HAIR SOLUTIONS CART

Abstract

An apparatus including a vertical member; a top plate rotatably mounted to the vertical member; and a bowl connected to the top plate so that the bowl rotates with respect to the vertical member when the top plate rotates. The top plate has at least a first section which can be placed in a first state in which the first section covers the majority of an opening at the top of the bowl, and in a second state in which the first section does not cover the majority of the opening at the top of the bowl; and wherein the bowl is configured to retainer water. The apparatus typically includes a heater connected to the bowl, powered to provide heat to the bowl to heat water in the bowl. The apparatus may further include a tube surrounding the top plate except for a gap at a location adjacent the bowl.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a vertical member; a top plate rotatably mounted to the vertical member; a bowl connected to the top plate so that the bowl rotates with respect to the vertical member when the top plate rotates; and wherein the top plate has at least a first section which can be placed in a first state in which the first section covers the majority of an opening at the top of the bowl, and in a second state in which the first section does not cover the majority of the opening at the top of the bow; wherein the bowl is configured to retainer water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heater connected to the bowl, which can be powered to provide heat to the bowl to heat water in an inner chamber of the bowl.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tube fixed to the top plate; and wherein the top plate is substantially circular and the tube surrounds the top plate except for a gap at a location adjacent the bowl.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of hooks fixed to the tube; and wherein each of the plurality of hooks is configured to hold one or more hair extensions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cutting device fixed to the top plate; and wherein the cutting device is configured to cut hair.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top plate has first and second arcuate slots separated by an arcuate band; and wherein one or more hairs can be inserted into the first arcuate slot, underneath the arcuate band, and then through the second arcuate slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a foam needle holder fixed to the top plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first type of comb fixed to a second section of the top plate; a second type of comb fixed to a third second of the top plate; wherein the first type of comb is at least twice as long as the second type of comb; and wherein the first type of comb and the second type of comb are configured to hold one or more hair extensions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top plate is configured to tilt with respect to the vertical member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a base; and a basket fixed to the vertical member at a location between the top plate and the base.

11. A method comprising the steps of: placing water into an inner chamber of a bowl; and heating the water in the inner chamber of the bowl; and wherein the bowl is part of an apparatus comprising: a vertical member; a top plate rotatably mounted to the vertical member; the bowl connected to the top plate so that the bowl rotates with respect to the vertical member when the top plate rotates; and wherein the top plate has at least a first section which can be placed in a first state in which the first section covers the majority of an opening at the top of the bowl, and in a second state in which the first section does not cover the majority of the opening at the top of the bow; wherein the bowl is configured to retainer water.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further includes a heater connected to the bowl, which can be powered to provide heat to the bowl to heat water in the inner chamber of the bowl.

13. The method claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes a tube fixed to the top plate; and wherein the top plate is substantially circular and the tube surrounds the top plate except for a gap at a location adjacent the bowl.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the apparatus further includes a plurality of hooks fixed to the tube; and wherein each of the plurality of hooks is configured to hold one or more hair extensions.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further includes a cutting device fixed to the top plate; and wherein the cutting device is configured to cut hair.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the top plate has first and second arcuate slots separated by an arcuate band; and wherein one or more hairs can be inserted into the first arcuate slot, underneath the arcuate band, and then through the second arcuate slot.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the apparatus includes a foam needle holder fixed to the top plate.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the apparatus includes a first type of comb fixed to a second section of the top plate; and a second type of comb fixed to a third second of the top plate; wherein the first type of comb is at least twice as long as the second type of comb; and wherein the first type of comb and the second type of comb are configured to hold one or more hair extensions.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the top plate is configured to tilt with respect to the vertical member.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further includes a base; and a basket fixed to the vertical member at a location between the top plate and the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in a first state;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, along with some additional components, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in the first state;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, shown in a second state, where a section has been folded to expose an inner chamber of a bowl; and

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, shown in a third state, where the plate 2 and various attached components have been placed in a tilted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] The apparatus 1 includes a top plate 2, a tubular structure 4, a bottom plate 6, a receptacle 8, a pole 10, a cylinder 12, a base 14, a comb structure 16, a wire 18, an cylinder 20, a needle and thread holder 22, a cutting device 24, a pivot pin or screw 26, a needle holder 28, a plurality of needles 30, including needle 30a, a plurality of comb structures 32, and a plurality of hooks 34. The apparatus 1 also includes a bowl or receptacle 36 underneath a pie section 2a of the top plate 2. The bowl or receptacle 36 has an inner chamber 36a into which items can be placed. The pie section 2a can be folded up, along lines with pie sections 2b and 2c to allow access to inner chamber 36a. The needle and thread holder 22 may be a short plastic stick to hold thread and foam bar to hold needles.

[0032] The top plate 2, is attached to the tubular structure 4 which is attached to the bottom plate 6. The tubular structure 4 goes all the way around the top plate 2 and the bottom plate 6, except for a gap 4a in which the wire 18 is located. The wire 18 has an end 18a fixed to end 4b of the tube 4 and an end 18b fixed to end 4c of tubular structure 4.

[0033] The receptacle 8 has an inner chamber 8a which is bordered and/or defined by a peripheral wall and a bottom surface. The receptacle 8 may be an open box structure where items can be placed into the inner chamber 8a through an opening at the top. The receptacle 8 may be attached to the pole 10 by an attachment device 9, such as a ring and screws, and/or a clamp and/or any other attachment device.

[0034] The pole 10 may telescope in the cylinder 12 to set components 2, 4, and 6 at various heights by use of pins and/or openings 12a, 12b, and 12c.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, along with some additional components.

[0036] In operation, the apparatus 1 provides a number of stations for hair care or hair treatments.

[0037] A wig or a plurality of strands of hair can be placed on, laid on, and/or suspended on wire 18. A hair strand can be cut by inserting a hair strand into opening 24b of device 24 and cutting the hair strand with blade 24a of the device 24.

[0038] Hair strands, such as hair stands 35 in FIG. 2, can be placed on, laid over, and/or otherwise suspended from any one of hooks 34 surrounding and inserted in the tube 4, such as hook 34a.

[0039] An needle and thread holder 22 having a point end 22a and an opposing end 22b can be at least partially inserted, point 22a end first, into an inner chamber 20a of the cylinder 20, to attach the needle and thread holder 22 to apparatus 1 for later use, and easy accessibility. In at least one embodiment, the cylinder 20 is fixed to the plate 2 or to a section of the plate 2.

[0040] Sewing needles or other needles or pins, such as pins or needles having eye openings 30 may be inserted point first into a cushion or foam holder 28, to attach the pins 30 to apparatus 1 for later use and easy accessibility. Foam holder 28 may be fixed to plate 2 or to a section of plate 2.

[0041] Hair extensions may be attached to any one of comb structures 32 shown in FIG. 1. Air extensions may also be attached to the comb structure 16, such as hair extensions 17 and 19 shown in FIG. 2. The hair extensions 17 and 19 include attachment portions 17a and 19a, and hair portions 17b and 19b, respectively.

[0042] The pin 26 is fixed to the pole 10 in a manner which allows the combination of the top plate 2, tube 4, and bottom 6 to rotate in a counterclockwise C1 or clockwise C2 direction with respect to the pole 10. The cylinder 12 fixed to the base 14, so that the pole 10 and cylinder 12 are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the base 14. The ability of the structure 2, 4, and 6 to rotate with respect to the pole 10 and the base 14 allows a user of the top plate 2, tube 4, and bottom 6 structure to easily access different stations without moving from a sitting position.

[0043] The pie section 2b of the top plate 2 includes a body section 40a, an opening or slot 40b, a band or strip 40c, an opening or slot 40d, and an outer band 40e. A material, such as a plurality of strands of hair can be slid through the opening or slot 40b, under the band 40c, and out the opening or slot 40d, held by band 40c, and then cut or otherwise manipulated.

[0044] In at least one embodiment, each the slots 40b and 40d may typically have an arc length, which may be about five inches spanning from the junction of sections 2a and 2b to the junction of sections 2b and 2d. The slot 40d, because it is on the outside would have a somewhat larger arc length than the slot 40c. Each of the slots may have a narrow opening width, such as less than one inch. The slots 40b and 40d may be described as being part of a first module. The two slots 40b and 40d allow hair to slide through them. In between these slots 40b and 40d there is a one inch thick line or band 40c that keeps the slots separated. The band 40c may have an arc length of about five inches. There is also a blade 24a at the end, or located near the two slots 40b and 40d that's used to cut a weft, or plurality of strands of hair. A small removable plastic cover 25, shown by dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, is typically on top of the blade 24a for safety reasons, when the blade 24a is not being used.

[0045] The bowl 36 may be used as a water boiler for hair braiding use, and may be part of a second module. The gap 4a in the tube 4, allows a person's neck and to be inserted in the gap 4a to dip their hair in hot or boiling water located in the inner chamber 36a of the bowl 36 when the pie section 2a has been folded open as shown in FIG. 3. The gap 4a may have an arc length of seven inches and/or may be seven inches wide including a Wide U-Shape Area for a client's neck to fit comfortably on. The water boiler second module may be made with a pot with glazed ceramic for the bowl 36, and with an heating element 50 underneath or adjacent to the bowl 36 for heating water inside the inner chamber 36a. The heating element 50 may be connected by an electrical cord 52 to a power source 54, such as to an electrical AC (alternating current) outlet or to a batter.

[0046] In at least one embodiment, the pot or bowl 36 is able to slide in and out from outside the circular regions of top plate 2, and bottom plate 6, for cleaning and traveling purposes and may have a plastic lid or pie shaped section 2a to cover the bowl 36 while attached to the overall hair stand or apparatus 1.

[0047] Along with the water boiler, in at least one embodiment, there are a plurality of hooks, such as twenty or more hooks 34 that may be able to fold in and out; the hooks 34 go all the way around tube 4, except for the gap or area 4a where the client's neck fits. The plurality of hooks 34 also have two curved ends on it, in at least one embodiment, to hold an individual's braiding hair.

[0048] The third module or feature holds the comb 16 that may be five inches long in at least one embodiment. The comb 16 keeps cold fusions in place, such as combinations of hair strands or extensions 17 and 19, shown in FIG. 2, while a beautician attaches a plurality of hair strands, one by one.

[0049] The fourth module or feature, in at least one embodiment, allows clip In extensions, and is shown by comb sections 32, which may be fixed to section 2e of the plate 2. The fourth module may have an area with a outer arc length for the section 2e of six inches, which holds a plurality of small individual metal strips or comb extensions 32, such as twenty, that are about an inch long to attach each row of extensions.

[0050] The height measurements for this adjustable hair stand or apparatus 1, in accordance with at least one embodiment, may be between thirty inches and thirty-nine and one half inches, measured from the top surface of top plate 2 to the bottom surface of base 14, which allows someone to sit comfortably and work with the apparatus 1. The tube 4 may have a circular disc cross section having a diameter of two inches, and the tube 4 may form a substantially circular shape having a diameter of twenty inches, i.e. substantially circular except for the gap 4a. The combination of top plate 2, tube 4, and bottom plate 6 may also be able to rotate in the directions C1 and C2 and tilt.

[0051] One plastic basket, such as for receptable 8 may be used to hold hair, in the inner chamber 8a.

[0052] Four wheels, typically located at four quadrants to provide proper support, such as wheels 60, 62, 64, and a wheel opposite wheel 62, not shown, may be used to glide the hair stand or apparatus 1 to wherever a beautician desires to put it. The wheels 60, 62, and 64, and a wheel opposite wheel 62 may be protected by a plastic cover.

[0053] To assist with installing wefts, in at least one embodiment, a weft feeder is provided with the hair stand or apparatus 1 of the present invention, as well as the basket or receptacle 8. The basket or receptable 8 holds the hair and may be fed through a weft holder, not shown underneath the basket or receptacle 8.

[0054] In at least one embodiment, there is an automatic stopper used to hold the hair in place and a blade 24a which has a cover over it for safety reasons. The blade 24a is used to cut the weft to the desired length that the hair stylist needs. The weft feeder has a double slot 40b and 40d, because hair goes in slot 40b and is fed through the other side 40d. The weft feeder keeps hair in place so that it doesn't fall underneath back into the basket 8. There is also a tray or section of top plate 2 with a small area to hold needles 30 and thread. A plastic stick, not shown, may be provided to place a thread onto to make sure the thread is stationary while a needle is being threaded.

[0055] The second module, including pie section 2a and bowl 36, may be a hair braiding section. The U Shape section, where gap 4a of the tube 4 is, of the second module is an area where the client's neck can fit comfortably into the stand or apparatus 1. The U Shape section is able to tilt as shown in FIG. 4, for example, to make it easier for the client and the beautician to proceed with completing the hair style. With the hair braiding section, there are additional pieces used to assist, such as the water boiler, which includes bowl 36. The water boiler is used when beauticians are braiding hair and afterwards the hair is dipped in hot water, in inner chamber 36a of bowl 36 to assist with a cleaner and sleeker look and brings a bit more shine to the finished style.

[0056] The fourth module to add to the hair braiding section is the typically foldable hooks 34 that go all the way around the tube 4 except for the neck area or gap 4a to hold the synthetic or human braiding hair. Each hook of hooks 34 may have two curved additional hooks to hold the hair whether they have the three pieces of hair together to start braiding or three strands of hair that is separately taken apart so that the stylist can mend all three pieces to start their braid. Also, there may be a metal latch, not shown, that is four inches long and moves in a forward backward motion and snaps into place to hold larger amounts of hair as well.

[0057] A fifth feature to a hair stand, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is a section used for clip in extensions, such as comb sections 32. In the end these extensions with the clips attached will go onto the client's natural hair. There are thin metal strips for comb sections 32 which will hold the clip-in installments into place while the beautician is getting ready to install the extensions piece by piece onto the client's natural hair.

[0058] Lastly, a sixth module may be a cold/hot fusion holder, which includes individual strands of hair put together and bonded together. It creates thicker strands of hair and can create thicker and longer hair for the client. The beautician sits the thicker strands inside of a comb in between each tooth. One by one the strands are attached to the client's natural hair, providing the desired style needed.

[0059] In at least one embodiment, the each of the hooks 34 would be part of a pair, such that there is one stem and two hooks on the end of the stem.

[0060] In at least one embodiment the sections 2a, 2b, and 2c may be seamlessly connected along with top plate or as part of top plate 2, such that there are substantially no lines on the top of the device.

[0061] In at least one embodiment, the tube 4 may not be tube shaped.

[0062] The wire or metal bar 18 that's connected between ends 4b and 4c of the tube 4, may be much thicker than shown in FIGS. 1-4. The wire or metal bar 18 may be a latch that can swing from left to right, i.e. end 18a may be configured to be removably attached at 4b, so it can be detached and swung open, while still attached at end 18b.

[0063] The top plate 2 turns in the directions C1 and C2 and also is connected to section 10a of member or pole 10 so that the top plate 2 and section 10a can tilt with respect to the section 10b of the pole 10 as shown in FIG. 4. The top plate 2 and components as shown in FIG. 4 may be supported in the tilted position by a member 11. Since the top plate 2 can be rotated in the directions C1 and C2, this allows the top plate to be placed in any orientation where in the tilted state of FIG. 4 or in the state of FIG. 1. The section 10a of the pole or vertical member 10 may be attached to the section 10b of the pole or vertical member 10 by a hinge 10c shown in FIGS. 1-4, so that the section 10a can pivot, rotate, and/or change in orientation with respect to the section 10b, while being attached to section 10b through the hinge 10c, as shown by FIG. 4.

[0064] The receptacle or basket 8 may have a caged look.

[0065] In at least one embodiment, there may be wheels 60, 62, and 64 attached under surface of the base 14, along with an additional wheel opposite wheel 62, not shown. The wheels 60, 62, and 64 allow the apparatus 1 to be moved easily from location to location.

[0066] In at least one embodiment, the base 14 may be more of a trapezoidal shape to protect wheels and an electrical cord, such as cord 52 shown in FIG. 4.

[0067] In at least one embodiment, the apparatus 1 allows hair stylists to become more efficient and more organized in their work. They will be able to provide hair styling services in shorter time windows and they will be able to maintain organized work spaces throughout the day with less effort.

[0068] In at least one embodiment, by providing all installments with the apparatus 1 it gives a stylist more than one option to install different types of hair extensions. The hair can be prepped on the top plate 2 of the trolley or the apparatus 1 so that the stylist does less of a stop and go motion. This trolley or apparatus 1 provides more of a one stop shop solution, making it less time consuming while providing structure and a neater workspace.

[0069] The apparatus 1 provides a more time efficient tool that's providing more structure to the workplace for the beautification industry.

[0070] Doing hair is time consuming, and generally known work places for doing hair are cluttered. The apparatus 1 provides more structure for a stylist, bringing a more time efficient tool that's providing more structure to the workplace.

[0071] A stylist's client will not feel obligated to assist in holding hair. A hair stylist's client will feel more comfortable in a structured setting and can expect quicker installment times provided by the beautician because the apparatus 1 in one or more embodiments.

[0072] In at least one embodiment, the apparatus 1 may be compact. The apparatus 1 may come with a wig clamp to assist in creating wigs. The apparatus 1 may include eye opening to hold combs.

[0073] The apparatus 1 in one or more embodiment, may provide a large impact due to a high level of convenience

[0074] The apparatus 1, in one or more embodiments, allows hair stylists to become more efficient and more organized in their work. They will be able to provide hair styling services in shorter time windows and they will be able to maintain organized work spaces throughout the day with less effort.

[0075] In at least one embodiment, by providing all installments on this product it gives the stylist more than one option to install different types of hair extensions. The hair can be prepped on the trolley so that the stylist does less of a stop and go motion. This trolley would provide more of a one stop shop solution. This makes it less time consuming while providing structure and a neater workspace.

[0076] Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.