WO1998032110A1

WO1998032110A1 - Hair coloring indicator

Info

Publication number: WO1998032110A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/000868
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tracy Ann O'connor; Daniel A. Litman
Original assignee: Hairtech International, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-01-17
Filing date: 1998-01-16
Publication date: 1998-07-23

Abstract

A hair coloring indicator (10) for determining a hair coloring composition to achieve a change in hair color. The indicator includes an inner cylinder (12) bearing photographs of natural and color value lifted hair (22). The inner cylinder (12) is surrounded by three coaxially positioned transparent coloring cylinders (70, 80, 90) pigmented with one of yellow (70), red (80) and blue (90) colors. The coloring cylinders are divided into portions (76s-76h, 86a-86h, 96a-96h) with varying degrees of pigmentation corresponding to the amount of pigment to be added to the hair coloring composition. The hair coloring composition is determined by viewing the photographs of hair simultaneously through each coloring cylinder and noting the level of lift and degree of pigmentation necessary to achieve the desired hair color.

Description

HAIR COLORING INDICATOR Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to color indicators for hair coloring.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional techniques for coloring hair by chemical treatment lighten the natural color of the hair and add pigments to the lightened hair. Such treatments usually are performed in a single step by applying a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, which removes or "lifts" some of the natural color of the hair, and pigment, which adds the desired color to the hair. In so doing, the hair stylist must first determine the color value and hue of the natural hair and compare those features to the desired color value and hue. A coloring composition to achieve the desired color value and hue is selected based thereon.

Proper selection of both the amount of lift and the pigments necessary to achieve the desired hue is critical. Hair stylists traditionally rely upon their experience and understanding of hair color values and the physics of pigmentation to do so.

In the hair coloring industry, the European color value scale is used to categorize the natural color value of the hair. The European color value scale places a value on the hair's natural color density according to a range of color levels of one to ten corresponding to black (one) , darkest brown (two) , dark brown (three) , medium brown (four) , light brown (five) , dark blonde (six) , medium blonde (seven) , light blonde (eight) , lightest blonde (nine) and ultra light blonde (ten) . When a lighter hair color is desired, the natural hair color is lifted from one color level to another, the final color value level. A color level of eleven may be achieved by lifting the natural color level beyond the color level of ten, but this color level of eleven is not a natural color level.

Based on the final color value and the desired hue, pigments selected from the primary colors red, blue and yellow are applied to the hair. For example, to change naturally light brown hair with a color value of five to medium golden blonde having a color value of seven, the color value of the natural hair must be lifted two levels by application of the appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide and must be colored by the application of pigments in the ratio of ten percent blue, thirty percent red and sixty percent yellow. The decision on how much hydrogen peroxide should be applied (how much color value to lift) and the ratio of pigments (what amounts of which colors to add) is made by the hair stylist.

A person seeking a hair color change usually selects a desired hair color from a swatch of hair samples . It is then up to the hair stylist to apply the proper hair coloring composition to achieve the desired hair color. Because the natural hair color inherently affects the final color of the treated hair, it has been difficult to accurately predict exactly how the hair will appear following treatment with the coloring composition. Thus, a need remains for a hair coloring guide which will allow a hair stylist to select the amount of lifting chemicals and pigments to be applied which ensures a desired final hair color. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by the hair coloring guide of the present invention. The hair coloring guide includes an inner member having a surface including a plurality of value zones . Each of the value zones are colored with hair color values.

A plurality of transparent coloring members are positioned in overlying relationship to each other and overlying the surface . Each of the coloring members includes a plurality of color zones. The color zones each contain a predetermined amount of pigment, such that the coloring members are adapted to alter the color of the value zones visible through the coloring members. The value zones depict hair color having a hair color value between one and eleven. The color zones of one of the coloring members contain yellow pigment, the color zones of another of the coloring members contain red pigment and the color zones of a third of the coloring members contain blue pigment .

The value zones are arranged in a plurality of segments. Each segment contains value zones depicting hair color value in numerical order. In particular, a first segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of one to ten, a second segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of two to eleven, a third segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of three to eleven, a fourth segment contains value zones depicting hair color values of four to eleven and a fifth segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of five to eleven. The color zones of each of the coloring members are adapted to cover one of the segments of the surface.

Preferably, each segment of the surface is in the form of a column including a portion of the value zones and each color zone of each coloring member includes an elongated portion containing the pigment. Each elongated portion is adapted to be positioned in overlying relationship with each column. The inner member is in the form of an inner cylinder, and the coloring members include a first coloring cylinder slidably surrounding the inner cylinder, a second coloring cylinder slidably surrounding the first coloring cylinder and a third coloring cylinder slidably surrounding the second coloring cylinder. An outer cylinder slidably surrounds the third coloring cylinder. An opening is defined in the outer cylinder through which one of the segments is visible.

A first cap is fixed to a first end of the inner cylinder and slidably fitted onto a first end of the outer cylinder. When the first cap is rotated, the inner cylinder rotates relative to the outer cylinder. The first cap includes indicia of the degree of lift of hair color corresponding to each said column necessary to achieve a desired color level.

A flange is attached to an end of each of the coloring cylinders. A second cap is fixed to a second end of the outer cylinder and defines a plurality of flange openings. A portion of each flange extends through one of the flange openings. Thus, when one of the flanges is rotated within the cap, the coloring cylinder fixed thereto rotates. Each flange includes indicia of the percent of pigment corresponding to each color zone necessary to color the hair to achieve a desired hair color.

A complete understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures wherein like reference characters identify like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the hair coloring indicator made in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the second cap of the device shown in Fig. 2 taken through line II-II; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the member forming the inner cylinder with the member laid flat;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the member forming the yellow cylinder with the member laid flat; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the member forming the red cylinder with the member laid flat; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the member forming the blue cylinder with the member laid flat. ■ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Figs . 1 and 2 , the hair coloring indicator 10 of the present invention includes an inner color level cylinder 12 having an exterior surface 14. The inner cylinder is coaxially received within an outer cylinder 16 having a first end 18 and a second end 20.

The inner cylinder 12 is shown in Fig. 4 as having been sliced longitudinally and laid flat. A plurality of value zones 22, preferably color photographs, are arranged on the surface 14 between a first end 24 and a second end 26 of the inner cylinder 12. Not all of the value zones 22 are labeled with the reference numeral 22 in Fig. 4 for clarity purposes. The value zones 22 are arranged in a grid preferably including five columns 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 and ten rows 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56.

The value zones 22 in column 28 contain color photographs of natural hair having a European color value of one (black) in row 38, color value of two (darkest brown) in row 40, a color value of three (dark brown) in row 42, a color value of four (medium brown) in row 44, a color value of five (light brown) in row 46, a color value of six (dark blonde) in row 48, a color value of seven (medium blonde) in row 50, a color value of eight (light blonde) in row 52, a color value of nine (lightest blonde) in row 54 and a color value of ten (ultra light blonde) in row 56. The value zones 22 in column 30 contain color photographs of natural hair having a European color value of two in row 38 and color value of eleven (an unnatural, minimum light blonde color value) in row 56 with natural color values three to ten present in the respective rows 40 to 54. The value zones 22 in column 32 contain color photographs of natural hair having a natural color value of three in row 38 and an unnatural color value of eleven in row 54 with photographs of natural hair having color values four to ten present in the respective rows 40 to 52. Value zone 22 in row 56 of column 32 is blank (appearing white) or may contain an indicia such as "NO LEVEL AVAILABLE" . Following this pattern, the value zones 22 in the column 34 contain photographs of natural hair having a color value of four in row 38 and an unnatural color value of eleven in row 52 with photographs of natural color values five to ten present in the respective rows 40 to 50. The value zones 22 in the rows 54 and 56 of column 34 each are blank (appearing white) or include the above described indicia. The value zones 22 in the column 36 contain photographs of natural hair having a color value of five in row 38 and an unnatural color value of eleven in row 50 with natural color values six to ten in the respective rows 40 to 48. The value zones 22 in rows 52, 54 and 56 each are blank (appearing white) or include the above described indicia. Thus, the column 28 includes value zones 22 depicting natural hair color and the column 30 includes value zones 22 which correspond to the value zones 22 of column 28 being one hair color level less or lifted once. Column 32 includes the value zones 22 representing two lifts of color from the value zones 22 of the column 28. No lifts of value zone 22 having a color value of 11 is possible, therefore, row 56 of column 32 thereof is blank (white) or labeled appropriately. Column 34 includes the value zones 22 depicting three lifts of color from the value zones 22 of the column 28 with the value zones 22 in the rows 54 and 56 showing no lift possible. Column 36 includes the value zones 22 representing four lifts of color from the value zones 22 of the column 28 with the value zones 22 in the rows 52, 54 and 56 showing no lift possible.

The value zones 22 may be printed directly on the surface 14 of the inner cylinder 12. Alternatively, the value zones 22 may be printed on a separate member (such as a photograph) which is fixed to the surface 14 of the inner cylinder 12. In either case, it is preferable that the column 28 is adjacent the column 36 on the inner cylinder 12.

A first cap 60 is fixed to the first end 24 of the inner cylinder 12 and has an outside diameter equal to an outside diameter of the outer cylinder 16 and greater than an outside diameter of the inner cylinder 12. An exterior surface of the cap preferably includes select zones 62 bearing indicia such as "NATURAL COLOR", "LIFT ONE", "LIFT TWO", "LIFT THREE" and "LIFT FOUR" (indicia not shown) and aligned with the respective columns 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 of the inner cylinder 12. The first cap 62 includes a flange 64 having an internal groove (not shown) . An annular tab 66 is fixed to the first end 18 of the outer cylinder 16 and is slidably fitted with the flange internal groove .

As is depicted in Fig. 2, inner cylinder 12 is slidably surrounded by three coaxially arranged pigmented transparent coloring cylinders 70, 80 and 90. One of the cylinders contains or is printed with yellow pigment, another of the cylinders contains or is printed with red pigment and a third of the cylinders contains or is printed with blue pigment. The cylinder 70 is described herein as being pigmented yellow, the cylinder 80 as being pigmented red and the cylinder 90 as being pigmented blue. However, any one of the cylinders may be pigmented with any one of yellow, red or blue provided that each color is present on or in one of the cylinders. The cylinders 70, 80 and 90 are preferably each formed from a sheet of acetate rolled and fixed into a cylindrical shape. The cylinders 70, 80 and 90 and the inner cylinder 12 are tightly, yet slidably coaxially arranged such that the pigments of the cylinders 70, 80 and 90 impart color changes to the appearance of the value zones 22 of the inner cylinder 12 in a plurality of combinations when the cylinders 70, 80 and 90 are individually rotated relative to the inner cylinder 12. Preferably, the size of an annulus formed between each of the cylinders 70, 80 and 90 and between the cylinder 90 and the inner cylinder 12 is less than 1/16 inch. A light source (not shown) may be provided within an interior of the inner cylinder 12 to illuminate the value zones 22. For the purposes of clarity of the structures depicted in Fig. 2, the color codes represented on Figs. 4-7 of the inner cylinder 12 and the coloring cylinders 70, 80 and 90 do not appear in Fig. 2. The yellow cylinder 70, depicted as a flat sheet in Fig. 5, includes a first end 72 and a second end 74 longitudinally spaced from the first end 72. The yellow cylinder 70 includes a plurality, preferably eight, parallel yellow zones 76a to 76h and a blank (preferably unpigmented) zone 78 extending between the first and second ends 72 and 74 or extending along a portion thereof as depicted in Fig. 5. Each of the yellow zones 76a to 76h, contain either no yellow pigment or a particular amount of yellow pigment printed onto or impregnated into the yellow cylinder. Each of the yellow zones 76a to 76h preferably contains a differing amount of yellow pigment from each other. Preferably, yellow zone 76a contains no yellow pigment and yellow zone 76b contains an amount of yellow pigment which colors the value zones 22 visible through the yellow cylinder by a degree equal to the degree of yellow added to hair by a hair coloring composition containing ten percent yellow pigment. Yellow zones 76c to 76h preferably contain amounts of yellow pigment which color the value zones 22 visible through the yellow cylinder 70 by degrees equal to the degrees of yellow added to hair by hair coloring compositions with fifteen percent, twenty percent, thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent and sixty percent yellow pigment, respectively.

The red cylinder 80 (depicted as a flat sheet in Fig. 6) is similar to the yellow cylinder 70 and slidably surrounds the yellow cylinder 70. The red cylinder 80 includes a first end 82 longitudinally spaced from a second end 84. The red cylinder 80 also is preferably formed from a sheet of acetate and includes a plurality, preferably eight, red zones 86a to 86h containing either no red pigment or a particular amount of red pigment printed onto or impregnated into the red cylinder and a blank (preferably unpigmented) zone 88. The red zones 86a to 86h each preferably contains an amount of red pigment which colors the value zones 22 visible through the red cylinder 80 by a degree equal to the degree of red added to hair by a hair coloring composition containing ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent, sixty percent, seventy percent .and eighty percent red pigment, respectively. Red zones 86a to 86h extend between the first and second ends 82 and 84 or along a portion thereof as depicted in Fig. 6. Preferably, the lengths of the red zones 86a to 86h are equal to the lengths of the yellow zones 76a to 76h, and a distance between the first and second ends 82 and 84 of the red cylinder 80 is greater than a distance between the first and second ends 72 and 74 of the yellow cylinder 70.

The blue cylinder 90 slidably surrounds the red cylinder 80, is similar to the yellow cylinder 70 and the red cylinder 80 and is depicted as a flat sheet in Fig. 7. The blue cylinder 90 includes a first end 92 longitudinally spaced from a second end 94 and is likewise preferably formed from a sheet of acetate. A plurality, preferably eight, blue zones 96a to 96h similar to yellow zones 76a to 76h and a blank (preferably unpigmented) zone 98 similar to blank zone 78 extend between the first and second ends 92 and 94 or along a portion thereof as depicted in Fig. 7. Preferably, the blue zone 96a contains no blue pigment and the blue zones 96b to 96h contain amounts of blue pigment which color the inner cylinder viewed through the blue cylinder 90 by a degree equal to the degree of blue added to hair by a hair coloring composition having ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent, sixty percent and seventy percent blue pigment, respectively.

A flange 100 is fixed to. the second end 74 of the yellow cylinder 70. The flange 100 includes a knurled surface 102 and preferably bears indicia 104 such as zero percent, ten percent, fifteen percent and the like corresponding to the degree of pigmentation of the yellow zones 76a to 76h. The indicia 104 are positioned in alignment with the respective yellow zones 76a to 76h. Similarly, a flange 106 is fixed to the second end 84 of the red cylinder 80 and includes a knurled surface 108 and preferably bears indicia 110 corresponding to the degree of pigmentation of the red zones 86a to 86h and which are aligned respectively therewith. A flange 112 is fixed to the second end 94 of the blue cylinder 90. The flange 112 likewise includes a knurled surface 114 and preferably bears indicia 116 corresponding to the degree of pigmentation of the blue zones 96a to 96h and which are aligned respectively therewith. The inner cylinder 12, the yellow cylinder 70, the red cylinder 80 and the blue cylinder 90 are slidably fitted within the outer cylinder 16. The outer cylinder 16 defines an elongated opening 118 extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the outer cylinder 16. The value zones 22 of the inner cylinder 12 are visible through yellow cylinder 70, the red cylinder 80 and blue cylinder 90 through the opening 118. The outer cylinder 16 preferably has a length less than a length of the inner cylinder 12 and lengths of each of the coloring cylinders 70, 80 and 90.

A second cap 120 is fitted over the second ends 26, 74, 84 and 94 of the inner cylinder 12 and coloring cylinders 70, 80 and 90, respectively. The cap 120 is fixed to the second end 20 of the outer cylinder 16 via clips 122 or may be fixed with adhesives or the like thereto. Three flange openings 124, 126 and 128 are defined in the cap 120. As depicted in Fig. 1, the flange 100 extends through flange opening 124, the flange 106 extends through flange opening 126, and the flange 112 extends through opening 128. An inner surface 130 of the cap 120 includes three indented portions 132, 134 and 136. The indented portions 132, 134 and 136 each have surfaces which mate with the knurled surfaces 102, 108 and 114, respectively.

The hair coloring guide 10 is operated as follows. The flanges 100, 106 and 112 are rotated within the second cap 120 so that the blank yellow zone 78, the blank red zone 88 and the blank blue zone 98 are each visible through the opening 118. The knurled surfaces 102, 108 and ,114 catch within the mating surfaces of indented portions 132, 134 and 136 so that the flanges experience some resistance to rotation within the second cap 120. This catching arrangement prevents the flanges from inadvertently slipping out of position. When the cylinders 70, 80 and 90 are so positioned, the colors of the value zones 22 visible through the opening 118 are unaffected by the cylinders 70, 80 and 90. The first cap 60 is rotated which in turn rotates the inner cylinder 12 until the column 28 is visible through the opening 118. The natural color level (or original color level) of the hair to be colored is compared to the value zones 22 visible through the opening 118, and the value zone 22 closest to the natural (or original) color level of the hair to be colored is determined. The first cap 60 is rotated to expose one of the columns 30, 32, 34 and 36 and the coloring cylinders 70, 80 and 90 are each rotated via rotation of the flanges 100, 106 and 112 to expose the color zones as needed until the desired final color of the hair is visible through the opening 118. The amount of lift necessary to achieve the desired color level is determined by the position of the first cap 60 according to the indicia appearing on the select zone 62 aligned with the opening 118. The amount of yellow, red and/or blue pigments which should be applied to the hair is determined by the final position of the cylinders 70, 80 and 90 along with the indicia 104, 110 and 116 therefor. A combination of indicators of the amount of lift and the percentages of yellow, red and blue pigments guides the hair stylist in selecting the proper hair coloring composition to achieve the desired hair color. The hair coloring guide of the present invention allows a hair stylist to select the proper hair coloring composition to achieve a desired hair color for a customer. By viewing the value zones 22 visible through the opening 118 as altered by the coloring cylinders 70, 80 and 90, the customer may select a desired hair color and be assured that the stylist will apply the proper hair coloring composition containing the proper amount of lifting chemicals and yellow, red and blue pigments.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed in the foregoing description. Such modifications are to be considered as included within the following claims unless the claims, by their language, expressly state otherwise. Accordingly, the particular embodiments described in detail herein are illustrative only and are not limiting to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof .

Claims

We Claim :

1. A hair coloring guide comprising: an inner member having a surface including a plurality of value zones, wherein said value zones are colored with hair color values ; and a plurality of transparent coloring members positioned in overlying relationship to each other and overlying said surface, wherein each said coloring member includes a plurality of color zones, said color zones each containing pigment, such that said coloring members are adapted to alter the color of said value zones visible through said coloring members .

2. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein said color zones of one of said coloring members contains yellow pigment, said color zones of another of said coloring members contains red pigment and said color zones of a third of said coloring members contains blue pigment .

3. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein said value zones depict hair color having a hair color value between one and eleven.

4. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 3 wherein said value zones are arranged in a plurality of segments, each said segment containing value zones depicting hair color value in numerical order, wherein a first segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of one to ten, a second segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of two to eleven, a third segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of three to eleven, a fourth segment contains value zones depicting hair color values of four to eleven and a fifth segment comprises value zones depicting hair color values of five to eleven.

5. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 4 wherein said color zones of each said coloring member are adapted to cover one of said segments of said surface.

6. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said segment is in the form of a column comprising a portion of said value zones and each color zone of each said coloring member comprises an elongated portion containing said pigment, wherein each said elongated portion is adapted to be positioned in overlying relationship with each said column.

7. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 6 wherein said inner member comprises an inner cylinder, and said coloring members comprise a first coloring cylinder slidably surrounding said inner cylinder, a second coloring cylinder slidably surrounding said first coloring cylinder and a third coloring cylinder slidably surrounding said second coloring cylinder.

8. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim

7 further comprising an outer cylinder slidably surrounding said third coloring cylinder, wherein said outer cylinder defines an opening through which one of said segments is visible.

9. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim

8 further comprising a first cap, said first cap being fixed to a first end of said inner cylinder and slidably fitted onto a first end of said outer cylinder, such that when said first cap is rotated, said inner cylinder rotates relative to said outer cylinder.

10. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim

9 further comprising: a plurality of flanges, each flange being attached to an end of one of said coloring cylinders; and a second cap fixed to a second end of said outer cylinder and defining a plurality of flange openings, wherein a portion of each said flange extends through one of said flange openings, such that when one of said flanges is rotated within said cap, said coloring cylinder fixed thereto rotates.

11. The hair coloring guide as claimed in claim 10 wherein said first cap includes indicia of the degree of lift of hair color corresponding to each said column necessary to achieve a desired color level and each said flange includes indicia of the percent of pigment corresponding to each said color zone necessary to color the hair to achieve a desired hair color.