GB2242357A

GB2242357A - Device for treating hair

Info

Publication number: GB2242357A
Application number: GB9106121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederica Catharina Newman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-22
Filing date: 1991-03-22
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: GB9106121D0; GB9006401D0

Abstract

A device for use in hair treatment (e.g. highlighting) comprises a clip which may be conveniently manufactured in plastic and comprises two flat plates (1 and 2) of rectangular shape being joined by an integral hinge (3), for example of flexible plastic. The plates may be closed together by flexure about the hinge (3) and fastened in the closed position by means of a latch (4). The inner faces of each plate have an applied strip of a retentive or absorbent resilient material such as rubber or plastic foam or plastic wool (5). These absorbent strips may be secured for example by projecting spikes (6) which penetrate the strip, or may be permanently or releasably bonded to the surfaces of the plates. Tinting cream may be applied to one or both of the absorbent strips and selected tufts of hair are each held in a cream coated clip; the clips are easily placed and fastened using one hand only, allowing the other hand to keep a secure grip on the tuft of hair. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Apparatus and Method of Treating Hair This invention relates to an apparatus and also to a method of treating hair and is particularly concerned with a hairdressing technique which provides for the shading or highlighting of portions of the hair only.

Modern hair dressing techniques include the shading or highlighting of hair. This produces variations or gradations of tone and colour and thus, unlike the bleaching or colouring of the hair to a single tone, requires selected tufts of hairs to receive individual treatment. Prior art techniques are carried out with a rubber skull cap having a number of apertures through which tufts of hair are drawn and then treated with bleach or dye as required. As the hair grows, the treated section of hair grows away from the scalp and the new untreated hair gradually becomes visible and if the appearance is to be maintained must be treated.

However, only the new, previously untreated hair must be treated, for if the whole length were to be repeatedly treated the tone would for example become lighter each time, which is not desirable and is also detrimental to the physical condition of the hair.

To treat only the new section of hair close to the roots the present method is to apply the tinting cream by hand to the selected hairs and then to wrap the treated hair in a metal foil strip. The purpose of the foil is to protect adjacent hair from contact with the cream. Other known methods are variations of this technique, for example a malleable wire may be incorporated in the protective shield to be twisted round the hair in order to retain the shield. Such methods are extremely time consuming and require a certain amount of expertise, as the hairdresser manipulates the cream on a swab holding the hair in one hand and then locating the foil. All of this being accomplished without allowing other hair to come into contact with the cream. An assistant is normally required.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device to facilitate treatment of the hair and a method of treating the hair using such a device.

According to this invention there is provided a device for use in treating the hair with a treatment medium, said device comprising two plate members of which adjacent sides are connected by a resilient hinge member whereby the plate members may be brought together, by flexure or pivoting about the hinge, into coplanar juxtaposed relationship, latch means being provided on the opposed opposite sides of the plates to hold the plates in such relationship and with at least one of the plates having a treatment medium absorbent material on an inner surface thereof.

The aforesaid absorbent material includes a material which is capable of retention of the treatment medium.

Preferably the hinge means is an integral part of the plates and comprises an arcuate cylindrical portion forming both a hinge and a spring member serving to normally retain the plates with the planes substantially at right angles.

The catch means may comprise a latching member integrally located on one plate with a detent to engage the opposite plate when said plates are brought into juxtaposed relationship.

One of the plates may incorporate projections which are adapted to engage the absorbent material on the other plate so as to provide a means to substantially prevent relative lateral displacement of the plates.

According to another aspect of this invention there is broadly provided a method of treating hair with a bleaching, colouring or like treatment medium wherein the absorbent material pad of the aforesaid device is impregnated or coated with said medium with the relevant tuft of hair being brought laterally between the two plates which are thereafter closed and latched together so as to retain the device on the tuft of hair.

One embodiment according to the invention is shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawing showing a perspective view of the device in an open position.

Referring to the drawing, this invention provides a device in the form of a clip which may be conveniently manufactured in plastic and comprises two flat plates 1 and 2 of rectangular shape being joined by an integral hinge of flexible plastic 3 as example. The plates may be closed together by flexure about the hinge 3 and fastened in the closed position by means of a latch 4. The inner faces of each plate have an applied strip of a retentive or absorbent resilient material such as rubber or plastic foam or plastic wool 5. These absorbent strips may be secured for example by projecting spikes 6 which penetrate the strip or may be permanently or releasably bonded to the surfaces of the plates. The drawing shows one plate with the absorbent strip removed to enable the securing spikes 6 to be seen.

In a preferred arrangement the lateral edges 5a have a thin impervious membrane to prevent treatment medium exuding when the plates are brought together.

The method of use is as follows: the hairdresser prepares the clips by applying the tinting cream to one or both of the absorbent strips; enough clips for the complete treatment may be prepared in advance and stored on a tray, back down, such that the backs do not become contaminated by the cream; the hairdresser may then select the tufts of hair to be treated and place on each a cream coated clip; the clips will be easily placed and fastened using one hand only, allowing the other hand to keep a secure grip on the tuft of hair. No assistance is normally required for placing or removing clips.

Unwanted contact of cream with other hair is avoided, which is difficult to ensure when manipulating the protective foil in the standard procedure. After use, the clips may be easily rinsed clean ready for re-use.

The clips may be manufactured in various sizes to allow variations in amounts of hair treated and to treat different lengths of new grown hair.

The construction shown in the drawing has a particular advantage in that the complete clip may be formed as a one piece moulding from a suitable plastics material. A suitable material would be a polyurethane which forms a durable hinge connection at the joint between the two plates. Because of the low cost of the clips they may be supplied pre-impregnated with suitable solutions for treatment of the hair and, for protection, may be hermetically packaged. As an alternative arrangement, the absorbent pads 5 may be supplied in sealed packages for assembly on to the clips before use.

In yet a further arrangement the pads 5 may be preimpregnated with a concentrate which is activated by moistening with water.

A further advantage of the arrangement is that the clips serve to securely trap both short and long strands of hair in a positive manner, thereby producing a more even colouring.

Claims

1. A device for use in treating the hair with a treatment medium, said device comprising two plate members of which adjacent sides are connected by a resilient hinge member whereby the plate members may be brought together, by flexure or pivoting about the hinge, into coplanar juxtaposed relationship, latch means being provided on the opposed opposite sides of the plates to hold the plates in such relationship and with at least one of the plates having a treatment medium absorbent material on an inner surface thereof.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the hinge means is an integral part of the plates and comprises an arcuate cylindrical portion forming both a hinge and a spring member serving to normally retain the plates with the planes substantially at right angles.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the catch means comprises a latching member integrally located on one plate with a detent to engage the opposite plate when said plates are brought into juxtaposed relationship.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein one of the plates incorporates projections which are adapted to engage the absorbent material on the other plate so as to provide a means to substantially prevent relative lateral displacement of the plates.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent material includes an impervious membrane around the peripheral edge.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent material is pre-impregnated with a treatment medium.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the treatment medium is concentrated, the absorbent material being adapted to take up an activating or diluent liquid medium.

8. A device according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the treatment medium, or a liquid component thereof is encapsulated in the absorbent material in a readily broken or-punctured container.

9. A device according to any preceding Claim 6 to 8, wherein the absorbent material is in a sealed package, said material being removable from said package and attachable to a plate.

10. A method of treating hair with a bleaching, colouring or like treatment medium wherein the absorbent material pad of the device of any preceding claim is impregnated or coated with said medium with the relevant tuft of hair being brought laterally between the two plates which are thereafter closed and latched together so as to retain the device on the tuft of hair.

11. A device for the purpose herein exemplified and substantially as shown in the drawing.

12. A method for the treatment of hair substantially as herein described and exemplified.