Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D24/00—Hair combs for care of the hair; Accessories therefor
  • A45D24/04—Multi-part combs
  • A45D24/10—Multi-part combs combined with additional devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H23/00—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms
  • A61H23/02—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms with electric or magnetic drive
  • A61H23/0254—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms with electric or magnetic drive with rotary motor
  • A61H23/0263—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms with electric or magnetic drive with rotary motor using rotating unbalanced masses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D24/00—Hair combs for care of the hair; Accessories therefor
  • A45D24/04—Multi-part combs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B13/00—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers
  • A46B13/02—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers power-driven carriers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B13/00—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers
  • A46B13/02—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers power-driven carriers
  • A46B13/023—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers power-driven carriers with means for inducing vibration to the bristles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
  • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H23/00—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms
  • A61H23/02—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms with electric or magnetic drive
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H7/00—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for
  • A61H7/002—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for by rubbing or brushing
  • A61H7/004—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for by rubbing or brushing power-driven, e.g. electrical
  • A61H7/005—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for by rubbing or brushing power-driven, e.g. electrical hand-held
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
  • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
  • A46B2200/104—Hair brush
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/01—Constructive details
  • A61H2201/0119—Support for the device
  • A61H2201/0153—Support for the device hand-held
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/12—Driving means
  • A61H2201/1207—Driving means with electric or magnetic drive
  • A61H2201/1215—Rotary drive
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
  • A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
  • A61H2201/1604—Head
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2205/00—Devices for specific parts of the body
  • A61H2205/02—Head
  • A61H2205/021—Scalp

Definitions

• the presently disclosed embodiments are directed to vibratory devices wherein gyratory movements are translated into pulses, typically for massage or cleaning, but in this case, for enhanced detangling of curled or unbrushed hair wherein brushing and detangling can occur with less effort and with less damage to the hair.
• a problem with most prior vibrating hair brush devices is the communication of the vibrations through the handle to the hand of the user.
• the hand can function as a substantial dampening force on the vibratory movement, thereby reducing its effectiveness, and also, over time, the absorption of the vibrations by the hand can become uncomfortable and unpleasant to the user.
• U.S. Patent No. 2,465,250 discloses soft cushions 7, 11 in a vibratory hair brush providing a floating support for edges of a brush plate but are limited in their usefulness due to their structural position relative to the vibrating actuator and the bristles, and thus, also in purposeful translation of the actuator vibrations to a desired bristle movement.
• a vibrating hair brush which is more comfortably used by the user.
• vibrating should be understood to include oscillating and the term “brush” should be understood to include embodiments that might alternatively be described as combs.
• the present invention provides a hair brush for detangling a user's hair comprising a head and a handle, wherein the head comprises an upper part which is connected to the handle and a bristle-bearing pad which comprises a vibrating motor, the brush further comprising an isolator assembly, the isolator assembly comprising a first connecting member for connecting to the bristle-bearing pad and a second connecting member for connecting to the upper part of the head.
• the isolator assembly thus provides the mechanical link between the bristle-bearing pad and the upper part of the head, and thus the handle.
• the bristle-bearing pad and upper part of the head are not connected to each other .
• the vibration of the brush as a whole is controlled by the isolator and by using independent connecting members the isolator is able to damp vibrations to the handle without damping vibrations to the bristle- bearing pad.
• the first connecting member is disposed transversely to the second connecting member.
• the connecting members By transversely mounting the connecting members one is able to tailor the vibrating pattern of the bristle-bearing pad. Tailoring can be effected by changing the physical nature of the members such that different degrees of vibration are transmitted by the different members.
• the first and second connecting members are disposed generally within the same plane and more preferably the plane is parallel to the general bristle-bearing plane of the bristle-bearing head. Where the bristle-bearing surface is curved the general plane of the bristle-bearing pad is the plane of the outermost edge of the pad.
• the isolator comprises a pair of first connecting members located at opposite sides of the isolator .
• the isolator may comprise a pair of second connecting members located at opposite sides of the isolator.
• the first connecting member is rigidly fixed to the bristle-bearing pad and more preferably it is rigidly fixed by screws, adhesive or other such fixing means.
• the second connecting member comprises an arm which is shaped to fit into a notch on the upper head part.
• the second connecting member comprises a vibration damper.
• the vibration damper damps the vibrations made by the motor and so reduces the transmission of vibrations from the bristle-bearing pad to the handle. This then makes the device more comfortable to use for the user.
• the damper comprises an elastomeric section to the member.
• the elastomeric section is sandwiched between a rigid end-piece which connects to the upper part of the handle and a rigid extension piece which is contiguous with the remainder of the isolator.
• the second connecting member is disposed in a direction which is transverse the general longitudinal axis of the brush. This allows the designer to tailor the vibrational pattern of the bristle-bearing pad. It also further reduces the incidence of vibration in the handle of the hair brush without reducing the vibrations of the pad.
• the second connecting member is substantially resilient. This maximises the damping effect of the vibrations and so reduces the vibration of the handle during use.
• the isolator is substantially resilient. This increases the isolator' s efficiency in damping vibrational movement to the handle during use.
• the resilient materials include elastomers such as styrene butadiene block copolymers and silicone elastomers.
• the motor is housed within a motor mount and the isolator is fixedly connected to the motor mount.
• the motor drives a drive shaft which is connected to an eccentric counterweight.
• the eccentric counterweight provides vibration in the motor housing as it is rotated about the motor's drive shaft axis.
• the motor is vertically mounted such that the drive shaft rotates about an axis which is orthogonal to the general plane of the bristle-bearing pad.
• a vertically mounted motor enables oscillation of the eccentric counterweight in a direction which produces oscillation of the bristle-bearing pad in the general plane of the pad thus decreasing discomfort to the user when the brush is held too closely to the scalp.
• the eccentric counterweight is connected to a counterweight axle which is maintained by a recess in the counterweight at one end and a bristle-bearing pad base plate at its other end.
• a counterweight axle which is maintained by a recess in the counterweight at one end and a bristle-bearing pad base plate at its other end.
• the bristle pad is supported within the brush head by a vibrating motor and isolator assembly disposed for directing a vibratory movement of the motor to a bristle pad movement in a plane generally parallel to a user's scalp.
• the motor and isolator assembly effectively translate a circular vibratory movement of an offset weight into an elliptical movement of the bristle pad while insulating the vibration caused by the movement of the weight from a handle to the brush.
• the elliptical movement has a greater axis in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of a user' s hair .
• the vibrating motor and isolator assembly includes an elastomeric interface having a first stiffness in the handle axial direction and a second stiffness perpendicular to the handle axial direction, both of these directions being in a plane generally parallel to a user' s scalp. It is preferred that the first stiffness is less than the second stiffness so that the elliptical movement generated has a longer elliptical axis in the handle axial direction .
• the vibratory movement is intended to operate in a frequency range generally lower than most prior art vibratory brushes.
• Empirical evidence has determined that highly effective detangling can occur with the vibrating bristles operating in a frequency range between 20 - 100 Hz and more preferably between 30 - 65 Hz, with the most efficient detangling of the hair, in terms of the user effort required to pull the brush through hair, being either one of 42 Hz or 65 Hz.
• an improved method for detangling hair comprises brushing the hair with a brush having vibrating bristles operating in a frequency range between 20 to 100 Hz and disposes to operate in a curvilinear direction within a plane positioned generally parallel to a user' s scalp, or possibly for longer hair, an extending plane of a user' s hair as the hair extends from a user's scalp.
• the brushing comprises the bristles operating in an elliptical pattern having a first longer axis of movement in a direction perpendicular to a user' s hanging or extending hair direction and a second shorter axial movement parallel to the user's hanging or extending hair direction.
• FIGURE 1 is a top planar view of one embodiment
• FIGURE 2 is a side planar view of the embodiment of
• FIGURE 3 is a front planar view thereof
• FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure
• FIGURE 5 is a top view with a top cover plate removed
• FIGURE 6 is a broken out sectional side view
• FIGURE 7 is a perspective view generally showing the embodiment in use by brushing a user's hair
• FIGURE 8 is a reference diagram of an elliptical plane
• FIGURE 9 is a flowchart of a method of operating the embodiment .
• the subject embodiment comprises a handle portion A and brush head portion B.
• the term "brush” encompasses embodiments that might alternatively be described as combs.
• the handle portion is ergonomically configured for ease of use while being held in a user's hands.
• a longitudinal axis of handle A is generally along the lines C-C of Figure 1.
• the brush head portion B comprises a plurality of bristles 10 which normally extend from a bottom wall 12 of the head portion in a manner to engage and extend through the hair of a user.
• the illustrated embodiment shows a somewhat spherically configured bottom wall 12 as one species of an embodiment, but it is intended that other bottom wall configurations can be included as an alternative embodiment, such as flat or tubular.
• Bristle stiffness can vary from relatively stiff to soft, although it is preferred that they are relatively stiff; the bristles typically having a cantilevered beam stiffness of greater than about 100 Newton/meters when attached to the bristle pad.
• the head portion B is intended to vibrate and such vibratory movements are insulated from the handle portion A so that the vibrations are diminished in translation to the handle and a user' s hand.
• vibratory movement should be understood to include an oscillating or reciprocating movement.
• a brush head upper housing comprising a top wall 14 is spaced from the handle as at area 16 to accommodate the vibratory movement without tapping contact to the handle portion A.
• the subject brush includes a motor 20 operating an actuator 22 comprising an offset or counter weight relative to motor shaft 24 so that as the motor rotates the shaft, the weight 22 will cause an eccentric bias relative to the shaft inducing a vibrating movement of the motor and weight assembly.
• a movement will generally have a circular momentum in an actuator plane essentially parallel to a plane defined by the lines C-C and D-D of Figure 1.
• the term "brush” encompasses embodiments that might alternatively be described as combs.
• An aspect of the subject embodiment includes the translating of the motor and weight circulatory vibratory motion into a curvilinear pattern, such as an elliptical movement, of the bristle pad in a particular plane of movement.
• An isolator elastomeric member 40 is affixed to the motor 20 and also affixed to the bristle pad assembly 10, 12, 14 so that the vibratory motion induced by the motor can be translated to the bristles 10.
• the motor 20 is received within a cavity 42 of the bristle pad head portion sized to allow receipt of the motor 20 and the rotational movement of the offset weight 22 that causes the desired vibratory movement.
• the vibrations created by the off center weight are transmitted to the brush head 14 due to the motor and weight assembly being connected to the brush head by hard, stiff connections.
• the isolators 40 allow this motion to exist by letting the head move mostly independently from the handle by close receipt of the isolator ring lobes 50 within mating lobe cutouts 52 and the clamping of the lobes within the cutout 52 by sandwiching the lobes between the brush head 14 and upper motor cap 56.
• the top wall 14 and cutouts 52 are affixed hard plastic pieces ultimately supporting the bristles 10.
• the particular configuration of the isolator 40 is such that the lobes are closely received within the cutouts 52 and a webbing 60 includes a slot 62 for close mating reception of cap cutout 64 of fastening cap 56.
• the end portions of the elastomeric lobes 50 and webbing 60 are also received within handle portion cutouts 70 so that the isolator 40 effectively isolates the vibratory movement of the head portion away from the handle portion A.
• the head portion assembly thus can float within the handle portion A because the vibrating actuator and motor assembly including cap 56 is spaced from the interior wall 80 of the handle portion.
• the ring is affixed within the cutouts 70 when the upper handle half 78 is fastened on to the lower handle half 76.
• FIGURES 4 and 5 Other items shown within FIGURES 4 and 5 include a battery compartment 90 (although the device could also be a corded) , electrical wire passage ways for the motor 92, an on-off switch 94 and a switch pad 96.
• a decorative cover 98 within the handle 78 covers the motor cap 56.
• Another aspect of the isolator 40 is that it is configured to translate the circular vibratory movement of the eccentric weight 22 into an elliptical movement in a plane generally parallel to the bristle pad. More particularly, it can be seen that the isolator 40 is not supported along the direction of the axis CC ( Figure 1), but is supported along a line perpendicular to the axial direction and a second stiffness perpendicular to the handle axial direction, the first stiffness being less than the second stiffness.
• the effect of such mounting assembly is that the vibratory movement of the motor and weight will be greater in a direction along the lines C-C than along the line D-D.
• FIGURE 6 another aspect of the present embodiments is that the vibratory movement of the head portion B is in a curvilinear plane generally normal to a user' s scalp to avoid vibrating the bristles into the scalp, which has been observed to result in an unpleasant sensation to a user.
• the eccentric weight 22 is clearly seen as to how, upon rotation of the motor shaft, an eccentric bias is imposed on the motor 20 and thus also onto the isolator support member 40.
• the rotation of the weight 22 is merely in an actuator plane generally defined by the engagement line 82 between the upper and lower half shells 12, 14 of the head portion B, the resulting elliptical movement of the bristles 10 is in a plane generally parallel to the actuator plane.
• a method of operating the present brush embodiment for enhanced detangling of hair comprises turning on the brush so that the bristles vibrate 120 in the desired elliptical plane parallel to the bristle pad plane 82 ( Figure 6) .
• the brush is then aligned 122 in a position relative to the user' s hair so that the extending direction of the hair is generally aligned with axial direction D-D of the brush head, i.e., where the ellipse major axis is perpendicular to the hair direction. Brushing of the hair along the extending direction of the hair will thus provide a detangling effect that is more efficient in the hair detangling with less user effort to pull out the tangles and with minimum fatigue to the user's hand.
• the user' s brushing of the hair comprises a pulling along the length of the hair, or a picking thereof, to induce the hair' s extending direction outwardly from the scalp, instead of falling there from.
• the present invention is particularly useful with such hair and with hair that is long (i.e. beyond chin length) and with hair that is dry or damaged.
• the subject embodiment have also been described with reference to the brushing of human hair, but the subject brush can also be employed to untangle other things such as animal or pet hair or even tangled strands of other materials than hair.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Dermatology (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40845762

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (2)

Citations (6)

• 2008
  • 2008-01-31 CA CA002679019A patent/CA2679019A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-01-31 JP JP2009551151A patent/JP2010519940A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-01-31 KR KR1020097018233A patent/KR20090117768A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2008-01-31 EP EP08708485A patent/EP2114339A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-01-31 WO PCT/EP2008/051172 patent/WO2008107240A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-01-31 AU AU2008224013A patent/AU2008224013A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-01-31 EA EA200970821A patent/EA200970821A1/ru unknown
  • 2008-02-22 TW TW097106345A patent/TW200847964A/zh unknown
  • 2008-02-28 AR ARP080100826A patent/AR065514A1/es unknown

Patent Citations (6)

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