Hair color applicator

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hair color applicator. The hair color applicator may comprise an applicator brush and a base. The applicator brush may be operable to apply one or more hair colorings to hair. A trough in the base may hold the one or more hair colorings. One or more removable dividers may be coupled to the trough to separate the one or more hair colorings. The one or more hair colorings may be applied to a brush head of the applicator brush by placing the applicator brush on the base and rotating a plurality of bristles of the brush head through the trough. The one or more hair colorings may be applied to the hair by brushing the hair with the applicator brush.

Claims

1. A hair color applicator system, consisting of: an applicator brush consisting of a brush head and a handle, the brush head consisting of a plurality of bristles projecting radially from a center shaft, the center shaft consisting of a distal shaft and a proximal shaft; and the handle consisting of a locking trigger configured to prevent rotation of the center shaft when the locking trigger is pressed; a knob coupled to the proximal shaft, the proximal shaft extending through the handle and beyond a proximal end of the handle, wherein the knob is positioned adjacent to the proximal end of the handle and is operable to rotate the center shaft and the plurality of bristles; a shield consisting of a cylindrical wall covering approximately fifty percent of the brush head, the shield positioned adjacent to the brush head and attached to a support arm, the support arm pivotably coupled to the distal shaft of the center shaft, the proximal shaft being pivotably coupled to the handle such that the center shaft rotates independently of the handle, and the shield including an inner wall spaced apart from the bristles to avoid contact during rotation, the shield further including a groove located along a perimeter edge; a base consisting of a bottom support and an upwardly raised ridge surrounding a trough, the ridge frictionally received within the groove of the shield, the trough operable to hold one or more hair colorings; and, a plurality of removable dividers coupled to the trough to configure the trough into a plurality of trough sections, wherein placement of the applicator brush on the base causes the bristles to contact the trough sections such that rotation of the knob transfers hair colorings from the trough to the bristles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of a hair color applicator, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of a base, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the base, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of the base, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of an applicator brush, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the applicator brush, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a front view of the applicator brush, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the applicator brush, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator brush across Line 9-9 as shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the base across Line 10-10 as shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

(12) 100 hair color applicator 200 applicator brush 210 brush head 212 bristles 214 center shaft 216 distal shaft 218 proximal shaft 220 knob 230 handle 232 shield 233 groove 234 support arm 240 locking trigger 250 base 251 ridge 252 trough 254 removable divider 256 trough section 290 proximal end 292 distal end

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) The present invention is directed to a hair color applicator (herein described as the invention) 100. The invention 100 (hereinafter invention) may comprise an applicator brush 200 and a base 250. The applicator brush 200 may be operable to apply one (1) or more hair colorings to hair. A trough 252 in the base 250 may hold the one (1) or more hair colorings. One (1) or more removable dividers 254 may be coupled to the trough 252 to separate the one (1) or more hair colorings. The one (1) or more hair colorings may be applied to a brush head 210 of the applicator brush 200 by placing the applicator brush 200 on the base 250 and rotating a plurality of bristles 212 of the brush head 210 through the trough 252. The one (1) or more hair colorings may be applied to the hair by brushing the hair with the applicator brush 200.

(14) The applicator brush 200 may comprise the brush head 210 and a handle 230. The applicator brush 200 may be adapted to transfer the one (1) or more hair colorings from the trough 252 to the hair. The brush head 210 may receive the one (1) or more hair colorings from the trough 252 and may release the one (1) or more hair colorings onto the hair. The handle 230 may be adapted to be grasped by a user.

(15) The brush head 210 may comprise the plurality of bristles 212 coupled to a center shaft 214. The plurality of bristles 212 may project from the center shaft 214 radially and may define a substantially cylindrical envelope encompassing the tips of the plurality of bristles 212.

(16) The center shaft 214 may comprise a distal shaft 216 and a proximal shaft 218. The distal shaft 216 may be located at the distal end 292 of the center shaft 214. The proximal shaft 218 may be located at the proximal end 290 of the center shaft 214. The distal shaft 216 may be the portion of the center shaft 214 that is coupled to the plurality of bristles 212. The proximal shaft 218 may pass through the handle 230. The distal end 292 of the distal shaft 216 may be pivotably coupled to a support arm 234. The proximal shaft 218 may be pivotably coupled to the handle 230 such that the proximal shaft 218 may rotate independently of the handle 230. The proximal shaft 218 may extend beyond the handle 230 and may be coupled to a knob 220 that is adjacent to the proximal end 290 of the handle 230. The center shaft 214, and therefore the brush head 210, may be adapted to rotate when the user holds the handle 230 with one (1) hand and turns the knob 220 with the other hand.

(17) The handle 230 may be adapted for the user to grasp while brushing the hair. The handle 230 may surround the proximal shaft 218. The distal end 292 of the handle 230 may be coupled to the proximal end 290 of a shield 232. The shield 232 may be a protective cover adjacent to the brush head 210 and either be integrally formed with, or attached to, the support arm 234. The shield 232 may prevent the one (1) or more hair colorings from being thrown from the brush head 210 onto nearby objects as the brush head 210 rotates. The center axis of the shield 232 may coincide with the center axis of the center shaft 214. The inside wall of the shield 232 may be farther away from the center shaft 214 than the tips of the plurality of bristles 212 such that the plurality of bristles 212 do not touch the shield 232. The shield 232 may cover approximately fifty percent (50%) of the brush head 210. The bottom of perimeter edge of the shield 232 may have a groove 233 located thereon. The groove 233 is preferably a continuous bore.

(18) The shield 232 may be coextensive with the length of the support arm 234 projecting from the distal end 292 of the shield 232 to the center shaft 214. The support arm 234 may pivotably couple to the center shaft 214 and coincidentally motion the shield therewith. The support arm 234 may support the distal end 292 of the center shaft 214 as the center shaft 214 rotates within the handle 230.

(19) The handle 230 may comprise a locking trigger 240. The locking trigger 240 may be operable to prevent rotation of the center shaft 214 when the locking trigger 240 is pressed. As a non-limiting example, the locking trigger 240 may apply frictional pressure against the center shaft 214 to prevent rotation of the center shaft 214. When the locking trigger 240 is pressed to prevent rotation, the applicator brush 200 may be used as a hairbrush to distribute the one (1) or more hair colorings.

(20) The base 250 may be configured to hold a supply of the one (1) or more hair colorings. The bottom of the base 250 may rest on a work area. As non-limiting examples, the work may be a bathroom countertop, top surface of a vanity top, or a tabletop. The top of the base 250 may comprise the trough 252, preferably in the center thereof. Bracketing the trough 252 is a upwardly raised ridge 251 that is continuous and has a geometry enabling the ridge 251 to be frictionally received within the groove 233 of the shield 232.

(21) The trough 252 may be a depression in the top of the base 250 that is operable to hold the hair colorings. The one (1) or more removable dividers 254 may be coupled to or removed from the trough 252 to configure the trough 252 into one (1) or more trough sections 256. With all of the one (1) or more removable dividers 254 removed, the trough 252 comprises one (1) trough section 256 and may hold one (1) coloring. With one (1) divider installed, the trough 252 comprises two (2) trough sections 256 and may hold two (2) colorings. The two (2) trough sections 256 may be of equal or unequal sizes. In a preferred embodiment, there may be three (3) dividers that may create up to four (4) trough sections 256. The trough sections 256 may be left empty, may contain any hair coloring, may contain any highlight, or any combination thereof.

(22) The hair colorings may be transferred to the brush head 210 by: placing the applicator brush 200 on top of the base 250 such that the ridge 251 is seated within the groove 233 and the plurality of bristles 212 reach into the trough 252; and, rotating the knob 220 to pass the plurality of bristles 212 through the hair colorings in the trough 252. The plurality of bristles 212 that pass through a first trough section 256 may pick up a first hair coloring, the plurality of bristles 212 that pass through a second trough section 256 may pick up a second hair coloring, the plurality of bristles 212 that pass through a third trough section 256 may pick up a third hair coloring, and the plurality of bristles 212 that pass through a fourth trough section 256 may pick up a fourth hair coloring. If any of the trough sections 256 are left empty, then the corresponding bristles 212 will not pick up a hair coloring.

(23) The hair colorings may be adapted to be applied to the hair by grasping the handle 230 and brushing the hair with the brush head 210. As the brush head 210 is pulled through the hair, the brush head 210 may be free to rotate and thereby present more of the plurality of bristles 212 and the hair colorings to the hair.

(24) The locking trigger 240 may be adapted to prevent rotation of the brush head 210 if the user presses the locking trigger 240. Preventing rotation by pressing the locking trigger 240 and then brushing the hair may permit the user to distribute the hair colorings through the hair in a pattern of the user's choice.

(25) In use, the removable dividers 254 may be coupled to or removed from the trough 252 as desired to configure the trough sections 256. Each of the trough sections 256 may be left empty, filled with any hair coloring product, or filled with any highlight product. The plurality of bristles 212 may pick up the contents of the trough sections 256 when the applicator brush 200 is placed on top of the base 250 and the knob 220 is rotated to pass the plurality of bristles 212 through the trough sections 256. Hair coloring products and highlight products may be applied simultaneously to different areas of the hair by placing the products in different sections of the trough 252 such that the plurality of bristles 212 passing through different sections of the trough 252 may pick up different products, different colors, or nothing at all. As a non-limiting example, the plurality of bristles 212 passing through the first trough section 256 may pick up a first hair coloring, the plurality of bristles 212 passing through the second trough section 256 may pick up a second hair coloring, the plurality of bristles 212 passing through the third trough section 256 may pick up no product at all, and the plurality of bristles 212 passing through the fourth trough section 256 may pick up a highlight. The user may then brush the hair with the applicator brush 200 such that the brush head 210 passes through the hair and rotates as the brush head 210 moves. The plurality of bristles 212 may transfer the products to the hair as the hair is brushed. The user may press the locking trigger 240 to stop rotation of the brush head 210 while brushing in order to distribute the products as they desire.

(26) The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the invention 100 may vary upon manufacturing. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.