GB2524105A - An applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair colourant applicator 10 comprises a colourant receptacle 15 and a top 20. Hair strands are positioned between the receptacle, which contains the colourant, and the top 20. The hair is pressed into the colourant held in receptacle 15 by the pressing the top 20. The hair strands are drawn through the applicator in use to apply colourant to the length of the strands. The colorant receptacle 15 and the top 20 are preferably connected together by a hinge. The top 20 may comprise a depression which extends into the receptacle 15 in use. The applicator is preferably formed from a plastic material. The applicator is particularly useful for solid hair colourant in brick form.

Description

AN APPLICATOR

The present invention relates generally to an applicator and particularly to an applicator for applying hair colourant.

It is known to deliver solid hair colourant through pencils to give a very vibrant (usually temporary) colour. However, the pencil allows delivery of only a little hair colourant at a time.

The present invention seeks to provide improvement in or relating to solid hair colourant applications.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a solid hair colourant applicator comprises a colourant receptacle and a top between which hair strands can be positioned and being arranged so that set strands can be pressed on to colourant in the receptacle by the top, such that strands can be drawn through the applicator to apply colourant there to in use.

The present invention therefore provides a reservoir of solid hair colourant and a means for pressing hair strands onto the colourant in such a way that the hair strands can be moved through the colourant (either by moving the applicator and/or the strands) with the strands pressed onto or into the colourant by the top so that the colourant is applied.

This gives the possibility for a much broader application of colourant. In addition by using a receptacle and the top in this way the user does not need to come into contact with the colourant as it is being applied.

The receptacle and the top maybe connected or connectable together, for example they may be joined by a hinge such as a film or living hinge.

In some embodiments the thickness of the material used to form a hinge is in the range 100 to 400 microns, for example, 200 to 300 microns. Different thicknesses of material may be used to alter the "spring" in the hinge. In some embodiments it may be preferable for the top to be biased to a position, for example the closed or open position.

The top may be folded onto the colourant in use.

The top may comprise a depression, protmsion or the like which can extend into the receptacle in use so that as the hair colourant is used up the top can still press hair strands into or onto it. To form the depression the top maybe shaped and/or a boss or the like may project down from the top.

The applicator may be formed from a plastics material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PET or high impact polystyrene.

In some embodiments the applicator is formed as a tray, with a lid and a base and an active hinge joining the lid and the base.

In some embodiments, to use the applicator a bunch of hair strands is selected and placed onto the receptacle. The lid is then closed and the strands are drawn through the applicator to apply colourant. As the colourant starts to wear down, the dome, projection or the like on the lid, if provided, keeps good tension on the hair strands so that the pack continues to pay off.

The applicator may be formed using a vacuum forming technique and the present invention also provides a tool for the formation of applicators.

Once the applicator is formed, for example by vacuum forming, injection moulding, compression moulding or the like, hair colourant may be liquid filled into the base/ receptacle. The colourant then solidifies ready for use.

The receptacle may be provided with one or more features to help retain the solid hair colourant "brick" or the like. For example, tabs, ribs and the like may be provided in or on the receptacle.

The present invention also provides an applicator as described herein filled with solid hair colourant.

The present invention also provides an applicator as described herein in combination with a container. The container may be, for example, a package, a box or the like and in some embodiments the pack is configured so that the applicator can be slid into and out of the container.

The present invention also provides a method of applying hair colourant to hair as described herein.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicifly set out in the claims.

The present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an applicator formed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a magnified view of a top component forming part of the applicator of figure 1; Figure 3 is a magnified view of a receptacle component forming part of the applicator of figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the receptacle of figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective top view of a colourant brick formed in the receptacle of figure 4; Figure 6 is an underside perspective view of the brick of figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the applicator of figure one shown filled with the brick of figure 5; Figure 8 is a side view of the applicator of figure 7; Figure 9 is a front view of the applicator of figure 7; Figure 10 is a view of the applicator of figures seven to nine shown in an open position and with hair strands positioned on the receptacle; Figure 11 is a view showing the receptacle of figure 10 with the lid closed onto the hair strands; Figure 12 shows an applicator formed according to the present invention together with a container formed according to the present invention; Figure 13 shows the applicator of figure 12 partially inserted into the container; Figure 14 shows the applicator of figure 13 fully inserted into the container; Figure 15 shows an end perspective view of the pack of figure 14; Figure 16 is a top perspective view of moulding tool formed according to the present invention; Figure 17 is a bottom perspective view of the tool of figure 16; Figure 18 is a magnified view of a region of the tool of figures 16 and 17 in a lid-forming region; Figure 19 is a bottom view of the region of figure 18; Figure 20 is a top perspective view of a receptacle-forming region of the tool; and Figure 21 is a bottom view of the region of figure 20.

Referring first to figure 1 there is shown an applicator fray generally indicated 10. The tray 10 comprises a base or receptacle 15 and a lid or top 20. The receptacle 15 and lid are joined by an active hinge 25.

Referring now also to figure 2 the lid 20 is generally rectangular, with a central dome 30 extending from a surrounding laminar plate 35.

Referring now also to figure 3 the receptacle 15 comprises a generally rectangtilar (with curved corners) upstanding wall 40 with a generally rectangular floor 45. The floor includes a plurality (in this embodiment 4) of longitudinal channels 46. The wall 40 includes a projecting tab 47 on each of its 4 inner surfaces.

In this embodiment a quantity of hair colourant is liquid filled into the receptacle 15 and then solidifies to form a solid brick. Such a brick 50 is shown removed from the receptacle in figures 5 and 6. It will be seen that the brick 50 is a generally parallelepiped shape the underside of which includes ribs 51 formed by the receptacle channels 46. and recesses 52 formed by the receptacle tabs 47. These features help to retain the brick 50 in the receptacle 15 in use.

The completed applicator pack 1 is shown in figures 7 and 8, with the solidified hair colourant brick 50 retained in the receptacle 15. It will be noted that the dome 30 is a concavity which is directed towards the receptacle 15.

In order to use the pack 1 the lid 20 is folded away from the receptacle 15 as shown in figure 9. This allows a number of hair strands 55 to be laid across the hair colorant brick 50 as shown in figure 10. The lid 20 can now be closed onto the hair strands 55 as shown in figure 11. The sfrands 55 can now be draw through the pack. The lid dome presses these strands 55 onto the formulation brick 50 so that as the strands are drawn through the pack colourant is applied.

In figure 12 a pack 101 of the same general type as that described in relation to figures 1 to 11 is shown. The pack 101 is shown together with a container 160, which in this embodiment is a generally parallelepiped packet. In figure 13 the pack 101 is shown being slid into the pack 160. In this embodiment the pack is configured so that when in the closed position it can be inserted with the hinge 125 last, so that when the pack 101 is fully inserted as shown in figures 14 and 15 the hinge 125 is visible and could therefore, for example, be used for advertising or information purposes. In this embodiment the upper and lower major faces of the container 160 include a semi-circular cut out 161 so that the pack 101 can be easily grasped and pulled out.

Referring now to Figures 16 to 21 there is shown a tool/mould 170 suitable for forming applicator frays according to the present invention. Accordingly, the tool includes receptacle 175, hinge 180 and lid 185 regions corresponding to those parts of a tray.

In this embodiment the tool is adapted for vacuum forming and accordingly includes a plurality of vent holes 190.

In use a sheet a plastics material is heated until soft and then draped over the tool. A vacuum is applied sucking the sheet into the mould. The formed fray then cools and is ejected from the tool.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS1. A hair colourant applicator comprising a colourant receptacle and a top between which hair strands can be positioned and being arranged so that said strands can be pressed onto colourant in the receptacle by the top, such that strands can be drawn through the applicator to apply colourant thereto in use.
2. 2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the receptacle and top are connected or connectable together.
3. 3. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the receptacle and top are joined together by a hinge.
4. 4. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the top is folded onto the colourant in use.
5. 5. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the top comprises a depression.
6. 6. An applicator as claimed in claim 5, in which the extent of the depression is such that it can extend into the receptacle in use.
7. 7. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the applicator is formed from a plastics material.
8. 8. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the applicator is formed by a vacuum forming process.
9. 9. A disposable solid hair colourant applicator comprising an applicator as claimed in any preceding claim.
10. 10. An applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to. and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
11. 11. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim and being filled with solid hair colourant.
12. 12. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a container.
13. 13. A method of forming a solid hair colourant applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
14. 14. A tool for forming an applicator as described herein.
15. 15. A tool for forming an applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.