GB2600146A

GB2600146A - Improvements in or relating to an apparatus for hair care

Info

Publication number: GB2600146A
Application number: GB2016830.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Van Engen Marcel
Original assignee: Magnimopus Ltd
Current assignee: Magnimopus Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-23
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: GB202016830D0

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for hair care comprising bristles or teeth 3 for manipulating a user's hair and a fluid dispensing device 5 for delivering a haircare product directly to the hair. The apparatus may also be configured to manipulate and deliver product to a user’s scalp or skin. The apparatus may comprise a reservoir 11 for storing fluid 8 and a nebuliser for atomising the product. The nebuliser may comprise a mesh or gauze 9 caused to vibrate by a piezoelectric element 10. The fluid dispensing device may be located within a brush head. A method of dispensing a product to the user’s hair, scalp or skin is also disclosed.

Description

Improvements in or Relating to an Apparatus for Hair Care The present invention relates to an apparatus for hair care, preferably in the form of a comb or hairbrush, and the associated use of such an apparatus. The present invention also relates to a method for improving dispersion and/or delivery of a product to a user's hair, scalp, and/or skin.

There is a need for delivery of therapeutic and non-therapeutic products to the hair and/or scalp, which is shown by there being a wide range of different apparatus and methods in the art for delivery of such products. The delivery of cosmetic products to the hair / scalp is a cornerstone of the well-being and beauty market, and such products include hair care products, fragrances, nutraceuticals and/or cosmeceuticals.

To be effective, such products, whether medicinal or non-medicinal, or whether therapeutic or non-therapeutic, must be delivered and physically available at a target area in sufficient amount, quantity or concentration to exert a beneficial effect, being either a therapeutic effect for medicinal products or non-therapeutic but beneficial effect for non-medicinal products, the effect depending upon what is being delivered. Unfortunately, many known products do not easily or adequately deliver the products to target area(s). Hair can be a hard medium within which to adequately disperse a product, especially if the product is concentrated, and it can also be difficult to adequately deliver a product through the hair to the scalp, owing to the hair getting in the way. There is, therefore, a need for improvement.

The present invention is aimed at providing an apparatus and associated method which do not suffer from the disadvantages associated with prior art methods and apparatus. In particular, the invention is aimed at increasing directional penetration of products throughout the hair and/or scalp.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for hair care, comprising: means for manipulating a user's hair, scalp and/or skin, so as to improve delivery of a product to said hair, scalp and/or skin; and means for delivering said product directly to said hair, scalp and/or skin of said user.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for manipulating a user's hair and/or scalp, so as to improve delivery of said product to a head of said user.

Most preferably, the apparatus delivers said product to the roots of the hair, the hair and/or scalp.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for selectively delivering said product directly to said hair, scalp and/or skin of said user.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises actuation means for the means for delivering so as to selectively deliver said product to said hair, scalp and/or skin. Preferably, the means for delivering comprises a reservoir, for supplying said product. Most preferably, the reservoir comprises storage means for a liquefied, gel-or paste-like, powdered or particulate product. The storage means may be pressurised storage means.

Preferably, the means for delivering further comprises liquid, gel, paste, powder or particulate delivery means.

Most preferably, the means for delivering comprises a nebuliser, for converting a liquid product into a fine spray.

Further preferably, the nebuliser comprises a piezo mesh or vibrating mesh membrane, for atomising said product.

Most preferably, the means for delivering comprises a/the reservoir of said product in fluid communication with a/the piezo mesh which, when actuated, atomises said product and provides a fine spray of said product which is easily delivered and dispersed during manipulation of said user's hair, scalp and/or skin, making the product more easily absorbed or adsorbed.

Preferably, the means for delivering is located in close proximity to or adjacent the means for manipulating. Alternatively, the means for delivering is located at least partially within the means for manipulating, or is located substantially within the means for manipulating, so as to improve delivery and dispersion. Most preferably, the means for delivering is located centrally within the means for manipulating.

The product may be a hair care product, fragrance, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and/or a pharmaceutical.

Preferably, the means for manipulating comprises one or more of the group comprising: a tooth; a plurality of teeth; a bristle; a plurality of bristles; and/or one or more massaging means for directly contacting said scalp or skin of said user.

The apparatus is, most preferably, a comb or hairbrush.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for improving dispersion and/or delivery of a product to a user's hair, scalp and/or skin, comprising: manipulating said user's hair, scalp and/or skin whilst delivering said product directly to said user's hair, scalp and/or skin.

Preferably, the method comprises manipulating said user's hair and/or scalp whilst delivering said product directly to said user's head.

Preferably, the method comprises selectively actuating delivery of said product directly to said user's hair, scalp and/or skin.

Most preferably the method comprises atomising or nebulising a liquefied product to provide a fine spray and, thereby, delivering and dispersing the product.

Further preferably, delivering the product within close proximity of or adjacent a means for manipulating said user's hair, scalp or skin, or delivering said product at least partially or totally within a means for manipulating said user's hair, scalp or skin.

Preferably, the product is a non-therapeutic fragrance, nutraceutical and/or cosmeceutical of no known therapeutic effect.

Most preferably, the method further comprises an apparatus according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides use of an apparatus according to the first aspect so as to deliver a non-therapeutic fragrance, nutraceutical and/or cosmetic product to a user's hair, scalp or skin, so as to improve delivery and/or dispersion of the non-therapeutic product.

Advantageously, delivery and/or dispersion of a product is improved by stimulating the hair and/or scalp whilst delivering the product directly to a user's hair, scalp and/or skin.

Further advantageously, delivery and/or dispersion is improved by stimulating the hair and/or scalp whilst nebulising a product directly into the hair and/or scalp. In addition, such actions do not prevent the hair from being styled at the same time.

A nebulising delivering technique is advantageous in these circumstances because it provides local or systemic delivery of a product, whether active or non-active, in a desired concentration that is unaltered or unaffected by the normal functioning of the apparatus.

Advantageously, a product is more readily and easily adsorbed or absorbed onto or into a user's hair, scalp and/or skin.

The product is nebulised and turned into a mist. The mist penetrates the roots of the hair, the hair and/or scalp, whilst brushing activity enhances an even spreading of the nebulised substance throughout.

As the product is supplied as micron-sized droplets, it adds no weight to the hair. Further, coverage and penetration are improved owing to the size of the droplets, and this is further improved by the distance from hairbrush to hair provided by the invention.

The apparatus does not create heat nor is heat created in the transition from fluid into mist. Therefore the products are not thermally degraded.

Further, operation of the apparatus creates no additional noise to normal noises associated with brushing.

A defined length of the brush teeth ensures that, for scalp treatment, a correct distance from dispenser to scalp is provided for maximum coverage.

The invention will now be disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hairbrush; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hairbrush of Figure 1 along the line A-A; and Figure 3 is an in-use perspective view of the hairbrush of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 1 to 3 show a hairbrush according to the present invention, hereinafter identified by reference 1. The hairbrush 1 includes a handle 2 and brush head 3.

The handle 2 provides both a convenient way of holding the hairbrush 1, but also provides a way of actuating a means for delivering a product (described more in relation to Figure 2), as it includes an actuator 4. In the present example, the actuator is a switch 4.

The brush head 3 includes a plurality of teeth 3a which are provided to manipulate a user's hair and/or scalp specifically -although they could manipulate skin generally -and also includes a dispenser 5, for dispensing the product directly to the hair, scalp and/or skin of the user.

The main workings of the hairbrush are shown in Figure 2, which provides a cross-section along the line A-A of Figure 1. As can be seen in Figure 2, the hairbrush 1 has various internal components including: a battery 6, located in the handle 2; low-voltage circuitry 7, located in the brush head 3; a reservoir 8 for storing the product to be dispensed, located in the brush head 3; internal parts of the switch 4, located in an adjoining section of the handle 2 and brush head 3; and internal parts of the dispenser 5, also located in the brush head 3. The switch 4, dispenser 5, battery 6, circuitry 7 and reservoir 8 are all operably connected such that a simple 15 flick of the switch 4 can dispense the product from the dispenser.

The dispenser 5 includes a mesh 9, which can be driven to vibrate by a piezo element 10, and the mesh 9 is in fluid communication with the contents of the reservoir 8, being a liquid 11 (the product) such that, by vibrating the mesh 9, liquid 11 in the reservoir 8 can be nebulised.

As shown in Figure 2, the reservoir 8 and mesh 9 are arranged such that, in normal use of the product in brushing one's hair, gravity alone keeps the liquid 11 in the reservoir 8 in fluid communication with the mesh 9; however, this is only an exemplary embodiment.

The hairbrush is preferably waterproof and easily cleaned, and may have access panels for removal and changing the battery and/or so as to refill or exchanging the reservoir.

Those skilled in the art will understand that, in this preferred embodiment, the apparatus is configured to deliver a product as a fine mist by means of high frequency piezo element 10 and membrane / mesh 9.

In use, as shown in Figure 3, the dispenser 5 is engaged by flicking the switch 4, and this is done selectively by a user of the hairbrush 1. It should, therefore, be noted that the hairbrush 1 can be used normally, i.e. without dispensing, and that maximises the utility of the hairbrush -although its intended purpose is to improve dispersion and/or delivery of a product to a user's hair, scalp and/or skin.

Once actuated, the circuitry 7 engages the piezo element 10, which acts to vibrate the mesh 9. The piezo element 10 starts to resonate at a defined high frequency (Hz), which causes the mesh to vibrate at that frequency. Liquid 11 in the reservoir 8, which is in fluid communication with the mesh 9, is actively sucked into the mesh 9 owing to its movement, and then pushed out the other side creating a fine mist 12 of micron-sized droplets. The hairbrush 1 will continue to dispense the fine mist 12 of the liquid 11 until actuation ceases, or the reservoir 8 runs dry. The apparatus may be used and reused a number of times until such time as either the battery or product runs out, at which time the battery or reservoir can be exchanged, or the reservoir refilled, or battery recharged.

Specifically, a user of the hairbrush 1 may use the hairbrush 1 in its conventional sense so as to brush, comb or style one's hair; however, the user can then selectively dispense a hair care product located in the hairbrush directly to the hair or scalp of the user.

Through manipulating the user's hair / scalp and, together, dispensing a fine mist of the product directly to the hair / scalp of the user, improved dispersion and/or delivery of the product to the hair / scalp of the user is provided, which enhances adsorption / absorption.

In an alternative to the hair care product mentioned above, the hair brush could contain a fragrance, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and/or a pharmaceutical.

In further alternatives, the hairbrush may be configured to: dispense a set amount of product; switch off after a set amount of time; shut down if the reservoir runs dry; and/or prevent actuation if no reservoir or liquid in the reservoir is detected.

In further alternatives, the hairbrush may be configured to: communicate using short-range communications, such as BluetoothTM or NFCTM; record a number of treatments or actuations of the hairbrush; identify a number of remaining treatments or actuations; pair with a mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone; identify additional treatments, products and/or techniques for use -such things being customer driven, hair-type driven and/or treatment driven; and/or ensure full treatment of a target area by considering the application area and/or position of the hairbrush with the target area.

Typically, the mesh is part of the hairbrush and not the reservoir, such that it can be easily reused. However, such is also deemed a serviceable component.

Although it is not intended to be bound by theory, those skilled in the art will know that a liquid to be nebulised needs to be of a certain viscosity, diffusivity and have a specific surface tension so as to enable the liquid to nebulised by the piezo / mesh combination. Beyond stating this, no further details are required since the skilled person already has such knowledge.

In an alternative embodiment, an actuator could act directly upon a reservoir of product to be dispensed, and utilise a spray head or nozzle so as to dispense the product. Further alternatively, the reservoir could contain a pressurised product such that actuation simply opens a valve, allowing the pressurised product to be dispensed. Further alternatively, the actuator could be pumped so as to draw a product from the reservoir to the dispenser and, thereby, dispense the product.

In a further alternative, the utility of this invention may be enhanced by pairing it with a specific drug delivery system that operates in conjunction with the device to promote the passage of active agents as close to and in the right quantity to the scalp, hair and/or skin.

Claims

Claims: An apparatus for hair care, comprising: means for manipulating a user's hair, scalp and/or skin, so as to improve delivery of a product to said hair, scalp and/or skin; and means for delivering said product directly to said hair, scalp and/or skin of said user.
2.) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for manipulating a user's hair and/or scalp, so as to improve delivery of said product to a head of said user.
3.) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising means for selectively delivering said product directly to said hair, scalp and/or skin of said user.
4.) An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising actuation means for the means for delivering so as to selectively deliver said product to said hair, scalp and/or skin.
5.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for delivering comprises a reservoir, for supplying said product.
6.) An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reservoir comprises storage means for a liquefied, gel-or paste-like, powdered or particulate product.
7.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for delivering further comprises liquid, gel, paste, powder or particulate delivery means.
8.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for delivering comprises a nebuliser, for converting a liquid product into a fine spray.
9.) An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the nebuliser comprises a piezo mesh or vibrating mesh membrane, for atomising said product.
10.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for delivering comprises a/the reservoir of said product in fluid communication with a/the piezo mesh which, when actuated, atomises said product and provides a fine spray of said product which is easily delivered and dispersed during manipulation of said user's hair, scalp and/or skin.
11.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for delivering is located in close proximity to or adjacent the means for manipulating.
12.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for delivering is located at least partially within the means for manipulating, or is located substantially within the means for manipulating, so as to improve delivery and dispersion.
13.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said product is a hair care product, fragrance, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and/or a pharmaceutical.
14.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for manipulating comprises one or more of the group comprising: a tooth; a plurality of teeth; a bristle; a plurality of bristles; and/or one or more massaging means for directly contacting said scalp or skin of said user.
15.) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is a comb or hairbrush.
16.) A method for improving dispersion and/or delivery of a product to a user's hair, scalp and/or skin, comprising: manipulating said user's hair, scalp and/or skin whilst delivering said product directly to the user's hair, scalp and/or skin.
17.) A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising manipulating said user's hair and/or scalp whilst delivering said product directly to said user's head.
18.) A method as claimed in claim 16 or 17 comprising selectively actuating delivery of said product directly to said user's hair, scalp and/or skin.
19.) A method as claimed in claim any one of claims 16 to 18 comprising atomising or nebulising a liquefied product to provide a fine spray and, thereby, delivering and dispersing the product.
20.) A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the product is a non-therapeutic fragrance, nutraceutical and/or cosmeceutical of no known therapeutic effect.
21.) A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 further comprising an apparatus according any one of claims 1 to 15.
22.) Use of an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15 so as to deliver a non-therapeutic fragrance, nutraceutical and/or cosmetic product to a user's hair, scalp or skin, so as to improve delivery and/or dispersion of the non-therapeutic product.