WO2011161647A2 - Device, kit and method for coloring hair - Google Patents

Device, kit and method for coloring hair Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011161647A2
WO2011161647A2 PCT/IB2011/052767 IB2011052767W WO2011161647A2 WO 2011161647 A2 WO2011161647 A2 WO 2011161647A2 IB 2011052767 W IB2011052767 W IB 2011052767W WO 2011161647 A2 WO2011161647 A2 WO 2011161647A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tooth
hair
shield
section
array
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2011/052767
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2011161647A3 (en
Inventor
Michel Mercier
Original Assignee
Michel Mercier Ltd.
Van Dyke, Marc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2010202628A external-priority patent/AU2010202628B2/en
Priority to KR1020137001699A priority Critical patent/KR101777165B1/ko
Priority to ES11797718.1T priority patent/ES2631982T3/es
Priority to GB1301129.1A priority patent/GB2494844B/en
Priority to EP11797718.1A priority patent/EP2584931B8/en
Priority to UAA201300794A priority patent/UA108110C2/uk
Priority to MX2012015204A priority patent/MX356676B/es
Priority to BR112012033188A priority patent/BR112012033188A2/pt
Application filed by Michel Mercier Ltd., Van Dyke, Marc filed Critical Michel Mercier Ltd.
Priority to EA201390020A priority patent/EA201390020A1/ru
Priority to JP2013516022A priority patent/JP2014501538A/ja
Priority to CN201180041166.2A priority patent/CN103068274B/zh
Priority to US13/169,115 priority patent/US9427060B2/en
Publication of WO2011161647A2 publication Critical patent/WO2011161647A2/en
Publication of WO2011161647A3 publication Critical patent/WO2011161647A3/en
Priority to ZA2013/00647A priority patent/ZA201300647B/en
Priority to HK13111798.6A priority patent/HK1184030A1/xx

Links

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
    • A45D24/22—Combs with dispensing devices for liquids, pastes or powders
    • 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
    • A45D19/00—Devices for washing the hair or the scalp; Similar devices for colouring the hair
    • 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
    • A45D19/00—Devices for washing the hair or the scalp; Similar devices for colouring the hair
    • A45D19/0041—Processes for treating the hair of the scalp
    • A45D19/005—Shampooing; Conditioning; Washing hair for hairdressing purposes
    • 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
    • A45D19/00—Devices for washing the hair or the scalp; Similar devices for colouring the hair
    • A45D19/0041—Processes for treating the hair of the scalp
    • A45D19/0066—Coloring or bleaching
    • A45D19/0083—Coloring or bleaching the roots of the hair
    • 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
    • A45D2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A45D
    • A45D2200/05—Details of containers
    • A45D2200/054—Means for supplying liquid to the outlet of the container
    • A45D2200/057—Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hair-coloring applicator device and to a related method for the coloring of hair.
  • Particular embodiments may be useful for the temporary coloring of graying hair, for example, at or near the hair roots.
  • Hair dyes are commonly used to hide the gray and white hairs typically caused by aging, as well as to alter other hair colors to suit personal taste. Hair colorants may be broadly classified into several types, although colorants of different types may be combined, and some colorants may not clearly belong to any one type [Anderson, J. Soc. Dyers Colourists, 1 16:193-196 (2000) ; Zviak and Millequant, [Zviak, Charles; Millequant, Jean. Editor(s) : Bouillon, Claude; Wilkinson, John. Science of Hair Care (2nd Edition) (2005), 251 -275. Publisher: CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Fla].
  • Permanent colorants are usually formed by mixing small aromatic precursors with an oxidizing agent, typically hydrogen peroxide. Following oxidation, the precursors covalently react with each other to form a dye. The small precursor molecules can diffuse into the hair more effectively than the larger dye molecule can diffuse out. An alkalizing agent, typically ammonia, is also added in order to cause swelling of the hairs, which allows maximum penetration of the precursors into the hair. In addition, the peroxide bleaches the original hair color, thereby allowing the color of the dye to completely replace the original hair color. Permanent colorants are quite popular, but they suffer the drawbacks of the complexity of correctly mixing and applying the precursors, and the use of potentially harmful reagents. Thus, permanent colorants are normally applied by professional hair stylists. In addition, even permanent coloring cannot hide the original hair color that inevitably reappears with the new growth of hair.
  • an oxidizing agent typically hydrogen peroxide
  • Demi-permanent colorants are similar to permanent colorants, but use lower concentrations of peroxide, and an alkalizing agent that is less effective than ammonia, but has a less unpleasant odor. Demi-permanent colorants are therefore less effective at penetrating the hair and bleaching the original hair color, and cannot be used to effectively color predominantly gray or white hair. However, the relative gentleness of such colorants makes them desirable when less effective coloring is sufficient, such as when gray or white hairs constitute a minority of hairs.
  • Semi-permanent colorants typically comprise molecules, such as nitrophenylenediamines and nitroaminophenols, which are small enough to diffuse into the hairs. Such colorants do not require additional reagents and are therefore easy to use, but they are less effective than permanent dyes, fade relatively quickly following several shampooings, and cannot bleach the original hair color. Temporary colorants typically do not penetrate the hairs, and therefore are capable of only moderate changes in hair color. They are also removed by the first shampooing, and are therefore appropriate for individual occasions, and to make slight alterations to hair color, such as hiding gray or white new growth, until a more permanent colorant is applied. Because temporary colorants need not comprise small molecules capable of penetrating the hair, a wide variety of compounds may be used, which facilitates convenience. For instance, one may select dyes that have no risk of inducing an allergic reaction, which is not possible with more permanent colorants. There is also a large number of shades to choose from.
  • a temporary hair colorant depends on the exact use of the colorant. Typically, however, it is important that the colorant be easily removable by shampoo, but not by rain, perspiration or friction from clothing or pillowcases. It is also desirable that the colorant have a sufficiently high affinity to hair, and to color hair evenly.
  • Temporary hair colorants have been used as ingredients in shampoos and conditioners, shading strengtheners, colored hair sprays and mascaras, aimed to be applied to the entire head of hair or as hair streaks.
  • the charge of the dyes can be negative or positive to provide low or high affinity to the hair shaft, as dyes with positive charge (basic dyes) have a higher affinity to the hair.
  • Common temporary hair colorants include azo derivatives, basic triphenylmethane dyes such as methyl violet, azine derivatives such as safranine, and indoamines and indophenols [Zviak and Millequant, supra (2005)]. Colored polymers have been used, as well as artificial melanin.
  • Polymer colorants with a strong affinity to hair are often semi-permanent or permanent colorants.
  • Examples of polymers with a strong affinity to hair which are semi-permanent colorants are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,182,612, 5,702,712 and 5,827,330.
  • a polymeric temporary colorant thereafter must have at most a moderate affinity to hair, and more desirable, a low affinity to hair.
  • Examples of polymers suitable for temporary coloring of hair are disclosed, for example in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,737,907 and 5,891 ,199.
  • Tannic acid, or gallic acid produced by hydrolysis of tannic acid has for centuries been combined with ferrous ions to produce iron gall ink. After writing with the pale ink, the ferrous ions are oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to ferric ions, which react with the tannic acid to produce a dark violet-black organometallic polymer that can permanently bind to proteins, such as those in parchment. Iron gall ink is rarely used today, because paper does not comprise protein, and excess iron atoms are highly corrosive, damaging both paper and pens.
  • EP Patent No. 327,345 discloses a kit which comprises a shampoo comprising ferrous ion for washing hair, and a solution comprising tannic acid which is applied to the hair after shampooing in order to create a semi-permanent black dye.
  • a kit is inadequate for use as a temporary colorant because the colorant is semi-permanent, and because the use of two solutions (a tannic acid solution and a ferrous ion solution) is too lengthy and complex to appeal to consumers.
  • the kit disclosed therein must be used more than once in order to achieve full coloration.
  • Japanese Patent No. 2,014,324 and U.S. Patent No. 4,946,472 disclose hair colorants comprising ferric ion and tannic acid in a single formulation.
  • the colorants used in the taught formulations are not temporary.
  • Oxidation of ferrous ions in a hair colorant that has been applied to the hair results in the formation of an iron tannate polymer strongly bound to the hair, making the colorant non-temporary.
  • Japanese Patent Nos. 61 ,055,483, 130,823, 94,800 and 93,052 and Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2005-206,160, 2000-85,556, 1990-336,606, 1987-245,287, 1984-177,514 and 1972-81 ,137 disclose permanent or semi-permanent hair colorants comprising two formulations, one of which comprises iron ions, and the other comprising tannic acid. Mixture of the two solutions in hair allows the production of iron tannates in the hair, the iron tannates thereby becoming bound to the hair.
  • iron- tannic acid hair colorants suffer from several general deficiencies. The dark black color does not appeal to many consumers.
  • all of the abovementioned formulations comprise unbound iron ions. Unbound iron is corrosive, and ferrous ion in particular produces highly oxidizing free radicals by the Fenton reaction. Excess iron can damage hair and cause unsightly skin hyper-pigmentation [Landsown, Int. J. Cosmetic Sci., 23:129-137 (2001 )].
  • Melanoidins are a family of brownish, colored compounds that result from the interaction between sugars and amino acids under moderate heat. Melanoidins are responsible for much of the browning and flavor of cooked foods, and hence are recognized as highly safe agents. However, melanoidins have not been disclosed as hair colorants heretofore.
  • the formulation may include solvents and/or surface active agents which allow the solubilization of the colored compound, and yet are fast drying formulation. It is also desirable in many cases for the formulation to include ingredients that prevent the temporary hair coloring from fading and/or rubbing off prematurely.
  • PCT Patent Application No. WO 94/10968 teaches an aqueous hair dye composition comprising solubilized melanin and a cationic material which binds the solubilized melanin to the hair via electrostatic interactions.
  • the melanin is preferably solubilized by being oxidized with hydrogen peroxide, which is taught therein as imparting an ionic character to the melanin.
  • the cationic material such as a quaternium or polyquaternium compound, is taught therein as complexing the anionic melanin in a manner that increases the affinity of the melanin to the hair.
  • U.S. Patent No. 6,506,374 teaches a hair coloring composition comprising alcohols to allow quick drying, and a polymer which prevents the color from rubbing off.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,821 ,240 teaches an aqueous hair coloring composition which includes a quaternary ammonium functional silane to prevent rubbing off.
  • Japanese Patent Application No. 1993-312,065 teaches a hair coloring composition comprising tannic acid, ferrous salts, and a silicone oil such as a silicone-polyether copolymer.
  • a silicone oil such as a silicone-polyether copolymer.
  • Such silicone oils are non-volatile surface active agents useful in forming smooth films on hair.
  • the present disclosure describes a hair-coloring applicator device comprising (i) a shield device including an upper surface and a lower surface and (ii) an aerosol assembly for delivering a hair coloring composition or agent onto the upper surface of the shield.
  • the hair-coloring applicator device may be useful for coloring hair in a specific 'local treatment region' - for example, at or near the hair line which delineates the border between the user's forehead and a 'hair mass' higher on the user's head.
  • the device is especially useful for 'touching up' hair roots of visible regions of hair where the hair.
  • a user colors or dyes a majority of his/her hair from a 'natural color' to a 'target hair color' using any technique known in the art.
  • the user's hair has grown so that the roots of his/her hair revert back to the 'natural' color.
  • the user is mainly interested in 'touching up' embarrassingly visible regions (for example, near the hair line bordering the forehead) where the hair-roots have reverted to their natural color.
  • the user may be interested in a 'quick, low effort' solution where the local regions of hair are treated quickly without requiring significant effort on the part of the user.
  • the shield portion of the presently disclosed hair-coloring applicator may include a plurality of narrow elongated slots (e.g. substantially parallel to each other) via which strands of hair may pass.
  • the hair coloring composition is sprayed, from the aerosol assembly, into a region of space 'above' the hair shield;
  • the shield is oriented to be substantially parallel to the local plane of the user's scalp so that user's scalp in the 'treatment region' is below the shield and protected by the shield from the hair coloring composition which may stain the scalp; and
  • the user's hair at the 'treatment region' traverses (i.e.
  • the thickness of the shield via the elongated slots so that at least a portion (preferably, including hair roots) of hair strands are located 'above' the shield (in contrast, to the scalp which is 'below' the shield and protected from the hair composition).
  • the hair coloring composition makes contact with the 'traversing' hair strands to color at least a portion of the hair strands (for example, by coating the hair), preferably to color the roots of the hair strands.
  • the shield can substantially prevent the sprayed hair coloring composition which may 'land' on the upper surface of the shield from traversing (i.e. in a 'downward' direction) below the shield to make contact with the scalp itself. Such contact may, in many use scenarios, be detrimental - for example, it may stain the scalp.
  • the user only wants to color embarrassing grey (or another undesirable color) hair roots in specific localized regions.
  • the user may generally be interested in a 'quick and easy low-effort solution' that does not require much effort expending any significant effort.
  • a hair-coloring cream or gel or a mousse as is known in the art (typically, the user needs to expend effort manually 'working in' or 'combing in' cream or gel or mousse)
  • a quick-drying and/or non-viscous hair coloring composition that is configured to coat strands of hair without causing hair strands to stick together and without any need to manually 'work' the hair-coloring composition into the hair.
  • a 'quick-drying' and/or 'non-viscous' hair coloring composition may be easy to work with (i.e. there is no requirement to 'work it into the hair' and/or it generally dries quickly)
  • one salient feature of non-viscous liquids is that they tend to run or flow, which could increase the likelihood of exposure of the scalp to the hair-coloring agent.
  • the hair-coloring composition may be delivered over the top surface of the shield as a mist or even as a fine mist.
  • Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus which (allow the hair to upwardly penetrate above the shield so that the roots may be colored by the hair-coloring composition delivered (for example, as a spray) over the top surface of the shield; while nevertheless protecting the scalp below the shield from even non-viscous hair-coloring agents and/or hair-coloring agent delivered as a stream of droplets.
  • the narrow elongated slots are wide enough to accommodate the upwardly-traversing hair strands but narrow enough so that substantial quantities of hair-coloring composition do not downwardly penetrate below the shield onto the scalp;
  • the narrow elongated slots may have some sort of length feature - i.e. they may be long enough to allow 'significant quantities' of hair to upwardly traverse the slots above the shield where the hair composition is delivered from the aerosol assembly.
  • Elongated but narrow slots would thus have some sort of elevated 'slot aspect ratio' relating slot length (i.e. either the entire length of the slot or the 'aspect ratio' within a section of the slot having some sort of length) with some measure of the slot width - in some embodiments, the 'slot aspect ratio' may be at least 30 or at least 40 or at least 60 or at least 70 or at least 80 or at least 90 or at least 100);
  • the shield portion of the device may include a plurality of generally aligned and/or substantially parallel teeth that are 'closely spaced' to each other - for example, slots or voids between laterally neighboring teeth may have any 'narrow slot' or 'narrow gap' property to block hair-coloring composition from 'downwardly' penetrating the shield to the scalp;
  • the teeth are not be 'too wide' (for example, teeth that are too wide may reduce the number of slots than can be fit in a device that is not 'too wide').
  • the upper limit e.g. averaged over a majority or significant majority or very significant majority of the teeth and/or averaged over the entire length of teeth or averaged over some lengthwise section of the tooth or shield
  • the upper limit for tooth width may be 4 mm, or 3 mm, or 2.5 mm, or 2 mm). Because 'longer teeth' may provide a more efficient device (i.e.
  • the 'tooth aspect ratio' may be relatively large for example, at least 20 or at least 30 or at least 40 or at least 50 or any range or value disclosed herein.
  • the tooth aspect ratio discussed below, relates tooth length to tooth width or thickness or cross section averaged over the entirety of the tooth or over some 'section of tooth/length of tooth' along the tooth axis)
  • the shape of the cross section of the teeth may also play a role in shielding the scalp below the shield while facilitating the upward traversal of hair strands so that the hair roots are 'exposed' to the aerosol- delivered hair-coloring composition.
  • the present inventors have discovered that upwardly-pointing substantially triangularly-shaped teeth (i.e. teeth having a substantial triangular cross-section - see, for example, FIGS. 15, 21 -22 ) may provide excellent results.
  • the cross section of the tooth in a majority or significant majority or very significant majority of locations along the tooth axis may be are configured so that the narrowest 'gap' between laterally-neighboring teeth is near the tooth bottom.
  • this may facilitate a situation where the root (and not only a 'higher' section of a strand of hair) upwardly penetrates above the 'nearest gap' between teeth into a region that is more exposed to the delivery of the aerosol hair-coloring composition.
  • the void between teeth is wider at 'higher' locations near the top of the void or the top of the laterally neighboring teeth.
  • This void geometry provided by the tooth geometry means that the roots of the hair strands in locations above the 'narrowest gap between teeth' are less likely to be shielded by the teeth in this 'higher' location above the 'narrowest gap between teeth';
  • the cross section of the tooth and/or the void between laterally-neighboring teeth may have an asymmetric width profile so that the tooth is wider at the bottom (i.e. on average, in most locations) and narrower at the top (or conversely, so that the void is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom so that the 'narrowest gap' is located near the bottom of the neighboring teeth).
  • the topography of the top surface of the shield and bottom surface of the shield may different so that the top of the shield feels relatively rough (e.g. due to an undulating surface that undulates in the lateral direction) and the bottom of the shield feels relatively smooth.
  • the 'length scale' for the roughness and the smoothness would typically be around 1 mm (i.e. 0.5 mm or 0.75 mm or 1 .25 mm or 1 .5 mm or 2 mm).
  • the top surface which is 'rough' would cause the cylinder to undulate or oscillate when moved in a lateral direction over the top surface of the shield at a larger or much large magnitude than when in an identical experiment, the same cylinder is moved in a lateral direction over the bottom surface of the shield (where the vertical oscillations or undulations may be non-existent or much smaller).
  • the cylinder when the cylinder is 'rolled' or moved laterally over the top surface of the shield in a lateral direction, the cylinder would undulate or oscillate at a first magnitude where the magnitude of vertical oscillations or undulations would be at least 0.5 mm or at least 1 mm or measure that is equal to the radius or 1 .5 times the radius of cylinder.
  • the magnitude of vertical oscillations or undulations for the bottom surface i.e. a second magnitude
  • would be less i.e. having a value that is at most 50% or at most 30% or at most 20% or at most 10% of the first magnitude observable for the top surface - for example, compare FIG. 25 to FIG. 27
  • the ratio of (i) the magnitude of the undulations/vertical oscillations for the top surface (i.e. measured for the given cylinder) to (ii) the magnitude of the undulations/vertical oscillations for the top surface (i.e. measured for the same given cylinder) may be at least 1 .5 or at least 2 or least 3 or least 5.
  • the magnitude of oscillations or undulations of the cylinder may match (i.e. within a tolerance of 70% or 50% or 30%) the cylinder radius.
  • a compound or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
  • FIGS. 1 -4 illustrate various views of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 5-6 illustrate an array of teeth.
  • FIG. 7-8 illustrate a side view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 9-10 illustrate an exploded view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 1 1 -12 illustrate usage of an apparatus for coloring hair to color hair in accordance with some embodiment.
  • FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate spraying a hair-coloring mist composition over a top surface of a shield.
  • FIGS. 13D-13E illustrate a view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments including an array of teeth whose width profile is asymmetric (e.g. triangular).
  • FIG. 14, 16 illustrates other views of a shield useful for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate application of spray to hair roots in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 17-19 illustrate various views of a tooth array of a shield useful for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 20-24, 26 relate to cross section views of a tooth array of a shield useful for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 25 relates to a trajectory of a movement of a hypothetical cylinder.
  • FIGS. 28-29 relate to methods for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 30A-30B relate to spray apparatus in accordance with some embodiments.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus that were disclosed in PCT/IL2008/001630 which (i) was filed on December 17, 2008; (ii) was published on
  • any feature or combination of features described in the present document may be combined with any feature of combination of features described in application PCT/IL2008/001630.
  • the present invention in some embodiments thereof, is of a hair coloring applicator, and of hair coloring agents and compositions which can be used to color hair.
  • the present invention can be used to color ("touch-up") hair along a hair line in a quick and convenient manner, particularly with a temporary hair coloring composition which is based on hair coloring agents that are substantially natural (e.g., derived from naturally-occurring substances), environmentally-friendly, and which exhibit natural hair shades, and/or a suitable volatile carrier devoid of alcohol.
  • a temporary hair coloring composition which is based on hair coloring agents that are substantially natural (e.g., derived from naturally-occurring substances), environmentally-friendly, and which exhibit natural hair shades, and/or a suitable volatile carrier devoid of alcohol.
  • FIGS. 1 -4 illustrate various views of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 5-6 illustrate an array of teeth.
  • FIG. 7-8 illustrate a side view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIGS. 9-10 illustrate an exploded view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 1 1 A-1 1 C illustrates one use scenario where a user employs a hair coloring device 200 to color roots of her hair - for example, in the 'peripheral' region 490 bordering the forehead.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates another use case.
  • FIGS. 13A-13C are side views of the device 200 employed in the use cases of FIGS. 1 1 -12.
  • device 200 including shield 220 may be useful for coloring the user's hair (more specifically, the roots of the user's hair) with an aerosol spray (for example, a mist or a stream of droplets including a hair-coloring agent and an alcoholic solvent) while simultaneously protecting the user's scalp from being subjected to the hair coloring agent.
  • an aerosol spray for example, a mist or a stream of droplets including a hair-coloring agent and an alcoholic solvent
  • the hair color provided in the spray form is 'quick-drying' and/or non-viscous.
  • shield 220 despite the ability of the hair coloring solution to 'run' upon landing on a surface of the shield 220 (i.e. due to the non-viscous nature of the hair-coloring spray in these embodiments), shield 220 nevertheless may provide geometric properties that facilitate the protection of the user's scalp from the hair coloring agent.
  • shield 220 may, in some embodiments, provide one or more of the following features: (i) 'thin elongated' slots having a high 'slot aspect ratio'; (ii) an array of closely-spaced teeth where the teeth or the voids between the teeth have a 'high aspect ratio'; (iii) teeth with a specific cross- section shape (for example, triangular); and/or one or more additional features discussed herein
  • the device 200 comprises (i) a relatively flat hair-penetrating shield 220 and (ii) an aerosol assembly 400.
  • Hair-coloring aerosol spray is dispensed from aerosol opening/outlet 210 over the 'front' surface 280 of shield 220 - the path taken by the aerosol onto the top/front surface 280 is illustrated by the block arrow labeled "spray" in FIGS. 13A-13C, and is also labeled as element 430 in FIG. 1 1 B.
  • the spray is a 'fan spray' configured to angularly distribute aerosol spray substantially uniformly over an angle that is at least 20 degrees or at least 30 degrees or at least 40 degrees and/or at most 180 degrees and/or at most 120 degrees and/or at most 90 degrees and/or at most 70 degrees and/or at most 50 degrees and/or at most 40 degrees.
  • the fan spray produced by the aerosol assembly has a substantially planar shape (i.e. in a plane that is substantially parallel to the relatively flat surfaced of shield 220 and/or intersects this surface at an angle of less than 30 degrees or less than 20 degrees or less than 10 degrees).
  • this aerosol spray is directed to the front surface 280 of shield
  • shield 220 may be oriented so that back surface 290 is held against the user's scalp which is 'below' back surface 290 - see FIGS. 1 1 -12 where the front surface 280 'faces away from the user's scalp, while the back surface 290 (not visible in FIGS. 1 1 -12) is pressed again the user's scalp.
  • shield 220 is oriented to that the relatively flat structure of shield 220 is pressed against and substantially parallel to the 'local relatively flat surface' of the user's scalp.
  • the terms 'above' and 'below' shield 220 refer to 'above' and 'below' shield 220 along the 'shield thickness axis' 270 defined in FIGS. 13A-13C irrespective of shield 220 or device 200 orientation.
  • the region 'above' shield 220 is labeled as 702, while the region 'below' shield 220 is labeled as 704.
  • shield 220 is substantially vertical, the region into which the hair-coloring aerosol is spray is 'above' shield 220, while the scalp to which back surface 290 of shield is pressed is 'below' shield 220.
  • shield 220 may include a plurality of relatively narrow slots 480 (see FIG. 1 1 C) that are wide enough to accommodate strands of hair but not much wider. As illustrated in FIG. 1 1 C, these slots may be generally aligned with each other and/or generally aligned with longitudinal axis 250 of the shield.
  • a slot at a given location may have a 'shield- thickness-spanning' property at a location if it is possible to traverse the slot, at the given location, in the 'thickness/height' direction - i.e. along shield thickness axis 270.
  • a 'shield- thickness-spanning' property at a location if it is possible to traverse the slot, at the given location, in the 'thickness/height' direction - i.e. along shield thickness axis 270.
  • the strands of hair 310 rooted in the user's scalp traverse the narrow slots (i.e. along the 'shield thickness axis' 270 defined in FIGS. 13A-13C from back surface 290 to front surface 280) to emerge 'above the shield' into region of space 'above' the shield 702.
  • these hair strands 310 (or a portion thereof) then may be 'co-located' with the sprayed hair- coloring aerosol in the region above shield 702 and subjected to the sprayed hair-coloring agent to facilitate the coloring of hair roots.
  • the narrow slots 480 are indeed narrow (for example, having a narrowest width in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm - for example, at least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3 mm - for example, at most 1 mm or at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm), and (ii) the shield 220 is geometrically structured to substantially lack other features (i.e. holes, orifices, openings, etc) that would allow aerosol to traverse shield 220 in a 'downwards' direction along axis 270 from region 702 to region 704.
  • shield 220 is not really a comb. Instead, shield 220 may be used to penetrate (to a certain degree) into the hair region substantially at the 'border' region 490 between the mass of hair and the user's forehead (see FIG. 1 1 ) and/or in regions of hair parts (see FIG. 12) - in some embodiments, it may be difficult for the hair- penetrating shield to penetrate much deeper into the user's hair mass.
  • a user colors or dyes a majority of his/her hair from a 'natural color' to a 'target hair color' using any technique known in the art.
  • the user's hair has grown so that the roots of his/her hair revert back to the 'natural' color.
  • the user is mainly interested in 'touching up' embarrassingly visible regions (for example, near border region 490 and/or in a hair part 510) where the hair-roots have reverted to their natural color.
  • the shield may be useful for this purpose even if the shield 220 may lack 'combing functionality' (i.e. in some embodiments) and usage may be substantially confined to these 'border' visible regions of the hair.
  • shield 220 may, in some embodiments, provide one or more of the following features: (i) 'thin elongated' slots having a high 'slot aspect ratio'; (ii) an array of closely-spaced teeth where the teeth or the voids between the teeth have a 'high aspect ratio'; (iii) teeth with a specific cross-section shape (for example, triangular) and/or one or more additional features discussed herein.
  • the 'thinness' of slots or voids or gaps may be useful for hindering downward motion of even a non-viscous substance- since certain slots or voids or gaps may still be wide enough to accommodate hair strands (i.e. whose width may be on the order of magnitude of a hundred or hundreds of microns), the 'long slot' or 'long void' feature may be useful for providing an extended area where hair strands can 'upwardly' traverse the shield into a space above the shield, where hair-coloring agent (for example, droplets of spray) may coat the hair strands.
  • hair-coloring agent for example, droplets of spray
  • individual teeth may have some sort of asymmetric width profile where the teeth are wider (or conversely, the 'slot' or 'gap' between teeth is narrower) 'closer' to the bottom 290 surface while the teeth are narrower (or conversely, the 'slot' or 'gap' between teeth is wider) near the top 280 surface.
  • locating the 'minimum gap location' near the bottom may be useful for facilitating where the hair roots, in particular, are subjected to the hair-coloring agent - for example, including black hair color and/or hair coloring agent capable of 'coating' the hair.
  • FIGS. 1 1 - 12 Another feature that may be provide by device 200 whose use is illustrated in FIGS. 1 1 - 12 is the ability to 'penetrate' into the user's hair at a 'border location' when the shield is oriented substantially parallel to the local plane of the user's head.
  • the shield may provide diminished or no 'combing functionality.
  • the 'shallow penetration' is limited to up to 3 cm or up to 5 cm or up to 7 cm into the 'full hair.
  • FIGS. 1 1 -12 include aerosol control 410, aerosol container 420 where the hair coloring aerosol may be stored before deliver via opening/outlet 210, and device substrate or housing 230 which may provide mechanical connectivity or mechanical coupling between shield 220 and aerosol assembly 400.
  • aerosol assembly 400 may be directly or indirectly fastened to shield 220 via any fastener known in the art, including but not limited to a clip, a screw apparatus, a magnetic fastener or any other fastener known in the art.
  • aerosol assembly 400 may be detachably attachable to shield 220.
  • aerosol assembly 400 (or a portion thereof) and shield 220 may be glued together or welded together, or integrally formed with each other.
  • FIGS. 13A-13C are side views of the device 200 (or portions thereof).
  • FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate the proximal 228 and distal 224 ends of shield 220 which define a general 'proximal-distal' direction 226.
  • the distance between proximal 228 and distal 224 ends is referred to as the 'proximal-distal distance.
  • the spray (or some sort of 'spray vector' defining a central tendency of the directions that aerosol spray delivered from opening/outlet 210 takes) may be along proximal-distal direction 226, and/or generally aligned with longitudinal axis 250.
  • the outlet/opening 210 via which the hair- coloring aerosol is (i) delivered is 'elevated' above the substantially flat surface/substantially planar surface of shield 220 by a distance labeled as 440 (in FIG. 13B the 'extension' of the substantially flat surface of shield 220 is labeled as 470) and (ii) displaced in a proximal direction behind proximal end 228 by a distance labeled as 442.
  • the 'height' indicated by 440 may be at least 1 mm or at least 3 mm or at least 5 mm or at least 1 cm or at least 1 .5 cm or at least 2 cm or at least 5% AND/OR at least 10% or at least 20% or at least 30% of the 'proximal-distal' distance AND/OR at least 1 .5 times or at least 2 times or at least 3 times or at least 5 times or at least 7 times an average thickness of shield 220.
  • the 'height' indicated by 440 may be at least 1 .5 times or at least 2 times or at least 3 times or at least 5 times or at least 7 times an average tooth thickness averaged over teeth of the tooth array.
  • the 'backward displacement distance' indicated by 470 may be at least 5 mm or at least 1 cm or at least 1 .5 cm or at least 2 cm AND/OR at least 10% or at least 20% or at least 30% or at least 50% a proximal-distal distance' between proximal 228 and distal 224 ends of shield 220.
  • elevating and/or displacing aerosol outlet 210 in a distal direction may be useful for 'creating some distance' between the aerosol outlet 210 and shield 220.
  • the risk of aerosol- delivered hair coloring agent for example, delivered as a stream of droplets
  • the risk of aerosol- delivered hair coloring agent may increase.
  • the spray e.g. a stream of droplets
  • the path of the aerosol may curve towards shield 220 onto upper/top surface 280 to contact and color hair 310 which upwardly extended via shield the spray (or some sort of 'spray vector' defining a central tendency of the direction that hair-coloring aerosol spray delivered from opening/outlet 210 takes) may be along proximal-distal direction 220 into region 702 above shield 220.
  • this hair coloring spray may include a fast-drying hair coloring agent and/or may include a 'temporary' hair coloring agent which 'wears off after one or a few hair washings and/or within a short period of time that is at most a few weeks or a few days.
  • the shield 220 may be useful for hindering 'downward' motion (i.e. from region 702 above the shield to region 704 below the shield) of even non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
  • the non-viscous hair-coloring agent may include a dye (for example, a basic hair dye) mixed with a non-viscous carrier such as an alcohol-based carrier.
  • a non-viscous carrier such as an alcohol-based carrier.
  • the droplets are at least 5% or at least 10% or at least 15% by weight alcohol.
  • the stream of droplets have a particle size that is less than 200 microns or less than 100 microns or less than 80 microns or less than 60 microns and/or at least 5 microns or at least 10 microns or at least 20 microns or at least 30 microns.
  • a 'non-viscous' substance is a substance that 'runs' or 'flows', may have a viscosity that is less than 100 cps (and/or less than 100 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 75 cps (and/or less than 75 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 50 cps(and/or less than 50 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 30 cps (and/or less than 30 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 20 cps(and/or less than 20 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 10(and/or less than 10 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 5 cps (and/or less than 5 times the viscosity of water at 20 degrees C)or less than 3 cps (and/or less than 3 times the viscos
  • having a 'low-viscosity' hair-coloring substance may obviate the need for a user to 'comb in' or 'work in' the hair coloring agent into the hair (as would be the case of a mist).
  • the droplets for example, that arrive directly from the aerosol spraying opening and/or droplets the ricochet from other strands of hair
  • this may take place without causing multiple strands of hair to stick to each other.
  • presence of a 'high concentration' of a propellant for example, an ether propellant
  • a propellant for example, an ether propellant
  • an alcoholic solvent facilitates the fast drying of the coated hair strands - for example, within a few minutes.
  • FIG. 13C-13D illustrate another view of device 220 - for example, a cross section of area spanned by the vectors of shield thickness axis 270 and lateral axis 260 (the lateral direction of lateral axis 260 is also illustrated in FIG. 14).
  • shield 220 there is no requirement for shield 220 to be flat or generally flat.
  • generally flat shield is 'gently concave down' to provide some sort of gentle shallow and wide cavity into which a portion of the user's scalp may be placed.
  • shield 220 may comprise a plurality of teeth, as illustrated in FIG.
  • each tooth includes a respective main portion 330 and a respective distal portion 240.
  • a gap between the teeth may relate to slots 480 discussed above.
  • shield 220 comprises a tooth array comprising exactly 22 teeth. This is not a limitation.
  • shield 220 may include at least 5, or at least 8, or at least 10, or at least 12, or at least 20, or exactly 22 generally aligned teeth.
  • the teeth are all exactly parallel to each other - this is not a limitation.
  • the 'generally aligned' teeth may be substantially parallel, or may diverge from each other closer to distal end 224 or converge.
  • teeth of the non-limiting example of FIG. 15 are relatively long/tall and narrow and/or relatively long/tall and thin.
  • the 'width' of a tooth refers to the dimension of the tooth along the lateral axis 260. As will be discussed below (see FIG. 21 ) this width, for any particular tooth, may vary at different locations along the shield thickness axis 270 (or along the tooth axis or along the longitudinal axis 250). In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 , the 'width' at the 'bottom' of each tooth 248 is labeled as 360, while the width near the 'top' of each tooth is labeled as 350.
  • the 'thickness' or 'height' of a tooth is the dimension of the tooth along the shield thickness axis 270.
  • the height or thickness may vary along lateral axis 260 or along the tooth axis or along the longitudinal axis 250.
  • one salient feature that may be provided by the teeth of the non- limiting example of FIG. 14 is that these teeth are relatively long/tall and narrow and/or relatively long/tall and thin - i.e. they may have a 'large aspect ratio'.
  • at least one of TOOTH_RATIO_1 , TOOTH_RATIO_2 and TOOTH_RATIO_3 may be at least 10, or at least 15, or at least 20, or at least 25, or at least 30, or at least 40.
  • TOOTH_RATIO_1 is defined as the ratio between the tooth length and the average tooth width (i.e. averaged for all locations in the tooth along the shield thickness axis 270 and along the length of the tooth - either including or excluding distal tapered section 240 (hair-penetrating probe section 240)).
  • TOOTH_RATIO_2 is defined as the ratio between the tooth length and the average tooth thickness (i.e. averaged for all locations in the tooth along the lateral axis 260 and along the length of the tooth - either including or excluding distal tapered section 240 (hair- penetrating probe section)).
  • TOOTH_RATIO_3 is the ratio between the tooth length and the average cross-sectional tooth area (FIG. 21 illustrates 'slices' or cross-sections of teeth) - TOOTH_RATIO_3 is averaged along the length of the tooth - either including or excluding distal tapered section 240 (hair-penetrating probe section)).
  • Another salient feature that may facilitate the temporary coloring of hair roots while the scalp is protected is the feature where the 'tooth is relatively wide the bottom of the tooth' while 'relatively narrow' near the top of the tooth.
  • the tooth cross section may be triangularly-shaped - for example, with a wider base and a narrower top. This is illustrated in FIG. 15.. Also illustrated in FIG. 15 is the process whereby hair with grey roots may be treated to coat the hair strand (for example, at the root) with black hair-color.
  • FIG. 15A illustrates 'before ' treatment
  • FIG. 15B illustrates one example of the spray process
  • FIG. 15C illustrates the hair strands 'after' treatment according to one non-limiting example.
  • all of the teeth have identical shapes and cross sections (not necessarily identical length) - this is clearly not a limitation and in some embodiments, there may be variation among tooth dimensions and/or dimensions describing the geometrical relationships of multiple (e.g. laterally-adjacent or laterally-neighboring teeth) teeth (e.g. tooth gap distances).
  • the tooth cross section may longitudinally vary along the 'tooth axis' (not shown in the figures).
  • the teeth are exactly straight - i.e. some sort of internal 'tooth axis' (i.e. the elongate or central axis of the tooth) always corresponds to longitudinal axis 250.
  • the central/elongate tooth axis may provide curvature or sharp angles - instead of being a 'straight line' it is possible to think of the tooth axis as a one-dimensional manifold in space that will, in many embodiments, be generally aligned with longitudinal axis 250 and approximate a straight line.
  • the width of the tooth may vary over different 'heights' in the tooth (e.g. over shield thickness axis 270) and (ii) this width function may provide an 'asymmetric width profile' (i.e. referring to the width of the tooth at one or more locations along the tooth length - for example, at a majority of locations over the length of the tooth, or at a majority of locations over a 'given section' of the tooth whose length is at least 2 cm).
  • a 'given section 'or 'control section' of the main portion 330 of a tooth or teeth i.e. a 'lengthwise section' or a 'longitudinal section'
  • This 'longitudinal' section may be located at any location on the tooth.
  • this 'given section' may be located near the distal end of shield 220 - for example, lengthwise adjacent to (i.e. bordering or less than 5 mm or 1 cm from) to the tapered distal section 240 (e.g. 'probe-shaped - for example, including a rounded end).
  • the tooth cross section has a triangular cross section (for example, a rounded isosceles triangle).
  • Other cross sections shapes are possible including but not limited to other examples of 'substantially triangular cross-section shapes.'
  • the tooth has a relatively wide width at the bottom of the tooth 248 (e.g. 360) and a relatively narrow width at or near the top 246 of the tooth).
  • the minimum gap width for the cross-section i.e. between laterally adjacent pairs of teeth - for example, the gap 370I between teeth 330I and 330J
  • the root of the hair strand 310 is located within void region 390 between laterally-adjacent teeth above the location of the minimum gap distance 370.
  • the root of hair strand 310 (rather than only a more distal location within the hair strand past the root) to traverse the location of the minimum gap distance 370 and emerge above this location into void region 390 between teeth above the 'undulating' upper surface 280 of the shield defined by the upper surfaces of the teeth.
  • this 'minimum-gap- traversing' hair root can be subjected to the hair-coloring agent provided by the hair-coloring aerosol spray.
  • the average or individual void cross section (i.e. for a longitudinal section that is at least 2 cm or at last 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm at least 4 cm or at least 5 cm or longer) may be (i.e. either for a single tooth or single slot or for an array of any number of teeth or slots or voids - i.e. either on average for the array or individually for any number within an array of slots or teeth or voids) at most 6 mm A 2 or at most 5 mm A 2 or at most 4 mm A 2 or at most 3 mm A 2 or at most 2 mm A 2 - in some embodiments, the average or individual void cross section may be at least 0.5 mm A 2 or at least 1 mm A 2.
  • This 'void cross-section' may prevail on average over the section, or may prevail for at least a significant minority of locations, for at least majority of locations (synonymously 'for most locations), or at least a significant or very significant majority of locations of the section. This may be true on average for any number of teeth of a tooth array (or voids formed therefrom) or any number of slots or voids of a slot/void array and/or be true individually for a significant minority or majority or significant majority or very significant majority of teeth (i.e. the resulting voids formed therefrom) of the tooth array.
  • the average or individual tooth cross section (i.e. for a longitudinal section that is at least 2 cm or at last 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm at least 4 cm or at least 5 cm or longer) may be (i.e. either for a single tooth or for any number of teeth - i.e. either on average or individually for an array of any number within an array of teeth) at most 6 mm A 2 or at most 5 mm A 2 or at most 4 mm A 2 or at most 3 mm A 2 or at most 2 mm A 2 - in some embodiments, the average or individual void cross section may be at least 0.5 mm A 2 or at least 1 mm A 2.
  • This 'tooth cross-section' may prevail on average over the section, or may prevail for at least a significant minority of locations, for at least majority of locations (synonymously 'for most locations), or at least a significant or very significant majority of locations of the section. This may be true on average for any number of teeth of a tooth array (or voids formed therefrom) and/or be true individually for a significant minority or majority or significant majority or very significant majority of teeth (i.e. the resulting voids formed therefrom) of the tooth array.
  • the upper surface defined by connecting top locations 246 of the teeth' may deviate from the 'upper/top' surface 280 of the shield or of the teeth (e.g. above the 'minimum gap location' of the 'minimum gap distance' 370)
  • the upper surface 280 is relatively rough with oscillating heights (along the lateral axis) while the lower surface 290 is relatively smooth 290 (and a local level, it may be substantially planar).
  • the geometry where (i) the lower surface 290 is relatively smooth and where (ii) the minimum gap location of minimum gap distance 370 is closer to or at the bottom 248 of the teeth is useful for helping the hair strand 310 traverse the minimum gap location 370 at the hair root.
  • the 'upper 280 surface' may be a rough surface (i.e. have a rough topography), while the lower 290 surface may be a 'smooth' surface.
  • the width of the teeth in the front surface may vary significantly between the bottom and top of the teeth (compare 350 and 360) on the front side (looking 'down), in FIG. 18, it may observed that the back surface 290 is significantly smoother.
  • back surface 290 includes wider teeth (i.e. at or near the bottom 248 - as opposed to the front surface when looking down the width may vary significantly) punctuated by relatively narrow gaps 370..
  • the 'minimum gap width' 370 of the narrow gaps is at least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3 mm or at least 0.4 mm. In a non-limiting example, the 'minimum gap width' 370 of the narrow gaps is at most .1 .2 mm or at most 1 mm or at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm. This may be for any number of teeth of a tooth array (i.e. significant minority, majority, significant majority, very significant majority) and/or averaged over any length of tooth or slot (i.e.
  • FIG. 21 D the 'highest location' or 'top' of various teeth are labeled as 246.
  • the 'bottom' or lowest point on the shield thickness axis 270 is labeled as 248.
  • the 'halfway' point (this may be a locus of points if the top of bottom of the teeth are a locus of points) 249 are also illustrated in FIG. 21 D. Nevertheless, all points of the 'locus of points for 249' (or the top-point midpoint) would have the same 'height' 923 above the bottom 248 - see also FIG. 23C.
  • the ratio between the 'maximum width 360 of the tooth' (in some embodiments, the maximum width 360 may be located in the lower half or lower 30% or lower 20% or lower 10% of the tooth - where the upper sections and lower sections of the tooth are defined along thickness axis 270 and relative to the top 246 and bottom 248 of the teeth) and the 'minimum gap distance' 370 may be at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .7 or least 2.
  • This 'ratio feature' may be provided over a 'tooth set' of at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 15 consecutive teeth. In some embodiments, this feature may be provided such that for the majority of 'adjacent gap pairs' 370 (in FIG. 17A, 370I and 370J are 'adjacent gap pairs - 370I and 370K are not 'adjacent gap pairs') the distance between adjacent 'gaps' 370 (or, in some embodiments, the average of the distances between the adjacent gap pairs) is at most 2 cm or at most 1 .7 cm or at most 1 .5 cm
  • a 'fill factor' of a 2D surface or of a 3D volume of space i.e.. a 'control area' or 'control volume'
  • a 'control area' or 'control volume' that includes both (i) 'matter of shield 220' or 'matter of teeth 330' (for example, plastic or any other appropriate material) as well as (ii) void or empty space (for example, 390 or 702 or 704).
  • the 'fill factor' refers to the ratio of: (i) the total area (or volume) within the 'control area' (or 'control volume') that is occupied by matter DIVIDED BY; (ii) the total size (i.e. area or volume) of the control volume.
  • FIGS. 22A-22B One example of a 'control' volume is illustrated in FIGS. 22A-22B (labeled as 810).
  • the 'measurement' or 'length' of the control volume in the longitudinal dimension 250 may be at least 1 cm or at least 2 cm or at least 3 cm.
  • the 'measurement' of 'length' of the control volume in the 'transverse direction' 260 may be at least 0.5 cm or at least 1 cm or at least 1 .5 cm or at least 2 cm.
  • the 'fill factor' may be at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 75% or at least 80% or at least 85% or at least 90% or at least 95%.
  • the control area or the control volume may by substantially flat - e.g. in the lateral direction, following the contour of a mid-line or mid-curve of the shield (i.e. connecting 'midpoints' of adjacent teeth where the midpoint is defined by the 'average location' of the top 246 and bottom 248 of the tooth) following the contour of the bottom/lower surface 290.
  • the control area or the control volume includes a plurality of elongated slots (i.e. these slots are 'voids' and may correspond with the 'minimum gap 370' or a location slightly above or below), each slot being at least 0.5 cm or 1 cm or 1 .5 cm or 2 cm in length, where either (i) the average 'lateral distance between laterally-adjacent slots' is at most 4 mm or at most 3 mm or at most 2.5 mm or at most 2 mm; and/or (ii) a majority of slots (or a significant majority of slots - e.g.
  • At least 70% or 80% of the slots have a longitudinal-average width that is least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3 mm and at most 1 .2 mm or at most 1 mm or at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm; (iii) a ratio between an average slot-slot lateral distance .and an average slot width is at most 4 or at most 3 (if this ratio is 'too high' and/or the slots are laterally spaced 'far from each other' this may 'reduce the opportunities for hair strands to upwardly traverse shield 220.
  • FIG. 23 relates to a use case where the cross section of not all teeth is the same.
  • the top of the tooth is 246, the bottom is 248, and the 'midpoint' or line is 249.
  • This line may delineate two regions - a 'higher region' above 249 nearer to the top 246 of the tooth (this region will on average be narrower), and a 'lower region' below 249 nearer to the bottom 246 of the tooth (this region will on average be narrower).
  • a ratio between (i) an average tooth cross width in this 'lower region' below 249 and (ii) an average tooth cross width in this 'higher region' above 249 may be at least 1 .1 or at least 1 .2 or at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .4 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .6 or at least 1 .7 or at least 1 .8 or at least 1 .9 or at least 2 or at least 2.5
  • the 'average tooth cross section' width may be averaged according to any technique disclosed herein - for example, longitudinally over the tooth axis in a certain region of the entirety of the tooth and/or between any set of teeth (or sub-set) of the tooth array.
  • the 'upper region' is defined as above point 911 (3/4 of the way to the top) while the 'lower region' is defined as below point 909 (3/4 of the way to the bottom).
  • a ratio between (i) an average tooth cross width in this 'lower region' below 909 and (ii) an average tooth cross width in this 'higher region' above 911 may be at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .7 or at least 2 or at least 2.5 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10.
  • the 'average tooth cross section' width may be averaged according to any technique disclosed herein - for example, longitudinally over the tooth axis in a certain region of the entirety of the tooth and/or between any set of teeth (or sub-set) of the tooth array.
  • the void or slot 390 may, in contrast to the teeth, be 'wider near at the top' ('near the top' is defined as above mid-height level 923 in FIG.23C and above three-quarters height level 925 in FIG. 23D) and 'narrower near the bottom' ('near the top' is defined as below mid-height level 923 in FIG.23C and below the one-quarter height level 927 in FIG. 23D)
  • height ratio for the void may be for FIG. 23C (i.e any case of the 'mid-height level) at least 1 .1 or at least 1 .2 or at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .4 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .6 or at least 1 .7 or at least 1 .8 or at least 1 .9 or at least 2 or at least 2.5 and for FIG. 23D (any case of the quarter or three quarter level) at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .7 or at least 2 or at least 2.5 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10.
  • the tooth may have an asymmetric width profile where the region closer to the bottom 248 of the tooth 330 tends to have a wider/large width, while the region closer to the top 248 of the tooth 330 tends to have a narrower/smaller width.
  • this may lead to a situation where the top/upper surface 280 of shield 220 has a relatively rough topography (for example, undulating) while the bottom/lower surface 290 of shield 220 has a relatively 'smooth' topography.
  • a small cylinder 850 e.g. having a length of 1 mm or 2 mm or 3 mm or 5 mm or 1 cm or 1 .5 cm or 2 cm or 2.5 cm
  • this cylinder would move up and down as the small cylinder is moved over upper surface 280 - this is shown in the frames of FIG. 24A- 24F.
  • cylinder radius or cylinder diameter may refer either to cylinder radius or cylinder diameter.
  • the cylinder 850 has a radius or diameter of 0.6 mm.
  • the cylinder 850 has a radius or diameter of 0.8 mm.
  • the cylinder 850 has a radius or diameter of 0.6 mm.
  • the cylinder 850 has a radius or diameter of 1 mm.
  • the cylinder has a radius o or diameter f 0.6 mm.
  • the cylinder 850 has a radius or diameter of 1 .3 mm.
  • Possible minimum cylinder radii are: 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1 .2 mm, 1 .4 mm, 1 .6 mm, 1.8 mm and 2 mm.
  • Possible maximum cylinder radii are: 2.5 mm, 2 mm, 1 .8 mm, 1 .6 mm, 1 .4 mm, 1 .2 mm, 1 mm, 0.8 mm and 0.4 mm - ranges may be formed by any mixing of any minimum and any maximum (for this feature or any feature herein).
  • the trajectory of the cylinder from the 'experiment' of FIG. 24 is illustrated - the magnitude/size (i.e. in the 'height direction) of the undulations and/or oscillations is given by OSC1 and may be at least 0.4 mm or at least 0.6 mm or at least 0.8 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1 .2 mm or at least 1 .4 mm or at or at least 1 .6 mm or at least 1 .8 mm or at least 2 mm.
  • This Oscillation' or 'undulation' magnitude (which ultimately describes surface 280) may be achieved on 'distinct' occasions (i.e.
  • the lateral separation distance between these 'distinct occasions' corresponds to the substantially periodic form (i.e. in the lateral 260 direction) of surface 280.
  • the surface 280 is not required to be periodic.
  • the experiment of FIG. 24 is repeated, with the same cylinder, for the 'lower/bottom surface 290.'
  • the trajectory is illustrated, the magnitude/size (i.e. in the 'height direction) of the undulations and/or oscillations is given by OSC2 and may be at most 1 mm or at most 0.5 mm or at most 0.3 mm or at most 0.3 mm or at most 0.1 mm.
  • OSC2 in order for OSC2 to 'count,' it needs to occur only once. In some embodiments, it needs to occur at least 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 7 times at 'distinct lateral locations' separated by at least 1 mm or 1 .5 mm or 2 mm.
  • OSC1 is larger than OSC2 so that the ratio between OSC 1 and OSC2 is at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10. It is understood that for the rounded triangles OSC1/OSC2 may be quite large - however, for other shapes that are also substantially triangular (for example, if there is some sort of structure 'below' the base, then OSC1/OSC2 may not be as large.
  • Various embodiments of the present invention may relate to: methods for coloring hair (for example, with an aerosol hair-coloring agent); devices for coloring hair (for example, including shield 220 and aerosol assembly 400) kits for coloring hair (for example, including a shield 220 and aerosol assembly 400 or a portion of an aerosol assembly) and shields 220 configured to be useful for hair coloring.
  • shield 220 and aerosol assembly 400 may be sold separately or as a kit (for example, attachable to each other either permanently attachable or detachably attachable.
  • any 'system or device including a shield and an aerosol assembly' may also be provided as a 'kit including the shield and the aerosol assembly where the shield and the aerosol assembly may be coupled to each other (for example, assembly by fastening at least a portion of each to each other).
  • a single kit includes an aerosol assembly and shields 220 of multiple lengths - for example, a 'short shield' of a longitudinal length (e.g. from the tip to the base of the tooth) of less than 4 cm or less than 4.5 cm, and a 'long shield' of a longitudinal length (e.g. from the tip to the base of the tooth) of more than 5 cm or more than 5.5 cm or more than 6 cm or more than 6.5 cm (i.e. any combination).
  • FIG. 28 describes a routine for assembling such a kit into any presently-disclosed system.
  • FIG. 29 is a flow chart of using a hair coloring device (see FIGS. 1 1 -12 also).
  • FIG. 30 describers an aerosol assembly -for example, the orifice has a width of 0.3 mm in FIG. 30A, the form relatively small droplets (e.g. less than 100 microns by average, or less than 80 microns or less than 60 microns or less than 50 microns ) - thus, the width of the orifice may be less than 0.6 mm or less than 0.5 mm.
  • FIG. 30B One salient feature of FIG. 30B, is a 'rectangular-shaped spray insert' (e.g. a ratio between a length and a width is at least 1 .2 or at least 1 .4 so that the produced spray (see the dotted line which shows a primarily horizontal spray form) is a fan spray, for example, having a substantially rectangular cross section.
  • a 'rectangular-shaped spray insert' e.g. a ratio between a length and a width is at least 1 .2 or at least 1 .4 so that the produced spray (see the dotted line which shows a primarily horizontal spray form) is a fan spray, for example, having a substantially rectangular cross section.
  • some embodiments of the present invention relate to a slot array of elongated slots or a tooth array of elongated teeth. It is appreciated that various tooth or slot properties (for example, relating to a width profile, an aspect ratio, a cross-section shape, a gap distance near teeth) may not be required to prevail for a majority of teeth and/or for a majority of locations along elongated tooth or slot axis (i.e. within the entirety of the tooth or the slot or within a given elongated 'section').
  • any feature or combination of features disclosed herein for a 'majority of teeth' i.e. of a plurality of teeth
  • a majority of voids or slots i,.e. for a plurality of voids or slots
  • this feature may also apply (i.e. any feature or combination of features ), in alternative embodiments, to a 'significant minority' (i.e. at least 30%) or to a 'significant majority' (i.e. at least 70%) or a 'very significant majority' (i.e. at least 90%) of teeth or voids or slots.
  • Some features are disclosed for 'sections of teeth' or 'section of shield' having a given length. For any feature or combination of features, this length may be at least 2 cm, or at least 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm or at least 3.5 cm or at least 4 cm.
  • this number of teeth or slots or voids may be at least 8, at least 10, at least 12, at least 14, at least 16, at least 18, or at least 20 for any feature (of combination) disclosed herein.
  • the shield is constructed from plastic or any other material apparent to the skilled artisan after reading the present disclosure.
  • kits for constructing any presently disclosed system may include: (i) a hair penetrating shield and (ii) a aerosol assembly which when coupled to each other may produce any presently disclosed hair-coloring device (i.e. that include both the shield and the aerosol assembly).
  • a single kit may include multiple shields such a longer shield and shorter shield.
  • a length ratio (i.e. where length is along the longitudinal direction) between the lengths of two shields may be at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .7 or at least 2.
  • any kit may include instructions for combining and/or mating the aerosol assembly and the hair shield (for example, according to FIG. 28).
  • the 'quick-drying' hair-coloring composition when delivered to hair (for example, for coat the hair), it may dry on the surface of the hair in less than 8 minutes or less than 6 minutes or less than 4 minutes or less than 2 minutes.
  • a 'quick-drying' composition or agent dries faster than water.
  • a drop e.g. from an eye-dropper
  • the "quick-drying' composition or agent when placed on a porcelain plate in room temperature conditions, it will dry faster than the water (i.e. subjected to a similar porcelain plate experiment).
  • the drying time of the "quick-drying' composition or agent may be closer to the drying time of alcohol (i.e. subjected to an identical porcelain plate experiment) than to the drying time of water.
  • the shield is relatively long and narrow.
  • the ratio of length to the width of the shield is at least 1 .25 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .7 or at least 2.
  • Use of a 'narrow shield' i.e. whose width is at most 5 cm or at most 4 cm or at most 3 cm or at most 2 cm), may be useful for treating 'delicate areas' though this is not a requirement.
  • a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots comprising: a) a hair-penetrating shield 220 comprising a tooth array having top 280 and bottom 290 surfaces and having proximal 228 and distal 224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 14 or at least 1 6 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority (or a 'significant' or Very significant' majority) of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main portion 330 and a tapered distal portion 240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main portion 330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along the tooth axis within the section :
  • a cross section of the tooth has an asymmetric width profile along the shield thickness axis 270 such that the tooth cross section, on average, is narrower near the top 248 of the tooth and the tooth cross section, on average, is wider near the bottom 246 of the tooth ;
  • the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm A 2 (in some embodiments, less than 3 mm A 2 or less than 2.5 mm A 2 or less than 2 mm A 2 - in some embodiments, at least 0.5 mm A 2 or at least 0.75 mm A 2 or at least 1 mm A 2) ;
  • the tooth is separated from a laterally neighboring tooth to provide a minimum gap distance 370 that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm
  • an aerosol assembly 400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield the aerosol assembly including an aerosol outlet elevated above the top surface 280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense or 'spray out' a non-viscous hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array of teeth onto the top 280 surface of the shield 220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface from the non-viscous hair- coloring agent.
  • each tooth has a top-bottom midpoint 249 that is midway between the tooth's top 352 and bottom 362, and wherein for the majority of teeth of the tooth array, for most locations along the tooth axis within the section, a width ratio between: i) a first average tooth width describing the average tooth width below the top-bottom midpoint; and ii) a second average tooth width describing the average tooth width above the top-bottom midpoint is at least 1 .2 (or at least 1 .3 or at least 1 .7 or at least 2).
  • the width ratio is at least 1 .6.
  • the tooth cross section is less than 5 mm A 2 or less than than 3 mm A 2.
  • each pair of laterally neighboring teeth T1 and 72 are positioned to form a respective intertooth lateral void 390 that is in between the laterally neighboring teeth within a height range having upper and lower bounds, : A) the upper bound being the lower height of the top 246 of tooth T1 and the top 246 of tooth T2, and B) the lower bound being the greater height of the bottom 246 of tooth T1 and the bottom 246 of tooth T2, and ii) a cross section of the respective intertooth void has an asymmetric width profile along the shield thickness axis 270 such that the void cross section, on average, is wider near the top of the intertooth void 390 and the intertooth void 390, on average, is narrower near the bottom of the intertooth void 390.
  • each void has a top-bottom void mid-height level 923 that is midway between upper and lower bounds of the height range; ii) for the majority of teeth of the tooth array, for most locations along the tooth axis within the section, a width ratio between: i) a first average void width describing the average void width above the top-bottom void mid-height level; ii) a second average void width describing the average void width below the top-bottom void mid-height level, is at least 1 .1 or at least 1 .2 or at least 1 .4 or at least 1 .5 or at least 1 .6 or at least 1 .8 or at least 2.
  • a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots comprising: a) a hair-penetrating shield 220 having top 280 and bottom 290 surfaces, comprising a slot array having at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) elongated shield-thickness-spanning narrow slots 480 that are substantially aligned a proximal-distal direction, the hair-penetrating shield 220 including a longitudinal section of at least 2.5 cm where: i) for a majority of slots of the array, each slot provide a shield- thickness-spanning property throughout a majority of the longitudinal section (reminder- as for any 'majority' feature this may be a significant or very significant majority); ii) an array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot width is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm and/or for the majority of slots of the array each provide, throughout a majority of the longitudinal-subsection cross-section- minimum-slot
  • the laterally-spaced distal penetrating elements may be spaced in integral multiples of the slot-slot widths and/or configured to correspond to the slots.
  • the slot for each slot of the majority of slots, for most longitudinal locations within the longitudinal section, the slot exhibits an asymmetric width profile along the shield thickness axis 270 such that the slot thickness is narrower near the bottom surface 290 of the shield than it is near the top surface 280 of the shield.
  • the top surface 280 is rough relative to the bottom surface 290 for a topographic length scale of 1 mm.
  • a hair-penetrating shield 220 comprising a tooth array having top 280 and bottom 290 surfaces and having proximal 228 and distal 224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority of teeth of the tooth array (or a significant or very significant majority - like for any feature) i) each tooth of the majority includes a main portion 330 and a tapered distal portion 240 for facilitating hair penetration; ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: A) the aspect ratio of the tooth within the section is at least 20, the tooth aspect ratio between defined by a ratio between the tooth length within the section and a square root of the longitudinally-averaged tooth cross section within the section; B) for most locations within the tooth longitudinal section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm A
  • a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising: a) a hair-penetrating shield 220 comprising a tooth array having top 280 and bottom 290 surfaces and having proximal 228 and distal 224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority of teeth of the tooth array (or a significant or very significant majority) i) each tooth of the majority includes a main portion 330 and a tapered distal portion 240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main portion 330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along the tooth axis within the section: A) a cross section of the tooth has an substantial triangular shape, the substantial triangle pointing upwards along the shield thickness axis 270; and B) the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm A 2; and b) an aerosol
  • Figures 1 -5 illustrate a hair coloring applicator constructed in accordance with the present embodiments and particularly useful for touching-up hair along a hair line in a quick and convenient manner.
  • the hair coloring applicator comprises four main components: a container, generally designated 10, for containing a quantity of a hair coloring composition; an attachment 20 attachable to one end of container 10; a shield 30 carried by the attachment; and an outer housing 40 enclosing container 10 and serving as a handle for grasping and manipulating the applicator.
  • container 10 is an aerosol container of cylindrical configuration and may be of any known construction. It includes a quantity of the hair coloring composition to be dispensed, which may be in powder or liquid form ; preferably, it also includes a propellant gas for dispensing the hair coloring composition in the form of a spray.
  • One end of aerosol container 10 includes an outlet 12 in the form of a nozzle through which the composition is dispensed, and a valve indicated at 14, which is normally closed, but which is opened upon tilting or depressing nozzle 12, to dispense the composition in the form of a spray via the nozzle.
  • Attachment 20 is removably attachable to the end of aerosol container 10 including the nozzle 12.
  • Attachment 20 includes a shield 30, which, as will be more particularly described below, exposes the root regions of the hairs to be touched-up, to the hair coloring composition spray dispensed via nozzle 12 when valve 14 is opened, while at the same time effectively blocking the individual's scalp from exposure to the hair coloring composition spray.
  • Shield 30 is fixedly attached to attachment 20, but may also be removably attachable thereto for replacement or cleaning purposes.
  • the shield and/or attachment may be constructed for one-time use, or for repeated use.
  • the lower end 21 of attachment 20 is of a cylindrical configuration and has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the aerosol container 10.
  • One side of attachment 20 is formed with a slanted top wall 22 terminating in a top rim 23 formed with a projection 24 for receiving the shield 30 with a friction or snap fit.
  • an opening 25 in slanted wall 22 is aligned with nozzle 12 of the aerosol container, whereas a push button 25 is aligned with valve 14 of the aerosol container.
  • the construction is such that upon depression of the push button, nozzle 12 of the container is tilted or depressed to open valve 14, thereby to produce a spray of the hair coloring composition over the outer surface of shield 30 via opening 25 in the attachment.
  • opening 25 of attachment 20 is located between push button 26 and the shield 30 attached to peripheral wall 23 of the attachment.
  • Nozzle 12, and opening 25 in the attachment are oriented to produce a fan-shaped spray directed towards the proximal (inner) end of the shield.
  • Shield 30 includes a plurality of spaced teeth 31 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of aerosol container 10 and integrally formed with a spline 32 extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis LA. As shown particularly in Figure 3, the teeth 31 of shield 30 are arrayed in a substantially linear array, which array is offset from the longitudinal axis LA of the aerosol container. Teeth 31 are of small width and thickness and are closely spaced. Preferably, they are less than 2 mm in width, thickness and spacing, and are tapered to points at their outer tips.
  • the applicator when the applicator is used for touching-up hair along a hair line, the applicator is manipulated such that surface 30a of shield 30 serves an inner surface pressed against the individual's scalp, whereas surface 30b serves as an outer surface which is exposed to the hair coloring composition spray dispensed from nozzle 12 of the aerosol container 10 via opening 22 of the attachment 20.
  • the outer housing 40 of the applicator is also of cylindrical configuration corresponding to the cylindrical configuration of the aerosol container 10.
  • the inner diameter of housing 40 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of aerosol container 10 so as to snugly receive the aerosol container, and thereby to act as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator.
  • the upper surface 41 of outer housing 40, and the inner rim 27 of the attachment 20 are of complementary curved configurations so as to present a pleasing appearance to the applicator when all the parts are assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 3, for example.
  • the holder 40, attachment 20 and shield 30 may be disassembled and applied to a fresh aerosol container 10.
  • the hair coloring applicator illustrated in Figures 6-10 is also constructed of basically the same parts as the applicator of Figures 1-5, namely including an aerosol container 110 ( Figure 10), an attachment 120 applied to one end of the aerosol container, a shield 130 carried by the attachment, and an outer housing 140 enclosing aerosol container 110 and serving as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator.
  • Figures 1 -5 is that the outer housing 140, and the attachment 120, are not of a cylindrical configuration, but rather of a substantially square configuration with rounded corners, so as to present a more comfortable gripping of the applicator when manipulating it, as well as a more pleasing outer appearance to the applicator.
  • the applicator illustrated in Figures 6-10 is constructed and used in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to Figures 1 -5. While the applicator has been described with respect to two preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example, and that many other variations and applications of the invention may be made.
  • a pump-type container may be used wherein the push button 26 is effective to pump out a spray of the hair-dye, rather than to open a valve permitting the propellant fluid within the container to produce the hair-dye spray.
  • the push button may be on a side wall of the container rather than on the attachment.
  • the teeth of the shield may be non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, e.g., 90° or less.
  • the applicators described herein may contain any hair coloring composition suitable for coloring hair, preferably suitable for "touching-up" local areas of an individual's hair, and more preferably suitable for touching-up hair along a hairline of a subject.
  • the hair coloring composition can include any hair coloring agent(s) (pigments), formulated with a suitable carrier (e.g., designed for forming a hair coloring composition in the form of a spray).
  • a suitable carrier e.g., designed for forming a hair coloring composition in the form of a spray.
  • the hair coloring composition is for temporarily coloring hair.
  • applicators described herein may contain any suitable hair coloring composition
  • the present inventors have developed hair-coloring agents, formulations and compositions that are particularly useful when used in the context of these and other embodiments of the present invention.
  • a hair-coloring applicator comprising a container for containing a quantity of hair-coloring composition including an outlet at one end of the container through which the hair-coloring composition may be dispensed, and a shield projecting outwardly from one end of the container.
  • the shield includes a plurality of closely spaced teeth having inner surfaces to be pressed against the subject's scalp with the root regions of the hairs passing through the spaces between the teeth, and outer surfaces to be exposed to the hair-coloring spray composition dispensed from the container such that the hair-coloring composition coats the root regions of the hairs passing through the spaces between the teeth, while the teeth substantially block the hair-coloring composition from reaching the subject's scalp.
  • the abovementioned applicator is particularly useful for touching-up hair along a hairline of an individual.
  • the phrase “touching-up” describes the coloring of hair in a quick and simple manner. This phrase further describes the coloring of local areas of hair, particularly local areas of gray or white hair such as the root region or parts thereof.
  • the phrase “root region” describes the part of a hair closest to the scalp.
  • the shield is carried by an attachment to the end of the container, and the container is an aerosol container for dispensing the hair-coloring composition in the form of a spray through a nozzle.
  • the phrase "aerosol container” describes any container suitable for releasing a composition contained therein in the form of a spray.
  • the container should be capable of withstanding the internal pressure of a pressurized composition, and the nozzle should be configured so as to allow escaping pressurized composition to escape in the form of an aerosol.
  • the abovementioned attachment includes an opening aligned with the nozzle.
  • the abovementioned attachment further includes a push button controlling the dispensing of hair-coloring composition via the nozzle.
  • the abovementioned opening in the attachment that is aligned with the nozzle is located between the shield and the push button, such that the push button can be reached through the opening.
  • the push button and the opening are located on an outer surface of the attachment, wherein the attachment slants towards the shield.
  • the spaced teeth of the shield are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container.
  • the teeth are arrayed in a generally linear array that is laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the container.
  • the teeth are less than 2 mm in width, thickness, and spacing.
  • the teeth are tapered to a point at their outer tips.
  • the applicator further comprises an outer housing enclosing the abovementioned container, the outer housing serving as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator.
  • the outer housing may have any shape that is suitable for being held by hand.
  • the outer housing and the container are both cylindrical.
  • the container is cylindrical, and the outer housing is non-cylindrical.
  • a hair coloring applicator comprising a container containing a quantity of hair coloring composition and including an outlet at one end of the container through which the hair coloring composition is dispensed and an attachment attached to the end of the container carrying the outlet, the attachment including a shield.
  • the shield has a plurality of spaced teeth which pass between the subject's hairs to expose the root regions of the hairs passing through the teeth, while the teeth substantially block the hair coloring composition from passing through to the subject's scalp.
  • Such an applicator is particularly useful for touching-up hair along a hairline of a subject.
  • each of the hair coloring compositions described herein is identified for use in temporary hair coloring and/or in coloring white or gray hair.
  • each of the hair coloring compositions described herein is identified for use in touching-up hair along a hairline of an individual.
  • any of the hair coloring compositions described herein is packaged in an applicator adapted for dispensing the composition onto hair, and identified for use in hair coloring, as described hereinabove.
  • any applicator suitable for applying a composition onto hair may be used.
  • exemplary applicators include, but are not limited to, a wick-type applicator, a squeeze bottle, an aerosol container, a comb-type applicator, a drop dispenser and a pump-type applicator.
  • wick-type applicator encompasses any applicator comprising a wick which absorbs a quantity of a liquid composition, wherein the composition may be applied to a surface by contacting the wick with the absorbed composition to the surface.
  • the quantity of the composition absorbed in the wick may be replenished, for example, by dipping the wick into a quantity of the composition stored in a container, or by part of the wick being in continuous contact with the composition in a container, the composition being drawn into the wick via absorption by the wick.
  • the container containing the composition may serve as a component of the applicator along with the wick.
  • wick describes an article-of-manufacturing capable of absorbing a liquid and of allowing the liquid to escape from the surface of the article-of- manufacturing.
  • the phrase "squeeze bottle” encompasses any applicator comprising a container for storing a composition, the container having at least one flexible wall, wherein the composition may be forced out of the container by applying force (e.g. squeezing) to the flexible wall(s) of the container.
  • the container includes a valve that allows a composition to exit the container under a certain pressure (such as the pressure generated by applying force to the flexible wall of the container), but which prevents composition from leaving the container in the absence of such pressure.
  • comb-type applicator encompasses any applicator comprising a comb or a brush, the comb or brush having a quantity of composition adhered thereto, wherein the composition may be applied to a surface by contacting the comb or brush to the surface.
  • the quantity of composition which is adhered to the comb or brush may be replenished by contacting the comb or brush with a composition stored in a container.
  • the container may serve as a component of the applicator.
  • the phrase "drop dispenser” encompasses any applicator comprising a container containing therein a liquid composition, the container having a small opening which allows the passage of a small quantity of the composition from the inside of the container through the opening to the outer surface of the container, thereby resulting in a small quantity of composition (i.e. a drop) on the outer surface of the container.
  • the drop of composition may be applied to a surface by contacting the drop with the surface.
  • the liquid composition in the container may be replenished from a larger quantity of composition stored in a larger container, which may serve as a component of the applicator.
  • the phrase "pump-type applicator” encompasses any applicator comprising a container for storing a composition with a pump attached thereto, wherein the composition may be forced out of the container by a pressure applied by the pump.
  • the container may include a valve that allows a composition to exit the container under a pressure applied by the pump, but which prevents composition from leaving the container in the absence of such pressure.
  • the pressure applied by the pump may be generated by any means, including, but not limited to, by hand (e.g. a syringe), by a spring, by an electronic motor, or by a pressurized fluid.
  • aerosol container when used to describe an applicator, encompasses any applicator comprising an aerosol container, as this phrase has been defined hereinabove.
  • An applicator described as an aerosol container may include additional components besides the aerosol container.
  • the hair coloring composition is a composition useful for coloring white and/or gray hair
  • the composition is preferably identified as such.
  • the hair coloring composition is a composition useful for temporary hair coloring
  • the composition is preferably identified as such.
  • the hair coloring composition is a composition useful for touching-up hair along a hairline of an individual, the composition is preferably identified as such.
  • the applicators, hair coloring agents and hair coloring compositions described hereinabove are particularly advantageous when used in combination.
  • a hair coloring composition to be contained therein comprises a suitable carrier and at least one hair coloring agent selected from the group consisting of a first hair
  • hair coloring agent which comprises a purified polymer of tannic acid having iron ions bound thereto, being substantially devoid of unbound iron ions, and a second hair coloring agent which comprises a condensation polymer of a reducing carbohydrate and an amino acid, as these hair coloring agents are described herein.
  • compositions are as described hereinabove.
  • the composition to be contained therein is in the form of a spray, as described hereinabove.
  • an applicator as described hereinabove, wherein the hair coloring composition to be contained therein comprises at least one hair coloring agent and a carrier which comprises a hydrophobic volatile solvent, water, a glycol and a surface active agent, as described hereinabove.
  • compositions are as described hereinabove.
  • the composition to be contained therein is in the form of a spray, as described hereinabove.
  • a hair coloring composition comprising both a carrier described hereinabove and at least one hair coloring agent described hereinabove.
  • compositions are as described hereinabove.
  • an applicator described hereinabove is combined with a hair coloring composition comprising both a carrier described hereinabove and at least one hair coloring agent described hereinabove.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dermatology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Cosmetics (AREA)
  • Cleaning And Drying Hair (AREA)
PCT/IB2011/052767 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Device, kit and method for coloring hair WO2011161647A2 (en)

Priority Applications (13)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201180041166.2A CN103068274B (zh) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 用于染发的装置、工具包与方法
BR112012033188A BR112012033188A2 (pt) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 dispositivo, kit e método para colorir os cabelos.
GB1301129.1A GB2494844B (en) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Device, kit and method for coloring hair
EP11797718.1A EP2584931B8 (en) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Device, kit and method for coloring hair
EA201390020A EA201390020A1 (ru) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Устройство, комплект и способ для окраски волос
MX2012015204A MX356676B (es) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Dispositivo, kit y método para colorear el cabello.
ES11797718.1T ES2631982T3 (es) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Dispositivo, kit y método para colorear el cabello
KR1020137001699A KR101777165B1 (ko) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 모발 염색용 장치, 키트 및 방법
UAA201300794A UA108110C2 (uk) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 Пристрій та екран для фарбування волосся
JP2013516022A JP2014501538A (ja) 2010-06-24 2011-06-23 染毛のための装置、キット、及び方法
US13/169,115 US9427060B2 (en) 2010-06-25 2011-06-27 Device, kit and method for coloring hair
ZA2013/00647A ZA201300647B (en) 2010-06-24 2013-01-24 Device,kit and method for coloring hair
HK13111798.6A HK1184030A1 (en) 2010-06-24 2013-10-21 Device, kit and method for coloring hair

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2010202628A AU2010202628B2 (en) 2007-12-17 2010-06-24 Agents, compositions and devices for temporary coloring local hair areas
AU2010202628 2010-06-24
US35850710P 2010-06-25 2010-06-25
CA2,707,538 2010-06-25
CA2707538A CA2707538A1 (en) 2010-06-24 2010-06-25 Device, kit and method for coloring hair
US61/358,507 2010-06-25

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WO2011161647A2 true WO2011161647A2 (en) 2011-12-29
WO2011161647A3 WO2011161647A3 (en) 2012-04-12

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EP (1) EP2584931B8 (ko)
JP (1) JP2014501538A (ko)
KR (1) KR101777165B1 (ko)
CN (1) CN103068274B (ko)
BR (1) BR112012033188A2 (ko)
CA (1) CA2707538A1 (ko)
EA (1) EA201390020A1 (ko)
ES (1) ES2631982T3 (ko)
GB (1) GB2494844B (ko)
WO (1) WO2011161647A2 (ko)

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EP2584931A4 (en) 2015-01-21
GB2494844A (en) 2013-03-20
EP2584931A2 (en) 2013-05-01
GB2494844B (en) 2016-08-31
GB2494844A8 (en) 2013-07-24
JP2014501538A (ja) 2014-01-23
GB201301129D0 (en) 2013-03-06
EP2584931B1 (en) 2017-04-05
KR101777165B1 (ko) 2017-09-11
EP2584931B8 (en) 2017-06-28
CN103068274A (zh) 2013-04-24
WO2011161647A3 (en) 2012-04-12
KR20130036297A (ko) 2013-04-11
CN103068274B (zh) 2015-08-26
BR112012033188A2 (pt) 2016-12-06
EA201390020A1 (ru) 2013-07-30
CA2707538A1 (en) 2011-12-24
ES2631982T3 (es) 2017-09-07

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