US3683942A

US3683942A - Cartridge comb

Info

Publication number: US3683942A
Application number: US50582A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas D Mckay
Original assignee: Nicholas D Mckay
Current assignee: Evercare Co
Priority date: 1970-06-29
Filing date: 1970-06-29
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15
Also published as: FR2109636A5; DE2130449C3; DE2130449B2; GB1360033A; DE2130449A1

Abstract

A comb structure having a detachable toothed refill cartridge element with a coloring or hair dressing stick element provided therein for automatically treating or coloring the hair by passing the comb therethrough. The toothed cartridge element is configured to permit the hair to come into contact with the coloring or hair dressing stick contained therein. The stick slowly releases coloring or hair dressing to hair coming into contact therewith. The cartridge element is selectively replaceable when the coloring or hair dressing stick element has been expended. The use of the replaceable cartridge element avoids the necessity for directly handling the coloring sticks.

Description

United States Patent [1s] 3,683,942 1 Aug. 15,1972

McKay [54] CARTRIDGE COMB [72] Inventor: Nicholas D. McKay, Grand Blanc,

Mich. 48439 [22] Filed: June 29, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 50,582

[52] U.S.Cl ..132/112 [51] lnt.Cl. .....A45d'24/22 [58] Field of Search ..132/112, 113,116, 147, 108, 132/109, 136, 7, 9; 16/11 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,671 7/1921 Murray ..132/113 1,698,631 l/1929 l-lutchings ..132/109 2,507,386 5/1950 Spiegel ..132/9 2,819,723 l/l958 Meyer ..132/116 1,084,743 l/19l4 Jones ..132/113 Primary Examiner--Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill Attorney-Miller, Morriss, Pappas & McLeod and George P. Pappas ABSTRACT A comb structure having a detachable toothed refill cartridge element with a coloring or hair dressing stick element provided therein for automatically treating or coloring the hair by passing the comb therethrough. The toothed cartridge element is configured to permit the hair to come into contact with the coloring or hair dressing stick contained therein. The stick slowly releases coloring or hair dressing to hair coming into contact therewith. The cartridge element is selectively replaceable when the coloring or hair dressing stick element has been expended. The use of the replaceable cartridge element avoids the necessity for directly handling the coloring sticks.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT TOR N E Y5 Patented Aug. 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 FIG. 6

INVENTOR N/C/l0l45 l2 flick/1) BY 7W7 ATTORNEYS CARTRIDGE COMB SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a comb structure for applying a hair coloring or a hair treatment composition to hair by merely running the comb through the hair. The comb structure is provided with a cartridge or insert element which is adapted to receive and retain a coloring or hair dressing stick or bar therein.

The cartridge element consists of a plurality of tooth elements which are configured to receive and retain a flexible, soft, solid coloring or hair dressing stick or bar therebetween. The cartridge element is adapted to engage the back portion of the comb so that the tooth elements of the cartridge element form all or a portion of the teeth of the comb. As the comb is passed through the hair, the stick or bar slowly releases coloring or hair dressing to the hair which comes into contact therewith. When the stick or bar is used up, the used cartridge or insert element is removed from the comb structure and is replaced by a new cartridge element having a new unused coloring or hair dressing stick or bar therein.

PRIOR ART The use of specialized hair coloring combs is well known in the prior art. Representative of such prior art patents are US. Pat. Nos. 2,834,357, 2,797,695, 2,477,245, 1,707,665, 945,647 and 260,367. In general, the structures of the prior art consist of specialized comb structures which are adapted to receive and dispense the hair coloring material. The hair coloring elements of the prior art devices must be manually attached to or inserted to the specialized comb struc- OBJECTS It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a comb structure which applies hair treatment compositions, such as dyes, hair dressings or medicaments, to the hair merely by passage of the comb therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide a comb structure for applying hair treatment compositions to the hair 'whereby hair treatment composition itself is not directly handled by the user during the installation,

use or replacement thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a comb structure having a replaceable cartridge element containing a hair treatment composition stick or bar.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a comb structure having a replaceable toothed cartridge element which forms a portion or all of the teeth of the comb.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge element having a toothed configuration and which is adapted to receive and retain a coloring or hair treatment stick or bar therein.

Other objects and advantages found in the construction of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the comb illustrating the toothed portion thereof and the portion which receives the replaceable cartridge or insert element.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the replaceablecartridge or insert element showing the coloring stick or bar retained therein.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the comb showing the replaceable cartridge or insert element in its operative use position attached to the comb.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the cartridge or insert element taken on line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the comb taken on line VV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the toothed portion of the comb taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cartridge or insert element taken on line VIIVII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the comb and cartridge or insert element positioned thereon taken on iine VIIIVIII of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9' is a perspective view of the hair treatment composition stick or bar.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In general, a comb structure is provided having a replaceable cartridge or insert element which contains a soft stick or bar comprised of a hair coloring, hair grooming or hair treatment composition. The replaceable cartridge or insert element is configured to define a plurality of spaced apart teeth which are identical in external shape to the standard teeth of a comb. The teeth of the insert element define a receptacle pocket which receives and retains the elongate hair coloring or hair grooming stick or bar. The stick or bar is retained parallel to, below, and spaced apart from the back of the comb so as to be exposed between the teeth of the cartridge or insert element. Thus positioned, the semisolid stick or bar comes into contact with the hair as the comb is run through the hair.

As shown and described in the copending application entitled Hair Treatment Composition, the semi-solid stick or bar gradually releases a hair coloring, hair dressing or hair treatment preparation to the hair as it comes into contact therewith. Thus, hair coloring dye, hair dressing, or other hair treatment substance, depending on the nature of the semi-solid stick or bar, can be applied to the hair merely by running the comb therethrough.

The stick or bar is gradually used up through continued use. After the stick or bar has been used up, the replaceable cartridge or insert element is removed from the comb and a new cartridge or insert containing a new stick or bar is substituted therefor.

It is thus seen that a unique comb is provided whereby one can color his hair merely by periodically combing his hair with such a comb. There is no need to handle messy dyes or to follow complicated or time consuming hair coloring procedures which have heretofore been necessary. I

By merely varying the composition of the stick or bar element to provide a hair dressing or grooming substance rather than a hair coloring dye, one can have a comb which permits application of the hair dressing composition to the hair by merely passing the comb therethrough.

In each case, the supply of hair coloring, hair dressing or other treatment composition is easily and automatically replenished by replacing the expended cartridge or insert with an insert element having a new coloring or hair grooming stick. In this manner, it is never necessary to handle the semi-solid stick or bar, thus providing for the first time a coloring comb structure which can be carried by the user and utilized in the same manner as a standard comb.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION More specifically, one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. A comb 11 is provided consisting of a back 12 having standard teeth 13 extending therefrom. A portion of the back 12 is provided with a downwardly extending elongate support extension flange 14 having gripping channels 15 along each side thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the elongate gripping channels 15 are provided with diverging sidewalls 16 which slope away from each other to the base of the channel 15. Fingernail access slots 17 are provided on each side of the back 12 adjacent the support flange 14.

The comb 11 is provided with a detachable or replaceable toothed refill cartridge or insert element 18 which defines a receptacle pocket 19 for receiving a coloring or grooming stick or bar 20 therein. As specifically shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, the replaceable insert 18 is a resilient foldable element which is articulated at one edge thereof and includes juxtaposed branches 2] closing upon each other to form a plurality of adjacent aligned and spaced apart teeth 22. The ends or points of the teeth 22 are at the articulated edge of the insert 18. The plurality of the spaced apart teeth 22 define the receptacle pocket 19 which receives a hair coloring or grooming stick or bar 20.

The unarticulated ends of the branches 21 merge into elongate oppositely positioned spaced-apart

gripping bars

23 and 24. Each of the

bars

23 and 24 is provided with an inwardly extending gripping extension 25 'therealong. The gripping extensions 25 have sloped sidewalls 26 which are adapted for mating snap engagement with the sidewalls 16 of the gripping channels 15. As shown in FIG. 8, the inwardly extending gripping extensions 25 are adapted to make snap engagement into the gripping channels 15 so as to lockably retain the replaceable insert in its operative use position on the back 12 of the comb 11. With the insert element 18 thus positioned, the teeth 22 of the insert element 18 are aligned and coextensive with the standard teeth 13 which extend from the back 12.

The comb 11 and cartridge element 18 are made from polyethylene material. However, other plastics or rubber material having the same general characteristics can be utilized. The comb and cartridge elements can be extruded or molded by methods which are well known in the industry.

When the replaceable cartridge insert is in its operative use position on the comb, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the hair coloring or grooming stick 20 is positioned spaced-apart from, below and parallel to the back 12 and extends through the spaces between the teeth 22 of the insert 18.

As the comb is run through the hair, the teeth 22 direct the hair against the semi-solid coloring or grooming stick 20. Through this contact, particles of the stick 20 adhere to the hair. This releases coloring or hair dressing to the hair depending on the particular composition of the stick 20. The applicator stick 20 is flexible and soft although it is in a solid state. Depending on the intended use or desired result, the composition of the applicator stick or bar 20 selectively contains a hair coloring or dye, a hair set substance, a hair dressing or grooming substance or a medication, such as a dandruff control substance. Further, other medicated substances can be incorporated therein where specific treatment of the hair and/or skin is necessary. While the specific embodiment of the invention is a comb structure intended for use with human hair, it is within the scope of the invention to adapt the comb for use with the hair or pelts of animals either in the veterinary field or for use by owners of pets or animals.

Although the comb 11 shown in the drawings is provided with a plurality of standard teeth 13 in addition to the teeth 22 of the replaceable cartridge or insert 18, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a comb wherein the replaceable cartridge element 18 extends the entire length of the back of the comb. Further, the comb can be provided with elongate handle or rat tail extending from the back as is well known in the art.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a simple handle gripping element to which the cartridge element is attachable. The user grasps the handle element and combs his hair in the usual manner. When the stick 20 is expended, the cartridge element is replaced by a new cartridge. Hence, in this embodiment of the invention, the cartridge element would constitute the entire comb.

While in the present embodiment of the invention the cartridge or insert element 18 is maintained in its operative use position on the comb 11 by means of the snap engagement of the gripping extensions 25 into the gripping channels 15, it is within the scope of the invention to selectively mount the cartridge or insert element onto the comb by use of other means. The insert element can be adapted to slide into and out of its operative use on the comb by use of suitable mating channel means. Another suitable method of connecting the insert element to the back of the comb is by use of a plurality of cooperative snap fasteners selectively provided on the insert element and comb.

OPERATION In use, the applicator stick or bar 20 is placed within the cartridge or insert element 18. The insert element 18 is then placed into its operative use position on the comb 1 1. In order to mount the cartridge into its opera-- tive use position, the insert element 18 is positioned so that the support flange 14 is intermediate the

gripping bars

23 and 24. By exerting inward pressure against the gripping

bars

23 and 24, the gripping extensions 25 make a snap engagement with the gripping channels 15, thus securely retaining the insert element operative use position on the comb l l.

The comb l 1 is then selectively run through the hair. The normal combing action brings the hair into contact with the applicator stick or bar 20. This direct contact causes minute amounts of the stick or bar to be transferred to the hair. Thus, depending on the composition of the applicator stick, the hair coloring, dye, hair dressing, or medication is gradually transmitted to the hair as required. At no time does the user have to handle the active hair treatment preparation involved or have to follow any complicated treatment procedures. All that is required is that the comb is run through the hair in the usual manner.

When the applicator stick or bar is expended, the cartridge or insert element 18 is detached from the comb l 1. This is accomplished by inserting a fingernail into the access slots 17 on each side of the back 12. An outward pressure against each of the

gripping bars

23 and 24 causes a snap disengagement of the cartridge or insert element 18 from the comb 11. A new cartridge or insert element 20 containing a new unused stick or bar 20 is then loaded or attached to the comb as hereinbefore described.

It is thus seen that a unique comb structure 11 is provided having a replaceable refill cartridge element 18 which permits the coloring, dyeing or treatment of hair without the necessity of handling or otherwise touching the hair treating composition. The comb structure of the instant invention eliminates the need for ancillary equipment normally needed for the transfer and handling of the dyes or ,other hair treatment substances. When the hair treatment stick or bar 20 is used up, the old cartridge or insert element 18 is removed and a new cartridge is attached to the comb. Further, as hereinbefore described, it is utilized in the same manner as a regular comb while simultaneously coloring or otherwise treating the hair.

The provision of the cartridge element 18 provides a container or receptacle for the hair treatment composition stick or bar. The refill cartridge element 18 thus becomes the storage container for the active hair treatment ingredient. The cartridge element can be in its handled and sold as a replacement cartridge for use with special comb structures and handle gripping elements as hereinbefore described.

It is thus apparent that this unique comb structure makes it possible for men to color or tint their hair who have avoided doing so because of the messy materials and complicated application procedures they have had to use and follow in the past.

Having thus described my invention including several modifications thereof, others skilled in the art will perceive other modifications, changes and improvements, and such modifications, changes and improvements are intended to be included herein, limited only to the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A comb structure comprising:

A resilient foldable element articulated at one edge and including juxtaposed branches closing upon each other to form a plurality of adjacent aligned and spaced apart teeth and having the points thereofat said articulated edge and said plurality of teeth defining a receptacle pocket intermediate the ends thereof. 2. The comb structure as set out in claim 1 and including a gripping element grasping the unarticulated ends of said foldable element.

3. A comb structure comprising:

a. a handle element, said handle element having cartridge insert element retaining means thereon; and

b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasable attached to said handle element, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein.

4. A comb structure comprising:

a7 a handle element, said handle element having cartridge insert element retaining means thereon;

b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasably attached to said handle element, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein; and

c. a hair treatment composition stick member provided in said receptacle.

5. A comb structure comprising:

a. a comb having a back portion, said back portion defining a cartridge insert element retaining portion; and

b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasably attached to said retaining portion of said comb, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein.

6. A comb structure comprising:.

a.-a comb having a back portion, releasably attached said back portion defining a cartridge insert element retaining portion; 7

b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasably attached to said retaining portion of said comb, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein; and

c. a hair treatment composition stick member provided in said receptacle.

Claims

1. A comb structure comprising: A resilient foldable element articulated at one edge and including juxtaposed branches closing upon each other to form a plurality of adjacent aligned and spaced apart teeth and having the points thereof at said articulated edge and said plurality of teeth defining a receptacle pocket intermediate the ends thereof.

2. The comb structure as set out in claim 1 and including a gripping element grasping the unarticulated ends of said foldable element.

3. A comb structure comprising: a. a handle element, said handle element having cartridge insert element retaining means thereon; and b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasable attached to said handle element, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein.

4. A comb structure comprising: a. a handle element, said handle element having cartridge insert element retaining means thereon; b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasably attached to said handle element, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein; and c. a hair treatment composition stick member provided in said receptacle.

5. A comb structure comprising: a. a comb having a back portion, said back portion defining a cartridge insert element retaining portion; and b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasably attached to said retaining portion of said comb, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein.

6. A comb structure comprising: a. a comb having a back portion, releasably attached said back portion defining a cartridge insert element retaining portion; b. a resilient toothed cartridge insert element releasably attached to said retaining portion of said comb, said toothed cartridge element defining a receptacle therein; and c. a hair treatment composition stick member provided in said receptacle.