US2315153A - Hair washing sink - Google Patents

Description

F. H. ELLINGER HAIR WASHING SINK 7 March 30, 1943.

Filed Feb. 2, 1942 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR WASHING SINK Flora H. Ellinger, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,247

8 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to improvements in hair washing and rinsing apparatus, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of combined sink and seat fixtures for use in beauty parlors, barber shops or the like.

Generally define-d, an object of the invention is to provide an improved sink, especially useful while washing and rinsing hair, which is simple in construction and highly efficient in operation.

When shampooing or washing hair at beauty parlors or barber shops, it is generally the practice to apply shampoo or soap to the customers head either \while the individual is seated in an ordinary barber chair, usually located considerable distance from the rinsing sink, or while the customer is seated awkwardly before the sink with his or her head bent thereover. In either case, the individual is provided with an apron tied about the neck and draped over the shoulders for protection against dripping. After the hair has been adequately soaped' and rubbed, the customer is placed before the sink for the hair rinsing operation in one of two positions, either facing and bent uncomfortably over the sink or facing away from the sink with the head inclined backwardly over a metal tray shaped to fit into the neck and to conduct the rinsing water away from the head to the sink. Both of these methods of washing and rinsing hair are objectionable since in each case the customer is placed in awkward and uncomfortable positions and even the .provision of an apron or cape does not eifectively prevent soap or water drippings from trickling down the individuals neck or on to his or her clothes. Furthermore, the person doing the washing and rinsing must be very careful not to splash soap and water, and consequently the customers hair may not always be thoroughly rinsed of suds.

It is, therefore, a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved unitary sink at which a person may be comfortably seated in normal upright position for hair washing and rinsing with minimum danger of becoming wet during the operation.

A further specific object of my invention is to .provide a combined sink and seat fixture which may be effectively utilized for both washing and rinsing hair, and which is rigid in construction and highly attractive in appearance.

An additional specific object of this invention is to provide a sink which may be eiiiciently used for numerous purposes, and which may be readily manufactured, sold and operated at moderate cost.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved sink assemblage wherein the operator may be conveniently located in close proximity to the head of the individual .whose hair are'being treated, and within easy reach of the water supply valves and spray head.

These and other specific objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing sink assemblages built in accordance with my invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one of my improved special sinks; and

Fig.2 is a central vertical section throughthe improved sink unit.

While the invention has been shown herein as being applied to a combined sink and seat assemblage especially adapted for hair washing purposes in beauty parlors and barber shops, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the improved unitary sink structure comprises in general, a sink 5 having a relatively deep. and extendeddrainage basin 6, water supply means including hot and cold water supply .valves 1, 8 associated with a central delivery spout 9 and a spray head. In associated with the valves 1, 8 by means of a flexible hose I I, and a. seat 12 having a back i3 provided with a head rest I l disposed medially of and near the front of the basin 6.

The unitary sink 5 andseat l2 may be supported on legs l5, or it may be hung from a wall, and a cushion l6 may be provided for the seat [2. The sink 5 is also preferably formedwith a recess H at one corner thereof, and the basin 6 extends forwardly on opposite sides of theseat I2 to form drainage. pockets 18 while the sides of the seat l2 are formed with elevated portions 23 adjacent the pockets l8.

The spray head [0 is normally supported in an opening [9 conveniently locatedv near the water supply valves 1, 8, and the hose H is normally concealed beneath the deck of the sink 5. A diverter valve 28 for divertingthe water supplied through the valves 1, 8 to either the spout 9 or' spray head IE) is also provided near the valves 1, 8, and a drain 2| is located centrally at the bottom of the basin 6 for conducting spent water therefrom. The bottom of the basin 6 is preferably located in approximitely horizontal alinement with the top of the cushion l6, and the head rest [4 extends a considerable distance above the upper open end of the basin 6. The back l3 of the seat l2 slopes rearwardly, and the upper portion l3 adjacent the head rest [4 is preferably inclined rearwardly at a greater angle. This formation of the seat l2 and basin 6 and location of the water supply valves 1, 8, co-operates with the corner recess I! to permit the operator to readily reach the control valves and spray head and to conveniently work on the head of an occupant of-the seat.

The head rest 14 is preferably saddle-shaped to fit the neck of an individual at the base of V the skull, and may be formed with a relatively resilient supporting surface such as sponge rubber in order to more rapidly conform to the neck contour and to assure a snug coaction. So as to permit adjustment of the seat for proper cooperation with diverse individuals, the head rest l4 may be made vertically adjustable by mountingthe same on an elongated member 22 which is slidably supported in the back l3 of the seat l2, and themember 22 may either be frictionally retained in various positions of adjustment, or it may be provided with the usual ratchet.

' During normal use of the improved sink unit, the individual whose hair is to be washed is first seated in the seat l2, and a flaring protective collar of relatively heavy sheeting and having suitable draining grooves therein is fastened about the neck of the occupant with the outer edge of the collar overlapping and resting upon the elevated portions 23 and the rest [4 of the seat to effectively conduct excess soap and splash water to the pockets [8 and basin 6. The provision of a grooved collar of relatively heavy sheeting facilitates drainage of the water to the basin by reason of the smooth surface thereof, and when the edge of the collar is resting upon the rest I4 and elevated portion 23' of the seat, the weight on.

the shoulder and neck of the individual is reduced to a minimum. While the occupant is seated comfortably in a natural upright position, the operator may stand within the corner recess ll of the sink 5 within easy reach of the occupants head and of the flow control valves 1, 8, and and spray head Ill; The individuals head may then be thoroughly soaped or shampooed by the operator with minimum danger of splashing the occupants clothes or the surrounding floor.

After the soaping operation has been completed, the individuals head may be swung rearwardly over the basin 6 with his or her neck resting in the saddle-shaped rest 14 below the collar and this rest may be adjusted vertically to most comfortably fit the particular individual. The rearward inclination of the seat back naturally positions the individuals head well over the basin 6 for ready handling by the operator. The operator may then adjust the valves 1, 8 to insure a proper supply of rinsing water at the correct temperature; and when such proper adjustment has been made, the operator may withdraw the spray head ID from its seating I9, adjust the diverter valve 20 to conduct the flow of the water through the spray head, and then proceed to thoroughly rinse the occupants head over the basin 6 while the spent rinsing water flows into the basin 6 and down the drain 2|. After the individuals head has been thus to another.

thoroughly cleansed and the supply valves 1, 8 again closed, the hair may be dried either at the sink or in another portion of the room, and the protective collar may then be removed.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that my present invention provides a unitary hair washing sink which is simple, compact and durable in construction, and highly efiicient and flexible in use. The provision of a cushion for the seat adds to the comfort of the individual during the hair washing and rinsing steps, and by virtue of the unitary structure, the entire operation may be performed at the sink and without moving the occupant from one chair The adjustability of the saddleshaped rest l4 adds to the efficiency and comfort of the unit, and the formation of a resilient supporting surface on the rest insures a snug coaction with the individuals neck for further protection against soap or water seepage and dripping. V V

The 'sink may be universallyntilized for all normal purposes by virtue of the provision of the corner recess I1, and the diverter valve may be readily adjusted to admit the water supply independently either through the spout 9 or through the universally movable spray head I0 independently. The sink may be formed with a re cess IT at one or both front corners if desired, and the provision of this recess permits convenient access to all of the sink fixtures as well as the occupants head as already described. The formation of the seat l2 integral with the sink basin, facilitates manufacture and mounting of the sink assemblage, and the location of this seat in approximately the same horizontal plane as the bottom of the basin produces a neat and compact structure. The collar herein described as being preferably utilized with my improvedunit may be formed of relatively heavy sheet rubber or other satisfactory material, and may be provided with a strip of sponge rubber or the like about the neck contacting edge to insure a snug and comfortable fit.

vIt should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: 1 1

1. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin provided with water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seat formed integral with said sink and-having a backprovided with a head rest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin. 1

2. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin provided with Water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seat formed integral with said sink within the outer confines thereof and having a back provided with a head rest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin, said structure being indented near one corner of the basin to permit an operator to con- Veniently manipulate said water supply means and to reach said head rest.

3. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin provided with water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seat formed integral with said sink and having a back provided with a head rest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin, said basin being relatively deep and having a bottom disposed in approximately the same horizontal plane as that of the seat and said head rest projecting above the upper open end of said basin.

4. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin provided with water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seat formed integral with said sink and having a back provided with a head rest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin, said head rest being saddle-shaped and being formed with a relatively resilient supporting surface adapted to snugly engage the neck.

5. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin provided with water supply means, and a seat formed integral with said sink and having a rearwardly inclined back, the upper portion of which is additionally rearwardly inclined with respect to the normal plane of said back.

6. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin and integral outer side walls, means for supplying water to said sink, and a seat having side arms and a back provided with a neck saddle disposed medially of and near the front of the basin, said seat being formed entirely from the outer side walls of said sink.

7. A unitary shampoo sink and seat, comprising, a drainage basin having liquid supply fixtures associated therewith and being provided with a seating recess in one wall having a bifurcated neck engaging saddle adjoining the top of the basin, said basin and seating recess being formed integral with each other and said basin extending forwardly on opposite sides of said saddle.

8. A unitary shampoo sink and seat, comprising, a relatively deep drainage basin having liquid supply fixtures associated with the rear wall thereof and being provided with a seating recess in its front wall having a bifurcated neck engaging saddle adjoining the upper end of the back of the seat, said basin and said seating recess and said neck engaging saddle being 20 formed integral with each other and said basin extending forwardly on opposite sides of the saddle.

FLORA H. ELLINGER.

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