GB2233548A - A hairbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A hairbrush comprising two or more arrays of bristle elements movable relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bristle elements, and drive means for causing relative oscillatory movement of the arrays. The hairbrush thereby assists in disentangling hair. <IMAGE>

Description

A HAIRBRUSH The present invention relates to hairbrushes, and is particularly concerned with hairbrushes especially useful for disentangling hair.

According to the present invention there is provided a hairbrush comprising two or more arrays of bristle elements movable relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bristle elements, and drive means for causing relative oscillatory movement of the arrays. The hairbrush thereby assists in disentangling hair.

Various preferred features and embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective rear view of one embodiment of the present invention; Fig 2 is a perspective front view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figs. 1-3; Fig. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of Figs. 1-4; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional end view along the line VI - VI of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional side view along the line VII - VII of Fig. 4; and Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line VIII - VIII of Fig. 7; Referring to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a hairbrush body 1, and bristles 2 which are arranged in five rows 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e.The rows 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e are all mutually parallel. The rows 3a, 3c and 3e are fixed relative to the brush body 1. The rows 3b and 3d are mounted so as to be capable of reciprocal motion back and forth parallel to the axis of the brush body 1 as indicated by the arrows A. The rows 3b and 3d are mounted on a common undercarriage 4 contained within the brush body 1, and project up through parallel slots 5, 6 in the brush body.

In operation, when brushing hair, the operation button 7 is switched on and this causes a drive mechanism (described in more detail below) to operate causing reciprocal movement of the undercarriage 4 and of the rows 3b and 3d relative to the rows 3a, 3c and 3e.

In the embodiment showing the bristles 2 are each made of semi rigid plastics material. Each bristle 2 is shaped at its outer end into a spherical tip 8. The bristles 2 in each row are separated by a spacing of five millimetres (5mm). The rows are separated by a distance of nine millimetres (9mm). In operation, the rows 3b and 3d move back and forth a distance of five to six millimetres (5-6mm) at a speed of ten cycles per second (10 Hz).

The drive arrangement consists of an electric motor 9, a system of reduction gearing 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e mounted in a gearbox or chamber 11 within the brush body 1, and a rotary cam 12 connected to the gear system and to the undercarriage 4. The undercarriage 4 is mounted on wheels 13. The electric motor 9 is powered by a battery 14 housed in a battery compartment or chamber 15 in the brush body 1.

The undercarriage 4 comprises two arms 16, which extend, inside the brush body 1, along the length of slots 5, 6 and on which the bristles 2 for rows 3b and 3d are mounted. The two arms 16 are connected by a web 17. In the illustrated embodiment, two wheels 13 are provided, one on either side of the undercarriage 4, towards the end of the undercarriage 4 furthest away from the drive arrangement. Each wheel 13 runs along a flattened portion 18 of the inside of the brush body 1 and on the inside of a locating stop 19.

In the drive arrangement, the electric motor 9 is connected to an input shaft 20 of the gear system which via a gear chain, comprising gear wheels 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e and 10f, causes the speed of an output shaft 21 to be reduced in relation to the input shaft 20.

An eccentric cam 12 is mounted upon the final gear wheel 10f and located within a cam follower 22. The cam follower is connected to the undercarriage 4 by two elongate members 23 such that rotary motion is converted into oscillitory motion of the undercarriage 4.

Claims (10)

1. A hairbrush comprising two or more arrays of bristle elements movable relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bristle elements, and drive means for causing relative oscillatory movement of the arrays.

2. A hairbrush according to claim 1 comprising mutually parallel rows of bristles, with alternate rows being fixed and movable relative to the brush.

3. A hairbrush according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the bristles are each of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material and the tip of each bristle is provided with a smooth surface.

4. A hairbrush according to claim 3 in which the smooth surface is substantially spherical.

5. A hairbrush according to any preceding claim in which the spacing between bristles lies in the range of 4 to 8 millimetres.

6. A hairbrush according to any preceding claim in which the rows move relative to one another at a speed in the range of 6 to 15 cycles per second.

7. A hairbrush according to any preceding claim in which the rows move relative to one another by a distance in the range 4 to 7 millimetres.

8. A hairbrush according to any preceding claim in which the drive means comprises an undercarriage on which movable rows of bristles are mounted, a rotary cam for causing reciprocal movement of the undercarriage, and an electric motor for causing rotary movement of the cam.

9. A hairbrush according to claim 8 including a housing within the hairbrush for receiving a battery for driving the electric motor.

10. A hairbrush substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.