EP3387944A1

EP3387944A1 - Device for obtaining different hairstyles

Info

Publication number: EP3387944A1
Application number: EP18164722.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simone SCANU; Michela SANNA; Olga Genadievna GUSHTINA; Maurizio Bergomi
Original assignee: Gbchem Srl
Current assignee: Gbchem Srl
Priority date: 2017-04-10
Filing date: 2018-03-28
Publication date: 2018-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-28
Also published as: EP3387944B1; ES2766174T3

Abstract

A device (1) for styling or obtaining different shapes of a user's hair, said device (1) comprises components (3) capable of receiving said hair on their surface, these components being tubular elements (3) each having an elongated body (5) around which the hair is wound, said tubular elements (3) acting together with a holding member (18) capable of holding such tubular elements (3) together and to the user's hair, said holding member (18) having two separate parts (21, 22) capable of being attached together by being overlapped so as to enclose a lock of hair between them and to secure the entire device to that lock before the hair is wound around said tubular elements.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for obtaining different styles or shapes of a user's hair according to the precharacterising clause of the principal claim.
In this text, by "styling" or "shaping of hair" is meant the set applied to the hair of a male or female user or a permanent wave. Setting may create wavy hair, curly hair, straight hair, tousled hair, crimped hair, plaited hair or any type of hair set desired.
Different devices capable of setting the hair of a male or female user in various shapes are known; for example using rollers it is possible to create wavy hair or using curlers or heated plates it is possible to create a straight effect. However these known solutions only make it possible to obtain specific styles (only 2 or 3 styling effects per accessory) and can be only used for specific hair treatments (such as setting).
It follows that a hairstylist must have a plurality of different tools or devices in order to satisfy customers' differing requests.
US1290622 , the contents of which form the precharacterising clause of the principal claim of the present document, relates to a device for creating curls or waves in users' hair. This device comprises a base defined by two elements which are hinged together. Each element has a projection surrounded by a channel portion, said projection being inserted into an opening at the extremity of a tube which is positioned with a free end thereof in said channel.
The known device therefore has two tubes removably associated with the aforesaid hinged elements and capable of being brought together when the two hinged elements of the base are placed alongside each other.
The prior document envisages that the user's hair will be held by the two hinged elements when they are close together (and fixed in position by means of a clip); on the contrary US1290622 considers it initially unhandy to arrange the hair around and between the tubes associated with said hinged elements when the user is using the known device without assistance.
It is only after said hinged elements have been brought together and the device has been secured onto the user's hair (through the lock of hair which remains between the aforesaid elements after they have been brought together), that the hair is also wound around the tubes.
A clip is then attached to the tubes to press upon the hair and prevent it from separating from the tubes and to keep the tubes close together.
Heat may be applied to the tubes without the heat being transferred to the scalp because the base of the device, which is slightly concave on a side opposite the tubes through which the base rests on the user's head, is supported thereupon.
The known solution therefore provides that the hair is secured through the base of the known device through the relative closeness of the hinged elements. This solution is not however secure because the amount of hair which can be placed between said elements is in any event limited.
This may lead to the device becoming detached from the user's hair when the hair is placed within and around the tubes.
In addition to this, it is not simple to use the known device unless its base is secured to the hair before this base is associated with the tubes. This gives rise to further complicated operations for the user, particularly when applying the known device to his or her hair without assistance.
The object of the present invention is to provide a single device for setting hair which makes it possible to achieve all possible shapes or sets of hair which customers may demand from a stylist.
Another object is to provide a device of the type mentioned which can be used to create both male and female hairstyles (such as "Mohicans").
Another object is to provide a device of the type mentioned which can be used to set hair temporarily (simple set) or permanently (permanent set), the latter setting being performed during a second stage after the temporary setting.
Another object is to provide a device which is easy to use and makes it possible to obtain the desired set for the hair quickly, even by a user working on their own.
Another object is that of providing a device offering a limited number of components, but having great potential in use.
Another object is to provide a device of the type mentioned which does not subject the tips of the hair to excessive stresses and which can be quickly secured to said hair.
Another object is to provide a device which makes it possible to lift the roots of the hair providing an overall effect of volume for the customer, said device then also being effective and excellent in situations where the hair is thinning.
These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are accomplished through a device according to the single principal claim.
For better understanding of the present invention there are attached the following drawings, purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded front view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows an exploded front perspective view of the device in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device in Figure 1 during a first stage of use;
Figure 4 shows a front view of the device in Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a front view of the device in Figure 4, but during a second stage of use;
Figure 6 shows an exploded front view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the assembled device in Figure 6;
Figure 8 shows an exploded front view of another variant of the device in Figure 1;
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the assembled device in Figure 8; and
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of part of the device according to the invention shown in Figures 6-9, in an open position.

With reference to the figures mentioned, a device according to the invention is generically indicated by 1 and comprises a plurality (at least two and in the example in the figures, three) tubular elements or components 3 each comprising an elongated body 5 having an outer surface 6.
Body 5 comprises a first extremity 7 and a second extremity 8, with a hole 9 at least in the second extremity 8 of said body 5. In the example this hole is a blind hole, but it may extend as far as the first extremity 7 of tubular element 3 or the latter may have two blind holes at each extremity 7 and 8.
From the outer surface 6 of body 5 there extend a plurality of projecting elements or projections 10, preferably aligned along that body. These elements 10 may be in the form of individual projections which preferably taper towards their free extremities and may be of conical or trapezoidal shape.
These individual elements project at right angles to body 50. As an alternative or additionally (see also Figures 6-9), body 5 may also comprise projecting longitudinal fins 10A, or may only have such fins or may be completely smooth. Each body 5 has at least one row 13 of such elements or projections along its surface.
Device 1 also comprises a holding member 18 capable of attaching to tubular elements 3 and enabling the entire device 1 to be firmly secured to a user's hair. Advantageously both member 18 and each element 3 are made of plastics material which resist the acids commonly used in hairstyling products (which are in themselves known) and which are also resistant to high temperatures for long periods. These materials may be PVC or siliconised rubber.
More particularly, with reference to Figures 1-5, holding member 18 comprises a body 20 having two parts 21 and 22 attached to each other at one of their extremities (21A and 22A respectively) through a resilient line acting as a hinge (or merely a linear hinge) 24 which allows the two parts 21 and 22 to rotate relative to each other with consequent opening of member 18.
More particularly, first part 21 of this member has a first wall 25 (outside member 18) from the edges of which rise a second wall 26, a third wall 27, a fourth wall 28 and a fifth wall 29, wall 29 having the extremity 21A of part 21 hinged to part 22.
Aforesaid walls 25-29 bound a recess 30 in which are placed elements or teeth 31 projecting from first wall 25 into such recess or cavity 30 and facing second part 22.
This second part 22 is substantially flat and comprises a first wall 35 facing first part 21 and a second wall 36.
On first wall 35 there is a plurality of teeth or protuberances 37 arranged in two parallel rows between which abovementioned teeth 31 are united when second part 22 closes on first part 21. In this case teeth 27 are within cavity 30.
At second extremity 22B second part 22 has a tongue 40 which is capable of acting together with a protuberance 41 located on second wall 27 outside first part 21 (at a second extremity 21B thereof). Cooperation between tongue 40 and protuberance 41 causes first part 21 to close onto the second part or holding member 18.
Finally, pins 49 with tapering collars 50 which are capable of penetrating holes 9 in order to lock member 18 to each of tubular elements or components 3 project from wall 25.
When in use a lock of hair is caused to pass between first part 21 and second part 22 of member 18. This member is positioned close to the roots of the hair or at a slight distance therefrom.
The two parts 21 and 22 are then closed upon themselves and the hair is secured between teeth 31 and 37.
The hair is then wound around tubular elements 3 (previously attached to member 18) and secured thereupon by projections or projecting elements 10. The manner in which said hair is wound will then determine how it sets; in particular, with different arrangements of the hair around surfaces 6 of these elements it will be possible to obtain flat waves, plaits, crimped hair, hair with ringlets, hair with ringlets and waves, hair with Brazilian style ringlets, straight hair, hair with twisted ringlets, tousled hair, hair with a great wave in the style of the 20s, with some increased volume (up to 5 cm)or not(and one of the characteristics mentioned above).
The hair is secured to each element 3 by inserting it into slots 79 located close to first extremity 7 or by means of hairpins 89 (shown by dashed lines) of one piece with each element 3 close to such extremity 7 or attached thereto in any known way (for example partly inserted into the hole present at such extremity). Alternatively attachment may be effected by means of one or more elastic bands wound around one or more elements 3.
The invention may be used by women to create extravagant and trendy effects, as well as by men in order to create Mohicans, perfectly straight hair or hair with attached extensions to create waves for the more demanding. Its use makes it possible to achieve temporary or permanent sets in that it is possible to begin with a simple set and then continue to a permanent set in a second stage.
The invention is quick, appealing and elegant to use. The device may be disassembled or assembled as desired using it with holders or spacers for colouring techniques. For example, by applying tin foil to member 18 the latter becomes an excellent base, a slide for straightening and shatush.
When in use the invention has few pieces per head, with infinite potential in a single product; in addition to this it does not require any paper protecting the tips of the hair because the tips are not stressed by special accessories.
Figures 6-10 show variants of the invention. In these, parts corresponding to those already described with reference to Figures 1-5 are indicated by the same reference numbers.
With reference to Figures 6-9, device 1 comprises a plurality (at least two and in the embodiment in the figures, three) tubular elements or components 3 made of yielding material which allows each element 3 to be bent with respect to a straight lay along its longitudinal axis (not shown); in other words, as may be seen in Figures 5, 8 and 9, body 5 of each element 3 may undergo flexion and therefore be deformed with respect to said longitudinal axis in order to be bent to either side of that axis. For this purpose body 5 may be of expanded rubber, for example synthetic NBR rubber, or expanded EVA or EPDM rubber or PVC compact rubber, or silicone rubber.
Again in this case the material which permits the aforesaid deformation is such as to withstand high temperatures (over 60°C-70°C, for example 80°C) and acid products of the type used in hair treatment, such as for example liquids for permanent waves.
In the variants considered, outer surface 6 of each body 5 may be provided with a plurality of projecting longitudinal fins or fins 10A between which are located longitudinal recesses 11 (as shown in Figures 6 and 7). These fins 10A may also be arranged transversely, helically or in any other way along surface 6. As an alternative (Figures 8 and 9), surface 6 of each body 5 may be completely smooth.
In the case of the embodiment in Figures 6 and 7, each component 3 has its own body 5 provided with at least one line of such fins 10A along its surface, preferably in a position facing component 3 alongside.
As far as holding member 18 which is capable of attaching to tubular elements 3 and enables entire device 1 to be firmly secured to a user's hair, this too is made of plastics material which resists the acids commonly used in hairstyling products (which are in themselves known) and which also withstand high temperatures for long periods. These materials may be PP, POM, ABS, PE, or NYLON or the materials indicated above.
Holding member 18 in the variant shown in Figures 6-9 is illustrated on a larger scale in Figure 10 and in general comprises the same elements of member 18 already described in Figures 1-5.
More particularly, this member 18 shown in Figure 10 has a linear hinge which allows the two parts 21 and 22 to rotate relative to each other. The first part 21 of this member has an inner wall 25 from which rise teeth 31, arranged in two parallel lines and able to act together with teeth 37 rising from an inner wall 35 of second part 22, said wall 35 facing wall 25 of first part 21 and being the inner wall of aforesaid second part 22.
First part 21 has a tongue 40A at second extremity 21B which is capable of acting together with a protuberance (not shown) located on second part 22 (for example at or close to second extremity 22B of the latter). The cooperation between tongue 40A and the protuberance causes first part 21 to close in a snap or forced manner onto the second part, that is to close holding member 18.
Of course other means of snap closure which can be released by first part 21 onto second part 22 (or vice versa) may also be provided.
When in use, a lock of hair is caused to pass between first part 21 and second part 22 of member 18. This member is positioned close to the roots of the hair or at a short distance therefrom.
The two parts 21 and 22 are then closed upon themselves and the hair is secured between teeth 31 and 37.
The hair is then wound around tubular elements 3 (previously attached to member 18) through relative deflection of the same: in practice, each pair of tubular elements is "open", spacing bodies 5 apart in a resilient manner by deforming them (see the arrangement of elements 3 in the exploded view in Figures 6 and 8). Once bodies 5 have been separated, the hair is wound between them, at the same time winding it around at least one deflected body (for example that positioned above in Figure 1) or around both. When bodies 5 are released these rearrange themselves parallel and in contact with each other, which helps to hold the hair wound upon them in this way.
Fins 10A increase the force with which hair is held between bodies 5 alongside each other (and in contact with each other). At the same time, recesses 11 allow specific products for hair treatment to flow better along tubular elements 3, without said products pulling on the hair wound along said elements. These recesses (or channels 11) also help to speed up drying of the hair on and between bodies 3.
Finally the hair is secured to each element 3 by means of deformable immobilising bodies 57 which can be inserted around each element 3 along them (close to extremity 7 of such body or, if the hair is short, also close to extremity 8) or attached to said extremities in any known way (for example at least partly inserted in the hole present in those extremities). As an alternative they may be secured by means of one or more elastic bands wound around one or more elements 3.
Each deformable securing body 57 has a gripping portion 57A and an open ring or C-shaped portion 57B which can open resiliently in order to be inserted onto surface 6 of each body 3.
In all the embodiments the lengths of bodies 3 may be between 5 cm and 90 cm, preferably between 15 and 50 cm, and preferably 30 cm. These bodies may have a diameter of between 6 and 60 mm and preferably between 10 and 15 mm.
Member 18 may have different shapes, may extend further along any of the X, Y, Z axes in space; this member may be constructed with two or more rows of teeth 31, 37.
Advantageously, also, member 18 has on its part 22 through slots 98 which assist both drying of the roots of the hairs and the permanent set. Again such member 18 is constructed of a material (for example atoxic polymer) which is resistant to heat and the acids used for a permanent set.
The variants in Figures 6-10 are also to be regarded as falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Device (1) for styling or obtaining different shapes of a user's hair, said device (1) comprising components (3) capable of receiving said hair on the surface, these components being tubular elements (3) each having an elongated body (5) capable of acting directly together with the hair wound about said elongated body (5) in order to provide it with a desired shape, said tubular elements (3) acting together with a holding member (18) capable of attaching these tubular elements (3) together and to the user's hair, said holding member (18) having projecting holding bodies (49) capable of acting together with an axial hole (9) in each tubular element (3) so as to attach it to said holding member and a body (20) capable of containing a lock of hair such as to secure said device to the hair, characterised in that said body (20) of the holding member (18) comprises a first part (21) and a second part (22) which can overlap each other and which can be mutually attached together in that overlapped position, said parts (21, 22) having projecting elements (30, 37) capable of interpenetrating each other when those parts (21, 22) are closed against each other after a lock of hair has been inserted between them, the interpenetration of said projecting elements securing the hair between them and allowing device (1) to be secured to said lock of hair, the user's hair being wound around said tubular elements (3) in such a way as to impart a desired set to them.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each tubular element (3) has a plurality of projections (10) located along an outer surface (6) of that element (3), these projections acting together with the hair.
Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the projections (10) on each elongated element (3) are located along at least one line on the outer surface (6) of such element, said projections (10) being defined alternately by longitudinal fins located along each tubular element, by a plurality of individual elements projecting at right angles to the elongated body (5) of each tubular element or by a combination of said fins and said projecting elements.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said tubular elements (3) have a completely smooth elongated body.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each tubular element (3) has at least one axial hole (9) at one of its extremities (7, 8).
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that such axial hole (9) passes through the corresponding tubular element.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the projecting holding bodies are pins (49) having frustoconical collars (50), these pins (49) being in a hinge identical to that of the tubular elements (3).
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first part (21) and the second part (22) of the holding member (18) are hinged together.
Device according to claim 1 or 7, characterised in that the first part (21) of the holding member (18) has a plurality of walls (26, 27, 28, 29) bounding, together with an outer wall (25) of said holding member (18), a cavity (30) in which the projecting elements (30) are located, said cavity housing the projecting elements (37) of said second part.
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that said pins (49) project from the outer wall (25) of said holding member (18) and removably act together with the holes (9) in the tubular elements (3), said pins (49) being provided with means for coupling with the aforesaid holes (9) such as frustoconical collars on their surface.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that provision is made for snap or forced connecting means (40, 41) capable of closing the first part (21) of the member (18) onto the second part in such a way as to secure the lock of hair between said parts (21, 22).
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each tubular element (3) has a slot (79) for securing hair, said slot (79) being close to a free end (7) of such element.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each tubular element (3) has a hairpin (89) of one piece therewith close to a free extremity (7) of such element.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each tubular element (3) and the holding member (18) are of a material which is resistant to the acids commonly used in hairstyling products and heat, such as PVA and silicone rubber or synthetic rubbers.
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises holding elements (57) capable of holding the hair associated with the tubular elements (3), said holding elements having a portion (57B) shaped as an open ring capable of being fitted onto a corresponding body (5) of a tubular element (3).