WO2000021403A1

WO2000021403A1 - Device for use in treatment of hair

Info

Publication number: WO2000021403A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/003221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfredo De Benedictis
Original assignee: Alfredo De Benedictis
Priority date: 1998-10-14
Filing date: 1999-10-13
Publication date: 2000-04-20
Also published as: GB9822401D0; AU6106599A

Abstract

A device for use in treatment of hair comprises a base sheet (10) having an edge (11) from which elements (12) project. The device is utilised to separate selected strands of hair (15) from other hair (16) so that treatment can be applied to the selected strands of hair while application of the treatment to the other hair (16) is prevented. In use, the edge of the sheet is located adjacent root ends (17) of the selected strands of hair with the projecting elements (12) entering spaces between the root ends. A layer of adhesive (14) is provided to adhere the selected strands to the sheet and a cover (18) is provided to cover the selected strands. Adhesive may also be provided to adhere the sheet to the other hair and adhesive may be provided on the cover to adhere the cover to the selected strands. The edge (11) of the sheet may be of concave arcuate form.

Description

DEVICE FOR USE IN TREATMENT OF HAIR

This invention relates to devices for use in selective treatment of hair and in particular to hair treatment devices for use in selective colouring of hair.

A known device for use in isolating selected strands of hair from other hair during colouring of selected strands of hair consists of a rectangular elongate flexible sheet comprising two panels of substantially the same size and hingedly connected to one another along a common edge. A first one of the panels carries a coating of adhesive on a surface thereof adjacent a free edge remote from the hinge connection. In use, when selective colouring is to be effected, strands of hair are selected by a technique known as weaving and the device is placed with the first panel extending under the selected strands of hair with the free edge thereof adjacent the root ends of the selected strands of hair. The selected strands of hair are laid to extend over the first panel toward the hinge connection and the selected strands of hair adhere to the coating of adhesive. The adherence of the strands of hair to the adhesive coating retains the device in the required position on the scalp. The selected strands of hair overlying the first sheet element are then treated with a hair colouring material, for example by brushing a liquid colouring substance onto the selected strands of hair. The flexible sheet is then folded about the hinge connection so as to bring the second one of the panels of the sheet into superimposed relationship with the first panel and with the selected strands of hair lying between the panels. The second panel is secured in superimposed relationship with the first panel by adherence thereof to the coating of adhesive on the first panel .

According to a first aspect of the invention a device for isolating selected strands of hair from other hair on a scalp during treatment of said selected strands of hair comprises a sheet of flexible material having an edge for location adjacent root ends of said selected strands of hair, said edge having projecting elements effective to extend between strands of said selected strands of hair.

If desired the edge of the sheet having projecting elements may be of concave arcuate form.

According to a second aspect of the invention a device for isolating selected strands of hair from other hair on a scalp during treatment of said selected strands of hair comprises a sheet of flexible material having an edge for location adjacent root ends of said selected strands of hair, said edge being of concave arcuate form.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which :- Figure 1 is a plan view of a device for use in selective treatment of hair, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the device in use,

Figure 3 is a plan view of modification of the device shown in Figure 1 , and Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 - 4 of Figure 1 of the device having increased rigidity.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a device for use in isolating selected strands of hair that are to be subjected to a treatment from other hair that it is desired not to treat comprises a rectangular base sheet 10 of flexible material. The base sheet 10 has an edge 11 intended for location adjacent root ends of the selected strands of hair that are to be treated. The edge 11 is formed with a plurality of projecting elements 12. The projecting elements 12 may be of triangular shape like saw teeth or may be shaped like the teeth of a comb whereby a plurality of recesses 13 are formed between the projecting elements. A layer of pressure sensitive contact adhesive 14 is provided on an upper surface of the base sheet 10 adjacent the edge 11. The layer of adhesive preferably extends over the surface of the projecting elements and may have an extent over the remainder of the base sheet of approximately 12mm to 19mm from the edge 11.

In use, when selected strands of hair are to be treated, see Figure 2, strands of hair 15 are selected by a technique known as weaving and the base sheet 10 is placed over hair 16 that has not been selected and is not to be treated. The base sheet 10 is located with the edge 11 thereof adjacent the root ends 17 of the selected strands of hair 15. The projecting elements 12 enter spaces between the selected strands of hair so that the root ends 17 of the selected strands of hair extend through the recesses 13 between the projecting elements. The selected strands of hair 15 are laid to extend over the base sheet and the selected strands of hair are pressed into adhering engagement with the layer of adhesive 14. This adhering engagement of the selected strands of hair 15 to the adhesive layer retains the sheet in the required position on the scalp. With the base sheet 10 located as hereinbefore described, the base sheet 10 isolates the selected strands of hair 15 from other hair 16 and is effective to mask the other hair 16 from subjection to treatment applied to the selected strands of hair. The selected strands of hair overlying the first sheet element are then treated with a hair treatment substance. The hair treatment substance for example may be a liquid hair colouring substance applied to the selected strands of hair by a brush.

It will be appreciated that the free ends of the selected strands of hair 15 must not lie beyond the extent of the base sheet 10 because the selected strands of hair will not be isolated from the remainder of the hair and treatment material may come into contact with the remainder of the hair. Accordingly the length of the base sheet is chosen such that the selected strands of hair can be accommodated within the area of the base sheet . In practice base sheets having different dimensions may be provided for use with hair of different lengths .

After treatment of the selected strands of hair 15 with the hair treatment substance, a cover sheet 18 of approximately the same dimensions as the base sheet 10 is superimposed over the base sheet 10. Thus the selected strands of hair 15 overlying the base sheet are interposed between the base sheet and cover sheet . The cover sheet may be secured in the required position by pressing the cover sheet into adhering engagement with the layer of adhesive 14 on the base shee . However the strands of hair 15 overlying the base sheet may prevent the obtaining of sufficient adhering engagement of the cover sheet with the layer of adhesive to retain the cover sheet. Accordingly if desired the cover sheet may be provided with a layer of adhesive 19 on an under surface thereof and in a region thereof corresponding to the layer of adhesive 14 on the base sheet. When the cover sheet is located in the required position to cover the strands of hair overlying the base sheet 10, the cover sheet is pressed toward the scalp so that the layer of adhesive 19 on the cover sheet adheres to the strands of hair and partially to the layer of adhesive 14 on the base sheet.

If desired either or both of the layers of adhesive 14, 19 on the base sheet and on the cover sheet may be of increased extent and may extend as a strip adjacent more than one edge of the sheets or may extend wholly or partly across the entire area of the sheets.

The cover sheet 18 may be attached to the base sheet 10 along an edge 21 remote from the edge 11 and for example the base sheet and cover may be formed of a single sheet of material with a fold along the edge 21 forming a hinge connection between the base sheet and the cover.

By providing a plurality of projecting elements 12 and recesses 13 on the edge 11 of the base sheet 10 so that the projecting elements enter spaces between root ends of the selected strands of hair and the root ends of the selected strands of hair extend through the recesses, portions of the strands of hair closer to the root ends thereof overly the base sheet 10 than if the edge 11 is linear without projecting elements. Since it is those parts of the strands of hair that are laid on the base sheet that receive the treatment, the provision of the projecting elements and recesses enables the treatment to be applied to portions of hair very close to the root ends 17.

The base sheet 10 is relatively flexible so that edge 11 of the base sheet can be caused to conform closely to the shape of the scalp on which the hair is growing. However it will be appreciated that the projecting elements need to have sufficient rigidity to enter spaces between strands of hair. Accordingly if desired the base sheet, in the region of the projecting elements and adjacent thereto, may have increased rigidity relative to the remainder of the base sheet . The increased rigidity may be obtained as illustrated in Figure 4 increased thickness of the base sheet in the region of the projecting elements and adjacent thereto. This may be effected by forming said region of the base sheet 10 to have increased thickness compared to the remainder of the sheet or a strip of material 20 may be secured to said region of the base sheet to provide the required increased rigidity. The strip of material may be secured to the base sheet by adhesive and carry on its exposed surface the coating of pressure sensitive contact adhesive 14. The edge 11 of the base sheet may be straight as shown in Figure 1, with the projections 12 extending therefrom. However in use it will be appreciated that due to the curvature of the surface of the scalp it is necessary for the edge to conform to the curvature of the scalp. Accordingly it is preferred that the edge 11 of the base sheet is of concave arcuate form, as shown in Figure 3, so that the edge can more easily conform to the curvature of the scalp. As a result the base sheet 10 may be applied to the scalp more easily and is more comfortable to a person whose hair is being treated. Typically the edge 11 may have a curvature of 4.25cm radius. The benefits of a concave arcuate edge may also be obtained when the edge does not have projecting elements.

Although the device used to isolate selected strands of hair has been described hereinbefore as comprising a base sheet and a cover sheet separate from the base sheet, if desired the two sheets may be interconnected in a manner that permits the cover sheet to be moved from an open position which allows the selected strands of hair to be laid on the base sheet to a closed position in which the cover sheet encloses the selected strands of hair. For example the base sheet and cover sheet may be formed integrally with a fold along a common edge. The material of which the base sheet is formed is impermeable to the hair treatment substance and the base sheet and the cover sheet may be formed of a synthetic plastics material . A suitable material is available under the trade name Cellophane. Preferably the cover sheet 18 is formed of transparent material to permit inspection of the treated hair without the need to remove to the cover sheet .

The sheet has been described hereinbefore as being provided with a layer of adhesive 14 on the upper surface thereof whereby the selected strands of hair are caused to adhere to the sheet 10. However if desired a layer of adhesive may be provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet 10. As a result when the sheet is located on the scalp, it can be caused to adhere to the hair 16 that is not selected and is to be masked and thereby located in the required position prior to locating the selected strands of hair over the sheet . Furthermore by providing layers of adhesive on both surfaces of the sheet, the adhesive strength of the adhesive or the adhesion of the hair to the sheet may be less than with a layer of adhesive on one surface only. With a lesser degree of adhesion required between the hair and the sheet resulting from provision of layers of adhesive on both surfaces of the sheet 10, removal of the sheet from the hair is less painful. It will be understood that layers of adhesive may be provided on both upper and lower surfaces of a rectangular sheet 10 as shown in Figure 1 as well as on a sheet 10 in which one edge is of concave arcuate form as shown in Figure 3.

It is to be understood that the illustration of the projecting elements 12 is merely an example for purposes of explanation of the invention and that the shape, form and size of the projections may be different from that illustrated in the drawings .

Claims

1. A device for isolating selected strands of hair (15) from other hair (16) on a scalp during treatment of said selected strands of hair comprises a sheet (10) of flexible material having an edge (11) for location adjacent root ends (17) of said selected strands of hair characterised in that said edge (11) has projecting elements (12) effective to extend between the root ends of said selected strands of hair.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first layer of adhesive (14) extends at least over a region of a first surface of the sheet (10) adjacent to the edge (11) .

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first layer of adhesive (14) extends over the projecting elements (12) .

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein a second layer of adhesive extends over a second surface of the sheet (10), said second surface being opposite to said first surface.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim having increased rigidity adjacent the edge (11) .

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the increased rigidity is provided by an increase in thickness of the sheet (10) .

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the increased rigidity is provided by a strip of material secured to the sheet (10) adjacent the edge (10) .

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim including a cover (18) attached to the sheet (10) .

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein a surface of the cover (18) adjacent the sheet (10) has an adhesive coating (19) .

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the edge (11) of the sheet is of concave arcuate form.

11. A device for isolating selected strands of hair (15) from other hair (16) on a scalp during treatment of said selected strands of hair comprises a sheet (10) of flexible material having an edge (11) for location adjacent root ends (17) of said selected strands of hair characterised in that the edge (11) is of concave arcuate form.