort of loud noise to the person or animal being cleaned.
In one embodiment, the device may be connected directly to a continuous water source, 2o such as a garden hose, to avoid the need to replenish reservoirs manually.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the preferred embodiment may also be practised without departing from the scope of the invention.
srblsrMf2403

Claims