US20090101159A1

US20090101159A1 - Applicator device for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product, or for any other hair treatment

Info

Publication number: US20090101159A1
Application number: US12/300,899
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicolas Bonnafous; Bernard Amalric
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-16
Filing date: 2007-05-11
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: EP2018106A2; ATE515956T1; FR2901103A1; WO2007132088A3; ES2369528T3; WO2007132088A2; FR2901103B1; EP2018106B1

Abstract

Applicator for coloring or bleaching product for hair tresses or other hair treatment, includes a lower jaw, planar and smooth on its base, constituting a coloring compartment or area fed by the treatment product, and an upper jaw, jointed with the lower jaw, maintained closed upon it through the action of a rebound spring, requiring the tip of the jaw which comprises a joint with a soft lip to clamp the selected tresses previously added to the coloring area on the lower jaw. The joint having a lip (9) has a tapered shape along its width making a distribution and spreading area for applying color, where the traction of the tool towards the rear naturally crushes a corner of dye and causes its natural diffusion inside each tress of hair. One or more moveable reservoirs containing the coloring composition, clamped above the upper jaw, feed the coloring compartment by pressing a button.

Description

The present invention relates to an applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment.
An important present trend in the field of hair-doing is to create in the hair, colorations or discolorations of hair strands giving more or less subtle and varied effects. Sometimes the combination of several different colors giving a still more spectacular effect is also appreciated.
To this day, the dyeing of hair strands above all remained a matter for professionals, from the moment that very subtle and durable effects are sought, but the expectation of the public is to be able to individually carry out one's own decoration of hair by means of simple and practical means.
The well-known dyeing principles are of several types:

- a basic coloration by means of a colored gel but this method is very transient and its effects are inhibited during the first shampoo.
- surface coloration lodging itself in hair scales, but the effect of which remains visible from a few days to a month.
- coloration of a longer duration, a so-called perm and obtained from an extemporaneous mixture of different components which generally are a dye and an oxidizer.
- or more simply lightening obtained generally with a mixture of ammonia and oxidizer.

As for producing colored strands, there are many more or less complex methods. Two main well-known manual methods for dyeing hair strands may be mentioned, but with two major drawbacks: as the dyeing composition is not protected from the external medium, it should be used rapidly since the presence of the oxidizing agent in the composition degrades the color, and possible contact of the products with fingers is a big nuisance. These methods are:

- The use of a palette on which the hair strands extracted beforehand from the hair will be positioned, which will then be dyed by means of a brush with a dyeing product. This highly used method is not very practical and requires significant skill and is limited to use by professionals.
- The use of a bonnet sealably capping the whole of the hair and provided with holes through which are extracted the strands which just have to be subsequently dyed from the outside, the other hair being protected under the cap. The risk of dye clusters at the root of the strands gives a very fair work quality.

The use of more or less complex instruments or devices of course provides significant advantages by preserving the operator from any contact or inhalation with aggressive and toxic chemicals. Nevertheless these instruments or devices, having often been the object of patents, often remain not very performing and never solve the whole of the problems. None of them allows several different colorations to be carried simultaneously on separate strands.
The present invention relating to an applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment solves all these difficulties notably by having the following possibilities:

- Rapid production of dyed strands while observing the required quality criteria such as good regularity, integral coloration of the root at the end of the strand ensuring maximum longevity, a coloration without any excess of product, avoiding undesirable stains and runoffs.
- Possible and simultaneous production of strands with different colors.
- Confining dyeing products in the device preventing any contact with the external medium, which prevents the hand of the operator from being etched, which prevents the latter from inhaling toxic vapors, and which preserves from untimely oxidization of the products, allowing economical and optimum use of the latter.
- Preliminary extraction of the strands to be dyed or treated irregularly according to predetermined sizes and spacings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention which relates to an applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment, according to a particular embodiment is shown in a profile view in FIG. 1 and in a plane view in FIG. 2. This applicator has the shape of tongs comprising a lower jaw Rep.1 with a handle Rep.22, an upper jaw Rep.2 with a handle Rep.23, a dyeing area fed by a reservoir Rep.3 of dyeing or treatment product, a removable comb for selecting strands Rep.4. It will be noted that the jaws are voluntarily shifted sideways relatively to their corresponding maneuvering handle.
The lower jaw Rep.1 is plane and smooth at its base Rep.5, and forms a compartment or coloration area by means of its sidewalls Rep.6. The upper jaw Rep.2, which may be translucent in order to allow the operator to control the work taking place inside the device, is jointed on the previous one at the axis Rep.7 and is maintained closed on the latter by the action of the return spring Rep.8. By means of the effect of this spring, the end of the jaw which comprises a flexible lip seal gasket, Rep.9, strongly bears upon the base Rep.5 of the lower jaw on the one hand and provides the seal at the sidewalls Rep.6 on the other hand. The lip seal gasket, which may also be translucent, has over the whole of its width a relieving shape Rep.10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye.
Another seal gasket Rep.13 located in the rear portion of the upper jaw Rep.2 prevents overflowing of the product and undesirable leaks during the dyeing work. The removable reservoir Rep.3 having a main axis Rep.14 containing the hair dyeing composition is clamped above the upper jaw Rep.2, comprising at its end a tubular conduit Rep.16 which will fit into the feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and then the lip seal gasket in its centre. The main axis is equipped with a piston Rep.17 sealed by the O-ring Rep.18, capable of sliding inside the reservoir and having in the rear portion a push-rod Rep.19 facilitating its driving-in.
In the side portion of the jaw Rep.1, a removable comb Rep.4 is horizontally slipped on inside a groove Rep.20 and then simply blocked by its slightly conical tenon shape. This comb comprises a series of distributed teeth Rep.21 according to arrangements corresponding to the desired spacings for the hair strands to be dyed. These teeth are possibly tilted thereby facilitating the picking-up of hair strands.
The operating procedure for this applicator is the following:
The reservoir Rep.3 is reloaded beforehand with the product; extraction of the piston Rep.17 by means of the axis Rep.14, filling of the reservoir and replacement of the piston. The operator then selects the comb Rep.4 corresponding to the spacing and the density of the hair strands to be dyed. The strands are selected and held with one hand. With the other hand, the tongs are opened by tightening the handles Rep.22 and Rep;23, and the strands are then introduced sideways inside the aperture, this operation being highly facilitated by the fact that the maneuvering handles shifted sideways relatively to the jaws allow free passage of the hair. The jaws are then brought closer as possible to the scalp, and then by releasing the handles, the return spring Rep.8 may apply an energetic nip onto the selected strands. By pressing on the push-rod Rep.19 of the reservoir it is possible to inject the dyeing product inside the dyeing area, the latter remaining confined between the deformable lip seal gasket, side walls Rep.6 and rear seal gasket Rep.13. The backward pull of the tongs naturally squeezes by the lip seal gasket the product uniformly distributed over its length, which induces its natural diffusion inside each of the hair strands while the rear seal gasket Rep.13 avoids external overflows. The operation is prolonged until complete release of the strands.
This operation is repeated as many times as required in order to treat the whole of the hair.
In one alternative, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a removable comb Rep.29 identical with the comb Rep.4 and including teeth which are perfectly facing the latter, slipped on in the same way horizontally inside a groove Rep.30, and then simply blocked by its slightly conical tenon shape may be added as a side portion of the jaw Rep.2. Thus, when the jaws Rep.1 and Rep.2 are closed, both combs Rep.4 and Rep.29 are in perfect contact and appear as a single unique comb. For picking up hair strands, the operating procedure starts in the same way as in the case of a single comb but with the difference that upon opening the tongs; the separating jaws induce separation of both combs. In the case of thick and long strands or else in the case of frizzy or very curly hair, disentangling is then greatly facilitated.
According to another particular embodiment and shown in FIG. 5, the lower jaw Rep.1 comprises a set of compartments made by the internal partitions Rep.24, while the lip seat gasket Rep.25 is cut out into several portions sealing each of the compartments separately, at the base on the one hand and at the respective sidewalls Rep.6 or Rep.24 on the other hand, depending on the case, the lip seal gasket over the whole of its length of each of the compartments having a relieving shape Rep.10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye. At right angles to the dyeing area, at each of the compartments, a feeding orifice Rep.12 passes through the upper jaw Rep.2, and subsequently the lip seal gasket in its centre. At each of the inlets of the orifices, a specific reservoir clamped on the upper jaw will fit in at its tubular conduit Rep.16. A yoke Rep.27 enables a simultaneous pressure to be exerted on each of the push-buttons of the reservoirs.
In this case, the operating procedure of this applicator remains very similar to the previous one except that by acting on the yoke Rep.27 each piston may be pushed in, simultaneously, which induces an injection of a different dye and separately in each of the compartments and therefore colorations with varied tones may be achieved.
According to another particular embodiment, the applicator is made with a packaging according to a disposable individual treatment application kit for a festive or short-lived coloration comprising simplified tongs with a ready-to-use dye refill.

Claims

1. An applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment, in the form of tongs, characterized by its lower jaw Rep.1, plane and smooth at its base Rep.5 delimited by its sidewalls Rep.6, which form a compartment of a dyeing area supplied with the dyeing, lightening or treatment product, and then by its upper jaw Rep.2, which may be translucent so as to allow the operator to control the work taking place inside the device, jointed on the previous one at the axis Rep.7, maintained closed on the latter by the action of the return spring Rep.8, forcing the end of the jaw which comprises a flexible seal gasket Rep.9 to strongly press on the base of the lower jaw and therefore providing an energetic nip of the selected strands introduced beforehand in said dyeing area, this lip seal gasket also providing the seal at the sidewalls Rep.6, which may also be translucent, having over the whole of its width a relieving shape Rep.10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye, the backward pull of the tongs naturally squeezing the product, which induces its natural diffusion inside each of the hair strands while the gasket Rep.13 located in the rear portion of the jaw Rep.2 prevents external overflows.

2. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 1, characterized by a removable reservoir Rep.3 having a main axis Rep.14, containing the composition for dyeing or lightening or any other treatment for hair, clamped above the upper jaw Rep.2, comprising at its end a tubular conduit Rep.16 which will fit into the feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and then the lip seal gasket in its centre at right angles to the dyeing area, the main axis having in the rear portion a push-rod Rep.19, equipped with a piston Rep.17 sealed by the O-ring Rep.18, allowing sliding inside the reservoir for pushing back the product into the dyeing area.

3. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 1, characterized by the maneuvering handles Rep.22 and Rep.23 shifted sideways relatively to the jaws Rep.1 and Rep.2 such that, when the latter are open, free passage of the hair strands introduced sideways is strongly facilitated.

4. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 1, characterized by a removable comb Rep.4 located in a side portion of the lower jaw Rep.1, slipped on horizontally inside a groove Rep.20 and then simply blocked by its slightly conical tenon shape, this comb comprising a series of teeth distributed Rep.21 according to arrangements corresponding to the desired spacings for the hair strands to be dyed, these teeth may possibly be tilted, thereby facilitating the picking-up of hair strands.

5. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 1, characterized by a second removable comb Rep.29 in a side portion of the jaw Rep.2, symmetrical to the comb Rep.4 and including teeth which are perfectly facing the latter, slipped on in the same way horizontally inside a groove Rep.30 and simply blocked by its slightly conical tenon shape, thus, when the jaws Rep.1 and Rep.2 are closed, both combs Rep.4 and Rep.29 in perfect contact and appearing as a single and unique comb, separate into two combs when the jaws open.

6. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 1, characterized by the lower jaw Rep.1 comprising a set of compartments made by the internal partitions Rep.24, while the lip seal gasket Rep.25 is cut out into several portions sealing each of the compartments separately on the one hand at the base, and at the sidewalls Rep. 6 or Rep.24 on the other hand depending on the case, the lip seal gasket over the whole of its length of each of the compartments having a relieving shape Rep. 10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye, at each of the compartments, a feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and subsequently the lip seal gasket in its centre, at each of the inlets of the orifices a specific reservoir clamped on the upper jaw which will fit in at its tubular conduit Rep.16, the yoke Rep.27 allowing simultaneous pressure to be exerted on each of the push-buttons of the reservoirs.

7. An application kit for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 1, characterized by its disposable packaging for individual treatment, for festive or short-lived coloration only comprising tongs with its two jaws Rep.1 and Rep.2 forming a single narrow compartment for providing the treatment of a single strand, the reservoir Rep.3 being a ready-to-use refill.

8. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 2, characterized by the lower jaw Rep.1 comprising a set of compartments made by the internal partitions Rep.24, while the lip seal gasket Rep.25 is cut out into several portions sealing each of the compartments separately on the one hand at the base, and at the sidewalls Rep. 6 or Rep.24 on the other hand depending on the case, the lip seal gasket over the whole of its length of each of the compartments having a relieving shape Rep. 10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye, at each of the compartments, a feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and subsequently the lip seal gasket in its centre, at each of the inlets of the orifices a specific reservoir clamped on the upper jaw which will fit in at its tubular conduit Rep.16, the yoke Rep.27 allowing simultaneous pressure to be exerted on each of the push-buttons of the reservoirs.

9. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 3, characterized by the lower jaw Rep.1 comprising a set of compartments made by the internal partitions Rep.24, while the lip seal gasket Rep.25 is cut out into several portions sealing each of the compartments separately on the one hand at the base, and at the sidewalls Rep. 6 or Rep.24 on the other hand depending on the case, the lip seal gasket over the whole of its length of each of the compartments having a relieving shape Rep. 10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye, at each of the compartments, a feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and subsequently the lip seal gasket in its centre, at each of the inlets of the orifices a specific reservoir clamped on the upper jaw which will fit in at its tubular conduit Rep.16, the yoke Rep.27 allowing simultaneous pressure to be exerted on each of the push-buttons of the reservoirs.

10. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 4, characterized by the lower jaw Rep.1 comprising a set of compartments made by the internal partitions Rep.24, while the lip seal gasket Rep.25 is cut out into several portions sealing each of the compartments separately on the one hand at the base, and at the sidewalls Rep. 6 or Rep.24 on the other hand depending on the case, the lip seal gasket over the whole of its length of each of the compartments having a relieving shape Rep. 10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye, at each of the compartments, a feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and subsequently the lip seal gasket in its centre, at each of the inlets of the orifices a specific reservoir clamped on the upper jaw which will fit in at its tubular conduit Rep.16, the yoke Rep.27 allowing simultaneous pressure to be exerted on each of the push-buttons of the reservoirs.

11. The applicator for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 5, characterized by the lower jaw Rep.1 comprising a set of compartments made by the internal partitions Rep.24, while the lip seal gasket Rep.25 is cut out into several portions sealing each of the compartments separately on the one hand at the base, and at the sidewalls Rep. 6 or Rep.24 on the other hand depending on the case, the lip seal gasket over the whole of its length of each of the compartments having a relieving shape Rep. 10 somewhat providing a distributing and spreading area for applying the dye, at each of the compartments, a feeding orifice Rep.12 passing through the upper jaw Rep.2, and subsequently the lip seal gasket in its centre, at each of the inlets of the orifices a specific reservoir clamped on the upper jaw which will fit in at its tubular conduit Rep.16, the yoke Rep.27 allowing simultaneous pressure to be exerted on each of the push-buttons of the reservoirs.

12. An application kit for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 2, characterized by its disposable packaging for individual treatment, for festive or short-lived coloration only comprising tongs with its two jaws Rep.1 and Rep.2 forming a single narrow compartment for providing the treatment of a single strand, the reservoir Rep.3 being a ready-to-use refill.

13. An application kit for a hair strand dyeing or lightening product or for any other hair treatment according to claim 3, characterized by its disposable packaging for individual treatment, for festive or short-lived coloration only comprising tongs with its two jaws Rep.1 and Rep.2 forming a single narrow compartment for providing the treatment of a single strand, the reservoir Rep.3 being a ready-to-use refill.