GB2189695A - Hair rinsing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair rinsing device for use in conjunction with a basin (12) and mounted either independently of the basin (12) with brackets (22, 24) secured to the work surface (14) or to the floor of the basin (12) by suction, comprising four pivotally-mounted, hoop-form ducts (40) extending there across, each being supplied with water entering a common inlet manifold (26) secured to bracket (22). On each side arm (53) and bridging portion (65) of each duct (40) a jet head (60) is slidably and rotatably mounted. A swirlpool tray (67) providing a controllable runaway extends between manifold (26) and block (52) and is supported on the basin floor (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hair rinsing devices This invention relates to hair rinsing devices, the term "rinsing" being used in this specification to include hair washing and applying to hair a treatment agent such as a solution of neutralising agent. The hair rinsing devices according to the invention find particular, but not exclusive use, in the field of permanent waving.

Permanentwaving- is quite a complicated procedure which comprises the following steps: 1) Washing the hair 2) Rolling the hair in curlers 3) Applying chemical solution A 4) Allowing solution Atotake effect 5) Rinsing the hairthoroughly 6) Applying chemical solution B 7) Allowing chemical solution B to take effect 8) Removing the curlers 9) Rinsing the hair 10) Drying the hair The rinsing step 5) is critical as, if solution A is not completely rinsed away, the waving will fail and the whole procedure have to be repeated. As complete rinsing is so important a rinsing time often minutes is recommended and the hairdresser must ensure that the most dense portions of hair receive most attention.Clearlythe rinsing step is tedious to perform, tending to leadto lapses of concentration on the part ofthe hairdresser with the consequence that patches of hair may not be completely rinsed and the waving fails.

Numerous devices have been proposed to reduce the labour involved in permanent waving and in performing other hairtreatments. These devices require the use of pumps, motors or complicated mechanical movements in orderto achieve the desired result; and in most cases the use of guards or total enclosuresforthe head are necessary to prevent splashing and fluid loss, in particularfrom fluid directed upwardly at the back ofthe user's head.

According to the invention described in UK Patent Application No. 8500924these problems were overcome bythe provision of a hair rinsing device comprising a basin for receiving the head of a person whose hair isto be rinsed, spray means forforming a spray constituted by a plurality of individual streams of water and comprising a number of ducts, each provided with a series of nozzles and each arranged to be independently adjustable to a selected stationary position such thatthe whole area of hair unobstructed bythefloorofthe basin is, in use, simultaneously exposed to said spray.

Although this arrangement is entirely satisfactory in operation it has been found that hairdressers are reluctant to replace an existing basin with the special type of basin forming part ofthe device claimed in the above Application.

An aim ofthe present invention is to provide a hair rinsing device which can be mounted in any standard backwash basin.

According to the present invention there is provided a hair rinsing device for use in conjunction with a backwash basin for receiving the head of a person whose hair is to be washed, comprising spray means for forming a spray constituted by a plurality of individual streams of water and comprising a number of ducts, each duct being provided with a series of nozzles and each being arranged to be independently adjustable to a selected stationary position such that substantiallythewholearea of hair, is, in use, simultaneously exposed to said spray, and mounting means for mounting the spray means above the floor ofthe basin, preferably independently of the basin.

Preferably each duct has the form of a hoop pivotally mounted at each end on a mounting block, one of which may be constituted by a supply manifold.

The nozzles of the lower and upper spray means are adjustable with respectto the ducts so as to achieve the best possible coverage ofthe hair, particularly when using certainverythickperm solutions. Forthis purpose the nozzles may be grouped in jet heads which are linearly and/or rotationally adjustable with respectto the ducts. To facilitate the fitting of such jet heads the ducts are preferably constituted by a number of rectilinear portions.

The mounting means desirably comprise a pair of brackets secured to the work surface one on each side ofthe basin.

Preferably again each bracket is arranged to support a respective block and extends downwardly into the basin.

In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention also comprises a swirl pool tray for accumulating a pool of water in which hairatthe back ofthe head can lie so as to be continuously immersed and rinsed bywaterflowingthroughthetray.

With the use of the device according to the present invention all hair rinsing operations may be performed within the basin and with the most efficient use of the available water or solution.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa plan ofthe basin of a hairrinsing device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line lI-Il in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an elevation of a duct, on an enlarged scale and in partial section; and Figure 4 is a detail of a duct, being an enlarged fragmentary section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1.

The hair rinsing device 10 shown in the drawings is fitted within a conventional backwash basin 12 recessed into a work-surface 14 and having a neck support 16, formed by a lowered portion of the rim at the projecting front end portion 18, and a drain 20.

Screwed to the work surface 14 on each side of the basin 12 are brackets 22,24 which extend forwardly over the rim ofthe basin 12 and down into the front end portion 18 thereof. To the bracket 22 is secured a water inlet manifold 26 having on the outer side a connection 28to a water inlet hose 30 which is itself connected to mixertaps (not shown). On the inner side ofthe manifold 26 are four bores each rotatably receiving a boss 34 with the interposition of a friction swivel joint seai 36. Each boss 34 has a filter 38 fitted over its inner end and at its outer end has a radial bore for receiving one end of respective rectangularform hoop ducts 40,42,44,46 spanning the basin 12.Fluid communication between the radial bore and the interio r of the manifold 26 is achieved by an axial bore 48. The other end of each hoop duct 40 - 46 is blanked off by being received in the radial bore of a boss 50 having no axial bore, butwhich is otherwise similarly mounted in a solid block 52 resembling the manifold 26.

On each side arm 53 ofthe hoop ducts 40-46 is slidably and rotatably received a generally squaresection jet head 54 having a hollow rubber body 56 which is in fluid communication with the interior ofthe respective ducts 40-46 through a flow window 58.

Inset into one face ofthe body 56 is a jet panel 60 having three convexly-disposed longitudinal faces, 60a, 60b, 60c, each of which is apertured to form a line of nozzles 62therealong; the panels 60 are detachable for de-scaling. Asimilar but longerjet head 64 is mounted on the bridging portion 65 of each hoop duct 40-46which is connected at each end to the respective side arms 53through aflow joint66.

A swirl pool tray 67 is mounted between the manifold 26 and block 52 by means of spigots 68 extending on each side ofthe tray 67, which is supported on a strut 70 resting on the floor of the basin 12. The tray has a peripheral rim 72 interrupted at 74to provide a controlled runaway.

For use the hose 40 of the hair-rinsing device 10 is connected to an adjustable-temperature supply of water from the mixer tap. The head ofthe person whose hair into bewashed isthen placed face upwards in the basin 12 with the neck resting on the neck support 16 and with the hoop ducts 40-46 all positioned horizontally.After the water supply has been turned on the hoop ducts 40-46 are pivoted upwardly roughly to the positions shown in Fig. 2 and the jet heads 54,64 are slid along the respective portionsofthe hoop ducts 40-46 and rotated until the spray formed by the streams of water issuing through the nozzles 60 gives complete coverage ofthe exposed hair, depending on the head shape and hair style. Itwill be appreciated thatthejet heads 54 and 64 onthe lowermostduct40are positioned so asto direct the streams ofwaterupwardly and inwardly.

The saddle-form thickening 56a of each jet head body 54facilitates the positioning of the jet head by providing a finger grip and also a positive indication of the orientation of the jets beforethewateristurned on. The head is allowed to remain in position forthe recommended rinse time, at the end ofwhich the hair will be completely rinsed and free of any previously applied chemical solution.

Rinsing water accumulating in the swirlpool tray 67 provides a pool in which hair atthe back of the head can likeforcontinuous immersion: it will be appreci ated thatthe runaway 74 controls the flow of water through the swirl pool tray 67 and promotes a positive rinsing flow therethrough.

The height of the wall of the basin 12 relative to the device 10 effectively confines the water within the basin 12 and obviates the need for enclosing the head within a hood.

The device may be modified byfitting process timers and/or an indicatorto indicate the state of neutralisation or cleanliness ofthe water draining from the hair. Provision may also be madeforthe introduction of a neutralising agent into the water inlet.

In an alternative embodimentthe mounting means may take the form of suction means forsecuring the device to the floor of a backwash basin. Preferably, the suction means are suckers mounted on a framework which is conveniently the lowermost hoop duct modified so as to be fixed and lie within the basin.

Claims (9)

1. A hair rinsing device for use in conjunction with a backwash basin for receiving the head of a person whose hair is to be washed comprising spray means forforming a spray constituted by a plurality of individual streams of water and comprising a number of ducts, each duct being provided with a series of nozzles and each being arranged to be independently adjustable to a selected stationary position such that substantially the whole area of hair is, in use, simultaneously exposed to said spray and mounting means for mounting the spray means above the floor ofthe basin either independently of the basin or by suction to the basin.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said mounting means for mounting the spray means independently of the floor and the basin comprise a pair of brackets secured to the work surface one on each side of the basin.

3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each duct takes the form of a hoop, pivotally mounted at each end on a mounting block.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which one of said blocks constitutes a supply manifold.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which each bracket is arranged to support a respective block and extends downwardly into the basin.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said mounting means operate by suction and comprise suckers mounted on a fixed duct.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said nozzles are grouped in jet heads which are linearly and/or rotationally adjustable with respectto the ducts.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and further comprising a swirl pool trayforaccumulating a pool of water in which hair atthe back ofthe head can lie so as to be continuously immersed and rinsed by waterflowingthroughthetray.

9. A hair rinsing device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.