GB2404577A

GB2404577A - Hairbrush

Info

Publication number: GB2404577A
Application number: GB0318519A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michele Jurasinski; Wojtek Jurasinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-07
Filing date: 2003-08-07
Publication date: 2005-02-09
Also published as: GB0318519D0

Abstract

A hairbrush (10) comprises two brush heads (14) and biassing means (18) for biassing the brush heads together. Connected to each brush head is a handle (16). When the handles are pressed towards each other they act against the biassing means, thereby to move the brush heads away from each other, so that hair can be positioned between them. When the handles are subsequently released, the coil spring automatically acts to cause the brush heads to return to their biassed position with the hair clamped between them.

Description

A Hairbrush The present invention relates to a hairbrush. In particular, the present invention relates to a hairbrush for straightening hair. Background to the invention Hair straightening can be done by experienced hairdressers merely by drying hair using a conventional hairbrush and hair dryer. However, this is difficult for individuals to do at home when they are drying their own hair. One solution to this problem is to use electrical hair straighteners or tongs. Typically these include heated plates, between which hair has to be placed. When the plates are brought together, the combined effect of the heat and the pressure causes the hair to be straightened. Whilst these electrical straighteners are effective, a problem is that heat is applied directly to the hair, which can cause damage. Another known solution is the Denman Thermo straightening brush, which is designed to be used in conjunction with a hair dryer. This has two brushes that are hinged together at their ends so that they can be pressed towards each other in use. However, this is difficult to use. US 6,367,111 describes another hair care product that has two brushes that are hinged together at their ends, although this is designed to hold hair in place during drying and not for the purpose of straightening hair. An object of the invention is to overcome one or more of the problems with known arrangements for straightening hair.

Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a hairbrush comprising two brushes that are biased towards each other for clamping hair therebetween. By resiliently biasing the brushes towards each other, there is provided a simple and effective mechanism for clamping hair in such a manner that when the brush is used during drying, the user's hair can be straightened. Because the brushes are naturally biased towards each other in their normal state, the user does not need to apply pressure to them, so that all the user's strength can go into pulling the brushes away from the head, thereby improving the ease of use. Preferably, the hairbrush comprises biasing means for biasing the brush heads together. The biasing means may comprise a spring, such as a coil spring. Preferably, a handle is associated with each brush head. Preferably the or each handle is able to move against the biasing action of the biasing means, thereby to move at least one of the brush heads away from the other, preferably both of the brush heads away from each other. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hairbrush comprising a brush that is biased against another part for clamping hair therebetween, preferably wherein the other part is another brush. Brief Description of the Drawings Various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a hair straightening brush; Figure 2 is a plan view of the brush of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a first step in a hair straightening process that uses the brush of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the next step in the process of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the next step in the process of Figures 3 and 4. Specific Description of the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 show a hairbrush 10 that can be used for straightening hair. This has two identical brush parts 12, each of these having a brush head 14 that has bristles 15 and a handle 16 that extends from the brush head 14 and is tapered along its length. The brush parts 12 may be made of any suitable material such as plastic or wood, and may be of any desired shape. Likewise the bristles may be made of any suitable material such as plastic or nylon. The brush parts 12 are pivotally connected by a coil spring 18 that extends at least partially around both parts 12 and acts to bias the brush heads 14 together so that in a normal state the bristles 15 of each are either touching or interlinked/interleaved, and the handles 16 are separated. Pressing the handles 16 towards each other acts against the coil spring 18 and causes the brush parts 12 to pivot, which in turn causes the brush heads 14 to move apart, as shown in Figure 3. When the brush 10 is in its opened state, hair can be placed between the heads 14, as shown in Figure 4. When the handles 16 are released, the coil spring 18 automatically acts to cause the brush heads 14 to return to their normal closed state in which the brush heads 12 are biased together. This means that any hair between the heads is clamped therebetween, as shown in Figure 5. In order to straighten hair along its full length, ideally the hair near the user' s scalp should be clamped first. Once this is done, the user can straighten their hair by gradually pulling the brush away from their head whilst blow-drying the hair that the brush has moved over. This is a very simple and effective technique for straightening hair. A skilled person will appreciate that variations of the disclosed ideas are possible without departing from the invention. For example although the hairbrush shown in the drawings has two brush heads, it will be appreciated that there may be more than this. In addition, one or both of the brush heads could have a comb portion (not shown) fitted to one or more of its outer edges. In use, the brush would be positioned so that the comb portion would be downstream of the bristles, i.e. closer to the user's head, so that the dry hair as well as being straightened would be finely combed. As yet another alternative, rather than having two brushes that are biased against each other, a single brush could be provided, which brush is biased against another part, such as a plate (not shown).Accordingly, the description of a specific embodiment is made by way of example only and not for the purposes of limitation. It will be clear to the skilled person that minor modifications may be made without significant changes to the operation.

Claims

1. A hairbrush comprising two brushes that are biased together for clamping hair therebetween.

2. A hairbrush as claimed in claim 1 comprising biasing means for biasing the two brushes together.

3. A hairbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the biasing means comprise a spring, such as a coil spring.

4. A hairbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a handle is associated with each brush.

5. A hairbrush as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each handle is able to cause movement against the biasing action, thereby to move one of the brushes away from the other or both of the brushes away from each other.

6. A hairbrush comprising two brush heads and biasing means for biasing the two brush heads together.

7. A hairbrush comprising a brush that is biased against another part for clamping hair therebetween.

8. A hairbrush as claimed in claim 7 wherein the other part is another brush.

9. A hairbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising a comb portion.