GB2120099A - Apparatus for scalp treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a machine for automatically brushing the hair and scalp with a vibrating spiked pad 16 for lion the purpose of both retaining and restoring the hair. The machine provides means of treating parts of the scalp in sequence including means for changing the direction of travel of said spiked pad and returning to its starting point and means for withdrawing said spiked pad whilst returning so as not to entangle the hair. The aforesaid spiked pad is vibrated and simultaneously pressed downward on to the scalp or lifted up from the scalp by the piston means 4 whilst it is moved along a substantially circular arcuate member 1 encircling the scalp and attached by straight ends to a head harness. Movement of said spiked pad at right angles to the previous direction of travel is achieved by pivotally rotating the said arcuate member. All movements are controlled by electronic circuits and switches. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for scalp treatment This invention retakes to apparatus for scalp treatment. There is disclosed herein a machine for automatically brushing the hair and scalp with a vibrating spiked pad forthe purpose of both retaining and restoring the hair.

It is widely known thatvibratory massage of the scalp is beneficial to hair condition no doubt because of the stimulation of the blood supplyto the scalp, the stimulation caused by the pulling of the hair and probably because distribution over the hair surface of natural secretions is caused.

Whilstvibro massage of the scalp is available in hairdressing and treatment establishments, indi vidualsare unlikelyto receive such treatment often.

Thus the extraordinarily beneficial effects of very frequent treatments do not seem well known.

My experience over several years is remarkable in that I have not only corrected increasing pattern baldness (my remaining hair has grown stronger and healthier), but also I now have a very considerable number of hairs growing in scalp area where previous hair had disappeared. I have found that results related tothefrequency and duration oftreatment, several sessions daily being desirable totalling several hours weekly.

It is because such treatments are time-consuming and require one's full attention that I consider there is a need for an apparatusto give automatically controlled treatment, so leaving the userfreeto carry on other activities, e.g. read or watch television.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided apparatus for automatically brushing parts of the scalp in sequence with a vibrating massage member including means for changing the direction of travel of said massage member and returning itto its starting point and means forwithdrawing said massage member so as not to entangle it with the hair when said massage member is being returned to its starting point.

In accordance with the following illustrative descrip tion,there is disclosed apparatusforautomatically brushing the hair with a vibrating spiked pad having the following features:- a) Avibrated massage member universally mounted so asto maintain contact with the irregular contours of the scalp.

b) Preferably hydraulic piston means whereby the vibratable massage member may be pressed down wardly upon thescaip or lifted upwardlyfromthe scalp such hydraulic piston preferably being controlled by a sonic detector.

c) A variable pressure pump activated through electric or electrocnic circuits in response to signals from the sonic detector whereby the pressure in said hydraulic piston means may be varied.

d) A bracket to which the hydraulic piston means is attached, such bracket consisting of two hollow tubes of arcuate shape in right angular relation to each other slidingly attached to:e) Two arcuate members substantially of semi circularshapetoencirclethescalpin right angular relation to each other and each with straight ends in radial relation to the curved part such straight ends pivotally attached to a head harness.

f) An electric motor driving gears attached to the arcuate members at the pivot points so that each arcuate member may be moved in either direction.

g) Switchable controls, timing and speed control systems linked to programmed electronic circuits whereby movements ofthe massage member may be controlled in sequence including optional manual override switches.

h) Stop bars arranged to operate switching controls to limitthe movemements ofthe massage member and to change direction of said massage member.

i) Means of supporting the weight of the apparatus substantially on shoulder harnesses comprising pre ferably sprung or hydraulically controlled telescopic supports universally connected to the apparatus and tothe said shoulder harnesses, wherebyfreedom of movement of the user is possible.

The invention is now more particularly described in the following non-limiting description and by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view ofthefirst embodiment of the apparatus; Figure 2 shows a partly cut-away view ofthe motor driven pivotted mounting of the arcuate members; Figure 3 shows a front view of the apparatus with one ofthe arcuate members partially cut away; Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of the massage member and hydraulic pistons and their attachment to the arcuate members, with one ofthe arcuate members partially cut away; Figure shows a schematic illustration of the means of controlling the position ofthe massage member relativetothescalpcontours.

Figure 6 shows a schematic illustration of the vibrating mechanism; Figure 7 shows a schematic front view of a further embodimentofthe invention; Figure 8 shows schematically a side view of a vehicle travelling along an arcuate member; Figure 9 shows a schematic sectioned view of the embodiment of Figure 8through the latitudinal axis of the vehicle; Figure lOis a schematic front view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in particularto Fig 1 and Fig 3, it will be seen that the apparatus has two arcuate members 1 and 5, each of which has two straight ends being radially related to the arcuate part said straight ends being pivotally connected to a head harness 15, such head harness being of rigid construction.

Arcuate member 1 freely pivots in socket 11, the other end having a gear 21 in mesh with a motorised gear 22 and contained in casing 12.

Arcuate member 5 is similarly connected to freely pivot in socket 11 and is driven by an identical drive mechanism contained in casing 6.

Housing 7 contains the electric motor control circuits and gearing which gearing includes a clutching mechanism which enables the arcuate members 1 and 5 to pivot freely when required. Figs 1,3 and 4 showasliding bracket which consistsoftwo hollow tube of arcuate shape 2 at right angular relation to eaci other and four stiffening flanges 23 which are attached to a hydraulic cylinder 4which cylinder is thus firmly held in position.

Arcuate members 1 and 5 pass through the tubes 2 and said sliding bracket is thereby ableto slide from side to side ofthe head on arcuate member 5 or frontwardly of backwardly on arcuate member 1 when one ofthe arcuate members 1 and 5 is rotated.

Fig 4shows the massage member 16 attached to a shaft 29 and a universal ball and socket joint28 connected to a piston 27 which piston 27 is vibrated preferably by hydraulic pressure in a flexible tube 17 which flexes in its length but maintains its capacity in sectional area.

Fig 6 shows schematically a preferred method of operating the vibrating mechanism. At the piston end ofthetube 17 is a right angled tube bend 38 through the lower end of which slides the piston 27. Piston 27 slides upwardly and downwardly in response to varying hydraulic pressure applied bya plunger36 passing through an aperture at the end of the tube 17 arranged with in housing 7. A link connection or pitman 35 is pivotally connected by pin 40 nearthe circumference of driving wheel 34 and similarly connected to the end of plunger 36 by pin39,thereby rotational action imparts reciprocating action.

Fig 5 shows schematically the means of pressing the massage member on the scalp and of withdrawing the massage memberwhen required.

A sonic detector 33 is focussed on the scalp thereby determining the distanceto the scalp.The relative distance of the massage membertothesonicdetector is determined and by signals passed from sonic detector 33 to control circuits 32 incorporates electric resistances, a variable pressure pump 31 is controlled.

Fig 4 shows a casing 3 fixed to flange 23 within which the sonic detector 33 the control circuits 32 and the pump 31 are housed.

Fig 5 shows the hump 31 linked bya rightangled tube bend 30 to a hydraulic cylinder4through the end ofwhich piston 26 slides.

When the pressure in cylinder4 is increased piston 26 moves downwardly and moves upwardly when the pressure is decreased.

Fig 4showswiring connections contained in a sheathing 18 which links the components in housing 3 to the main control circuits contained in housing 7.

Fig 1 shows manual controls in box 20 wired to control circuits in housing 7 by connection 19.

In Figs 1 and 3 micro switch controls 10 and 37 are shown.

Micro switches 9 and 10 are activated when they contactstop bar8which is fixed to head harness 15the said stop bar8 is shaped or contoured so that the area of scalp required to be treated is determined. Two micro switches 37 are placed on the top ofthe straight part of arcuate member Sand are activated by flange 23 ofthe aforementioned sliding bracket.

Micro switches 9, 10 and 37 are wired to the main control circuits in housing 7.

A detailed description ofthe sequence of operations will now be given.

The user having placed the apparatus in position, suppose thatthe massage member is moving towards the front ofthe head, raised from the scalpthereby not entangling the hair. When micro switch 9 contacts stop bar8 the driving gear in housing 6 is stopped.

Simultaneously the pressure in cylinder4 is increased and the massage member is lowered until it contacts the scalp, underthe control of the sonic detector 33.

Atiming device then causes the vibratorto operate and the driving gear re-starts but now in reverse.

When micro switch 10 contacts stop bar 8 at the back ofthe head, the driving gearstops,the massage member is raised and the vibrator is switched off. The driving gear is again reversed and the sequence begins again.

After a pre-determined number of such movements a timing device causes the clutching mechanisms to disconnect the drive to arcuate member Sand to connect the drive to arcuate member 1.

The massage member is then moved a specific distance towards the side ofthe head in a raised position, whereupon a further sequence of move ments towards the back and front of the head commences.

Obviously, controls could be adjusted so that the massage member brushes and vibrates from the back to the front or from side to side ofthe scalp.

In Figs 1 and 3 is shown a preferred means of supporting the greater part ofthe weight of the apparatus on the shoulders whilst allowing movement ofthe head. Sprung or hydraulictelescopic supports 13and 25 are provided connected with universal ball and socket joints both to the apparatus and to shoulder pads 24which pads are secured by straps 14.

Further embodiments ofthe invention are shown in Figs 7 and 10.

Fig 7 shows a second embodiment wherein there is one arcuate member arranged to pivot about two points adjacentthe ears.

The massage member is caused to move from side to side of the head by means of the vehicle 43 illustrated in Figs 8 and9.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the vehicle 43 in which the main components areshown with dotted lines.

Fig 9 is a sectional view at right angles to the view in Fig 8whereinthearcuate member44and45 passes through the body of the vehicle43.

The vehicle 43 contains a reversible electric motor 46 driving gear 49 in mesh with a further gear 50 in mesh with a belt track 51 attachedtothearcuate member 45.

Two guides 52 slide in grooves 52 on the sides of arcuate mem ber 44 or 45 and the vehicle rolls on four freely rotating wheels 47 on axles 48, thereby when the motor46 is started the vehicle 43 moves in one directionorthe other along the arcuate member 44 or 45 the guides 52 obviating movement in any other direction.

Returning nowto Fig 7 stops 42 are shown on arcuate member 45. Two massage members are illustrated, their movements along the arcuate member being controlled by micro switched as previously described in the first embodiment.

Athird embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in afrontview in Fig 10.

In this embodimentthe arcuate members 44 are arranged from frontto back ofthe head and one, two or more such arcuate members maybe provided.

In either ofthesefbrtherembodimentstwo or more massage members maybe provided.

Claims (27)

1. Apparatus for automatically brushing parts of the scalp in sequence with a vibrating massage member including means for changing the direction oftravel of said massage member and returning itto its starting point and means forwithdrawing said massage member so as not to entangle it with the hair when said massage member is being returned to its starting point

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the massage member is a pad having spikes.

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or2wherein the massage member is attached to a vibrating means by a shaft and a ball and socket universal connection.

4. Apparatus accordingto claim 3wherein the vibrating means is a piston capable of reciprocating sliding action which in use is induced by fluid, e.g.

hydraulic, pressure.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the piston slides reciprocatingly at the end of a flexible liquid filled tube atthe other end of which is a plunger which also slides reciprocating ly thus causing varying pressure on the liquid and causing the reciprocating sliding action ofthe piston.

6. Apparatus according to claim wherein a pitman of link connection is pivotaily connected to the plunger at one end and at the other end to a motorised drive wheel at a point near its circumference so that the rotational action of said drive wheel causes a reciprocating action by the plunger.

7. Apparatus according to claims 4,5 or 6 wherein the reciprocating action of the plungerorthe piston is caused by a rotating cam and a spring means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5wherein the said vibrating means is attached to a piston operated by hydraulic pressure so that said massage member is either pressed onto the scalp or withdrawn therefrom as the hydraulic pressure is varied.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 which includes a sonic detector arranged to be in juxtaposition with the scalp when the apparatus is in use,the sonic detector being arranged to control the position of said piston so that the massage member is either in contact with the scalp under controlled pressure or is raised from the scalp.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein signalsfrom the said sonic detector are passed to an electronic control circuit which incorporates a timing device arranged to feed the circuit controlling a variable output pressure pump arranged to feed hydraulic fluid to the piston in orderto adjust the massage member automatically as required.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the massage member in traversing the scalp is caused to make arcuate movements by linking said massage member to an arcuate member having connected to two straight members radially oriented relative to the arcuate member, the straight members being pivotal- ly connected to a head harness.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the arcuate member is pivotally moved in either direction by means of a reversible electric motor driving through a reducing gear, a driving gear being in mesh with a gear attached to one of the straight members, the other straight member being freely pivoted on the head harness.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein movement ofthe massage member along the arcuate member is caused by a second arcuate member larger in radius than, and placed in right angular relation to, the first-mentioned arcuate member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the two arcuate members are interconnected buy a bracket consisting oftwo hollowtubes of arcuate shape in right angular relation to each other on which the vibratable and withdrawable massage member is mounted, said bracket being slidably attached to the two arcuate arms so that said bracket slides freely in either direction.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1,11 or 12 wherein the massage member is mounted on a vehicle having a reversible electric motor which electric motor rotates a driving gear in mesh with a belt track attached to said arcuate memberwhich arcuate member is arranged to pass th rough said vehicletherebyto movethe massagemember along the arcuate member.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said arcuate mem-ber is of such a cross-section other than circular that said vehicle cannot rotate a bout the said arcuate member.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13 wherein clutching mechanisms are provided between the electric motor drive shafts and said driving gears so arranged that when one or other of said arcuate member is moved the other pivots freely.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claims wherein the area of scalpto be treated is determined by shaped or contoured stop bars so arranged that micro switches are operated when it is required to change the direction ofthe massage member.

19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-17 wherein micro-changeoverswitches are provided which are activated by the straight ends of said arcuate members when the direction of movement along an arcuate memberspanningfrom side to side ofthe head is required to be reversed.

20. Apparatus according to claim 11 or any claim dependentthereon,wherein movement ofthe massage member a pre-determined distance across the scalp is controlled by a timing device.

21. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the speed of vibration and the movements of the massage member upwardly and downwardly and across the scalp are controlled by programmed electronic circuits.

22. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims including a plurality of massage members and arcuate members.

23. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the weight of the machine is substantially borne by the shoulders of the wearer, there being a shoulder harness supporting universally mounted sprung telescopic arms which in turn support a frame carrying the massage member.

24. Apparatus according to claim 21 including a manual overrideforde-activating the programmed electronic circuits.

25. Apparatusforscalp treatment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs 1 to 6 ofthe accompanying drawings.

26. Apparatus for scalp treatment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs 7,8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

27. Apparatus for scalp treatment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig 10 of the accompanying drawings.