Hair applicator

Abstract

To provide a hair applicator which can fix an applying part to combing elements with a sufficient fixing strength to prevent the applying part from being displaced even by an impact from a fall and also can dispense a sufficient coating amount. The hair applicator is configured such that the coating amount by the applying part is 0.090 g/m or greater (porosity is 80% or higher) and the hardness (ISO7619A) of the applying part is less than A70.

Claims

1. A hair applicator comprising: an applying part made of a porous material; and a comb having a plurality of comb elements provided with the applying part, to thereby apply a hair dye from a container through the applying part to the hair while combing hair with the comb, wherein: a coating amount by the applying part is 0.090 g/m or greater (porosity is 80% or higher), and a hardness of the applying part, as determined in accordance with ISO7619A, is less than A70.

2. The hair applicator according to claim 1, wherein the comb elements hold the applying part on a front side thereof, and the comb elements are projected forward from the applying part.

3. The hair applicator according to claim 2, wherein a hollow is formed on a surface of the comb element.

4. The hair applicator according to claim 3, wherein the surface area of a front endface of the comb element is 0.3 to 1.0 mm.sup.2.

5. The hair applicator according to claim 4, further comprising a cap that covers the applying part and the comb, wherein the cap can be fitted to the container by screw fitting, and the cap and the container are formed with projections that ride over each other into a fitted state.

6. The hair applicator according to claim 5, wherein a groove for air replacement is formed on an inner surface of the comb.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 Illustrative diagrams showing a hair applicator in its capped state, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, and (h) is a view from the rear side.

(2) FIG. 2 Illustrative diagrams showing the hair applicator of FIG. 1 in its uncapped state, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, and (h) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end part.

(3) FIG. 3 Part drawings showing the front barrel of the hair applicator of FIG. 1 in its uncapped state, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, (h) is a view from the rear side, and (i) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end part.

(4) FIG. 4 Part drawings showing an applying part of the hair applicator of FIG. 1, (a) is a side perspective view, (b) is a view from one side (wide side), and (c) is a view from the other side (narrow side).

(5) FIG. 5 (a) is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a comb in a front barrel of a comparative example, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a comb in a front barrel of a variational example 1.

(6) FIG. 6 (a) is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a comb in a front barrel of a comparative example, (b) is an enlarged side view of the vicinity of a comb in a front barrel of the first embodiment, and (c) is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a comb in a front barrel of the first embodiment.

(7) FIG. 7 Illustrative diagrams showing a hair applicator in its capped state, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, and (h) is a view from the rear side.

(8) FIG. 8 Illustrative diagrams showing the hair applicator of FIG. 7 in its uncapped state, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, and (h) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end part.

(9) FIG. 9 Part drawings showing the front barrel of the hair applicator of FIG. 7 in its uncapped state, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, (h) is a view from the rear side, and (i) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end part.

(10) FIG. 10 Part drawings showing an applying part of the hair applicator of FIG. 7, (a) is a side perspective view, (b) is a view from one side (wide side), and (c) is a view from the other side (narrow side).

(11) FIG. 11 Illustrative diagrams showing a hair applicator in its capped state, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, and (h) is a view from the rear side.

(12) FIG. 12 Illustrative diagrams showing the hair applicator of FIG. 11 in its uncapped state, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is a view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, and (h) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end part.

(13) FIG. 13 Part drawings showing the front barrel of the hair applicator of FIG. 11 in its uncapped state, (a) is a perspective view from the front side, (b) is a view from the front side, (c) is a view from one side, (d) is a longitudinal section cut along a line D-D in (b), (e) is view from the other side, (f) is a longitudinal section cut along a line F-F in (b), (g) is a perspective view from the rear side, (h) is a view from the rear side, and (i) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end part.

(14) FIG. 14 Part drawings showing the cap in the hair applicator of FIG. 11, (a) is a longitudinal section cut along a line A-A in (b), (b) is a view from the rear side, and (c) is a perspective view from the rear side.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(15) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

(16) FIGS. 1 to 6 are illustrative diagrams showing a hair applicator according to the first embodiment.

(17) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hair applicator according to the embodiment includes an applying part 10 of a porous material and a comb 12 having comb elements 12a, formed with the applying part 10. The hair applicator is an applicator for hair that can dispense a hair dye in the front barrel (corresponding to the “container”) 14 from the applying part 10 to the hair when the comb 12 combs the hair.

(18) Detailedly, as shown in FIG. 1, the hair applicator has a cap 16 detachably attached to a front end part 14a of the front barrel 14 so as to cover the applying part 10. The cap 16 prevents the applying part 10 from drying by putting an inner cap 16a in hermetic contact with the outer peripheral side of the front end part 14a of the front barrel 14.

(19) [Front Barrel 14]

(20) As shown in FIG. 2, the front barrel 14 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with the front end part 14a formed in a spatulate flat appearance having an opening forward of the hollow. The comb 12 is formed in the front end part 14a so as to surround the opening, and the applying part 10 is exposed from the opening. A tail plug (lid) 18 is fitted to the rear end of the front barrel 14 to close the hollow inside the front barrel 14 so as to provide a container function. In addition, an absorbent fabric 20 is stuffed in the closed space in the front barrel 14, and impregnated with the hair dye.

(21) The applying part 10 is arranged inside the comb 12 of the front barrel 14. The rear end of applying part 10 is inserted into the front portion of the absorbent fabric 20, so that the hair dye of the absorbent fabric 20 permeates the applying part 10.

(22) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front barrel 14 is covered from the center to the rear with a rear barrel 22. The rear barrel 22 has a cylindrical shape with a closed rear end, and a rib 22a for preventing rotation of the front barrel 14 is formed on the inner periphery along the axial direction. The rib 22a is formed as a projected portion such as a parallel rail. The front barrel 14 has a recess 14i formed along the axial direction on the outer surface in the rear portion thereof (see FIG. 3).

(23) The recess 14i of the front barrel 14 mates with the locking rib 22a to prevent the front barrel 14 from rotating with respect to the rear barrel 22.

(24) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front barrel 14 has a male thread 14b on the outer peripheral side of the front end part 14a for the cap 16 to be screwed thereon. In addition, a flange 14c is formed on the outer periphery adjacent to the rear of the male screw 14b. Further, a fitting rib 14d is formed behind the flange 14c on the outer periphery.

(25) The rear barrel 22 has an annular projected portion 22b on the inner surface in the front part thereof.

(26) When the rear part of the front barrel 14 is pushed rearward into the front opening of the rear barrel 22 until the flange 14c abuts the rear barrel 22, the projected portion 22b inside the rear barrel 22 is engaged with the rib 14d so that the rear barrel 22 will not come off (fall out) from the front barrel 14.

(27) In addition, projected portions 14e are formed inside the front end part 14a of the front barrel 14 to catch a step portion 10c of the applying part.

(28) [Applying Part 10]

(29) The applying part 10 is formed of a porous material, which dispenses a coating amount of 0.090 g/m or greater (porosity of 80% or higher) and has a hardness (ISO7619A) of less than A70.

(30) Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the applying part 10 is given in the form of a flat plate having a greater width relative to the thickness. The applying part 10 is formed of a front portion (applying tip side) 10a of a width W1 and a rear portion 10b of a width W2 smaller than W1, forming a substantially T-shape.

(31) The applying part 10 uses felt as the porous material in the embodiment. The dimensions of the applying part 10 are such that the thickness t is about 7 to 2 (mm), the width W1 of the front portion 10a is wider than the width W2 of the rear part 10b (W1>W2), and a step 10c is formed at the boundary between the front portion 10a and the rear portion 10b. The width W1 can be 15 to 10 (mm) and the width W2 can be 13 to 8 (mm). Further, the length of the front portion 10a can be 15 to 10 (mm) and the length of the rear portion 10b can be 13 to 8 (mm). The rear endface of the rear portion 10b contacts the absorbent fabric 20, but can be made flat.

(32) As shown in FIG. 1, in the state where the applying part 10 is attached to the front barrel 14, the front portion 10a of the width W1 serving as the applying tip is fitted inside of the front end part 14a. Further, the step 10c located at the boundary to the rear portion 10b of the width W2 is locked by the projected portions 14e formed in the front end part 14a of the front barrel 14. Therefore, this locking prevents the applying part 10 from sliding backward into the absorbent fabric 20 in the front barrel 14.

(33) [Comb 12]

(34) In the comb 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a plurality of comb elements 12a extending forward are formed integrally with the front end part 14a of the front barrel 14.

(35) The front end part 14a has a rectangular opening, and holds the applying part 10 therein. The front end part 14a is configured such that the applying part 10 is held by the comb 12 on the front side with the tips of the comb elements 12a project forward beyond the front end of the applying part 10.

(36) In the comb 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, beams 12b for anti-falling (preventing the applying part 10 from falling forward) are formed so as to connect the opposing comb elements 12a. In addition, the step 10c abuts against the projected portions 14e inside the front barrel 14 (the front end part 14a) in the interior of the comb 12 to prevent the applying part 10 from moving rearward.

(37) Therefore, even if the applying part 10 is made of a felt or the like that is softer than the applying part that is press-fitted in the conventional front barrel (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 4), the applying part 10 is positioned and fixed on the front side by the beams 12b, and on the rear side by the projected portions 14e, so that the applying part 10 will not be displaced.

(38) As described later, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5(b), the beam 12b between the comb elements 12a has a hollow 12b1 formed on the surface thereof. Further, the surface area of the tip of the comb element 12a is specified to be 0.3 to 1.0 mm.sup.2.

(39) As to the applying part 10, the higher the porosity, the greater the coating amount. When the coating amount is 0.090 g/m or greater (porosity of 80% or higher) while the hardness (ISO7619A) of the applying part 10 is less than A70, the hardness is sufficient, so that it is possible to prevent the applying part from coming off from the front end part 14a of the front barrel 14.

(40) Therefore, according to the hair applicator according to the first embodiment, the applying part can be fixed to the comb elements with a sufficient fixing force, and prevented from being displaced even by an impact from a fall while an ample coating amount can be secured.

(41) Yet, since the hardness of the applying part 10 may degrade when the porosity is increased, the beams 12b are provided between the comb elements 12a of the front end part 14a, as described above. As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 5, the beams 12b provide a stopper function for the applying part 10.

(42) (Hair Bundle Application Test)

(43) With the hair applicator according to the embodiment, an evaluation test was performed on the applying part 10 that was specified so that the coating amount was 0.090 g/m or greater (porosity is 80% or higher) and the hardness (ISO7619A) of the applying part 10 was less than A70.

(44) The felt cores for the evaluated applying parts are as shown in Table 1 below.

(45) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Felt Core Porosity Hardness Applied Amount Example 1 90% A40 0.115 g Example 2 81% A60 0.104 g Comp. Example 1 73% A80 0.079 g Comp. Example 2 68% A55 0.069 g

(46) In Table 1, the applying parts of Examples 1 and 2 of the present invention were felt cores, and the coating amount was 0.115 (g) in Example 1 and 0.104 (g) in Example 2.

(47) The applying parts of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were felt cores, and the coating amount was 0.079 (g) in Comparative Example 1 and 0.069 (g) in Comparative Example 2.

(48) The porosity of each of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 is an actual measurement value, which was obtained as the volume converted from the full filling weight of ethanol.

(49) The hardness is also an actual measurement value, which was obtained by using a rubber hardness meter (conforming to ISO7619A).

(50) The investigation of the amount of liquid applied in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 was based on the measurement of the applied material by the following hair bundle application test.

(51) The object to be coated: goat hair bundle (10 cm.Math.1 g)×2 bundles

(52) Application speed: 10 cm/sec (second)

(53) Preparation for application test: put a sponge in zipper bag on wall.

(54) Application test procedures: (1) Set two hair bundles on the sponge; (2) “Apply 10 cm->1 sec break”×10 strokes->measure the liquid consumption; (3) Turn over the hair bundles; (4) “Apply 10 cm->1 sec break”×10 strokes->measure the liquid consumption; and (5) Prepare new hair bundles and return to (1).

(55) The results obtained by repeating (1) to (5) ten times are shown in Table 1.

(56) As shown in Table 1, each coating amount was 0.115 (g) in Example 1 and 0.104 (g) in Example 2, whereas the coating amount was 0.079 (g) in Comparative Example 1, and coating amount of Comparative Example 2 was 0.069 (g). The applicators of Examples 1 and 2 have a coating amount of 10 to 12 times or more that of the applicators of Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Thus, according to the present invention, it has become clear that a markedly sufficient amount of coating (approximately an order of magnitude greater) can be applied to the hair.

(57) Next, measures against skin stains in the hair applicator of the first embodiment will be described.

(58) In FIG. 5, (a) shows a comparative example, and (b) shows a variational example 1.

(59) Because the comb 12 of the front barrel 14 has its front end located ahead of the applying part, if the front end of the comb 12 is formed flat as in the comparative example shown in FIG. 5(a), the fluid may adhere to the skin.

(60) More specifically, the cosmetic (application liquid) applied to the hair transfers to the flat top surface of the comb 12 and the top surface touches the skin so that the hair cosmetic is transferred to adhere to and stain the skin.

(61) To deal with this, in the variational example 1 shown in FIG. 5B, the hollow 12b1 is formed on the front endface of the beam 12b of the comb 12 to reduce the contact area between the skin and the comb 12, so that transfer of the liquid can be avoided.

(62) Another countermeasure against staining will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

(63) In FIG. 6, (a) shows a comparative example, and (b) and (c) show the front barrel of the first embodiment.

(64) In the hair applicator according to the first embodiment, the cosmetic is more likely to adhere to the skin than in the conventional product. That is, as the comb elements 12a of the comb 12 are reduced in number, the contact area is reduced, hence it became easier to sink into the skin, and the applying part 10 easily comes into direct contact with the skin.

(65) To deal with this, though the comb 12 in the comparative example shown in FIG. 6A has two pairs of comb elements 12a, the comb 12 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C has five pairs of comb elements 12a so as to suppress sinking into the skin and make staining the skin unlikely.

(66) In addition, as shown in detail in FIG. 6C, in the first embodiment, the beam 12b is provided in every other pair of the comb elements 12a among the five pairs in the comb 12, and hollows 12b1 are also formed. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the area of the flat part in the front end of the comb part 12 was 0.4 mm.sup.2, and the gap between the comb elements 12a was 1.3 mm.

(67) The step height of the hollow 12b1 in the preferred comb 12 was found to be 0.5 to 0.9 mm.

Second Embodiment

(68) Next, a hair applicator according to a second embodiment will be described.

(69) FIGS. 7 to 10 are illustrative diagrams of a hair applicator according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of an applying part. The hair applicator according to the first embodiment is configured such that the comb elements 12a of the comb 12 are arranged and formed in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the front barrel 14. On the other hand, in the hair applicator according to the second embodiment, the comb elements 12a of the comb 12 are arranged and formed in an inclined manner at an angle θ with respect to the center axis of the front barrel 14 (indicated by the symbol “C” in FIG. 8).

(70) Corresponding to the formation and arrangement of the comb elements 12a with respect to the center axis of the front barrel 14, the applying part 10 is slanted forming a front part 10a of the facet inclined at the angle θ with respect to the center axis (indicated by the symbol “C” in FIG. 10)

(71) As to the other parts, the same components as those in the first embodiment are allotted with the same reference numerals.

(72) According to the second embodiment, since the arrangement of the comb elements 12a of the comb 12 is slanted, the applicator can be obliquely applied to the hair unlike the first embodiment in which the applicator is applied vertically. It is hence suitable for application to the hairline and the like. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

(73) Next, a hair applicator according to a third embodiment will be described.

(74) FIGS. 11 and 12 are illustrative diagrams of the hair applicator according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is an illustrative diagram of a front barrel, and FIG. 14 is an illustrative diagram of an applying part. The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the third embodiment, the applying part 10 and the absorbent fabric 20 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and those in the second embodiment can also be adopted. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the configurations other than the applying part 10 and the absorbent fabric 20.

(75) As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the hair applicator of the third embodiment, a container for accommodating the absorbent fabric 20 is formed with the rear end of the front barrel 14 closed by a tail plug 18. The tail plug 18 abuts the inner surface 22c (bottom surface) at the rear end of the rear barrel 22. The front part of the tail plug 18 serves as a part closing the rear end of the front barrel 14. The rear end of the tail plug 18 that is greater in diameter than the front end thereof serves as a part closing the rear end of the rear barrel 22.

(76) The hair applicator also has a cap 16 that covers the applying part 10 and the comb 12, as shown in FIG. 11. The cap 16 can be fitted to a thread 14b on the front barrel (forming a container with the tail plug 18) 14 by a thread (female thread) 16b. The cap 16 and the front barrel 14 are formed with projections 16c (see FIG. 14) and 14f, which ride over each other into a fitted state.

(77) Detailedly, as shown in FIG. 13, the front barrel 14 has a pair of projections 14f that allow the projections 16c (not shown) to ride over. Each projection 14f protrudes radially outward adjacent to the front side of the flange 14c.

(78) A rib 14g for stopping the rotation of the front barrel 14 relative to the rear barrel 22 is projectively formed on the rear side of the flange 14c. The projection 14f and the rib 14g are formed at the same position with respect to the circumferential direction of the front barrel 14. The rib 14g is formed as a projection on the inner surface of the front barrel so as to be engageable with a recess 22d to prevent the rear barrel 22 from rotating (see FIG. 12). The rib 14g and the recess 22d can be appropriately provided in any form as long as they are engaged with each other.

(79) As shown in FIG. 13, the front barrel 14 has the comb 12 in the front end part 14a. A groove 14h for air replacement is formed on the inner side surface of a comb element 12a in contact with the applying part 10. As shown in FIG. 13, the groove 14h is formed in a portion facing one side surface of the applying part 10.

(80) As shown in FIG. 14, the cap 16 has an inner cap 16a fitted and accommodated inside a main body forming an outer covering. In the front end of the cap, ribs 16d for receiving the application liquid are formed radially on the inner surface of the inner cap. There are two projections 16c in the cap 16 shown in FIG. 14 and two projections 14f in the front barrel 14 (see FIGS. 12 and 13). However, one or three or more projections 16c and 14f may be formed.

(81) According to the third embodiment, the projections 16c and 14f are formed on the cap 16 and the front barrel 14, respectively. Therefore, when the cap 16 is screw-fitted to the front barrel 14, the projections 16c ride over the projections 14f to create a clicking sensation when riding over.

(82) The user can make sure from the click feeling that the cap 16 and the front barrel 14 have been fitted when the cap 16 is closed. Also, once the projections 16c and 14f ride over, the projections again need to ride over each other when turning in the removal direction, so that unintentional removal can be prevented.

(83) Since the air replacement groove 14h is provided on the inner surface of the comb 12, air-liquid replacement can be smoothly performed in the applying part 10 and others. Thus, the air displacement from the applying part can be ensured, so that it is possible to prevent a supply shortage at the time of application.

(84) In addition, the tail plug 18 abuts the inner surface 22c (bottom surface) at the rear end of the rear barrel 22, to reliably prevent the tail plug 18 from falling off inside the rear barrel 22, thereby making it possible to prevent the absorbent fabric 20 from falling from the applying part 10.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(85) The hair applicator of the present invention can be used not only for human hair but also for animals.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

(86) 10 applying part

(87) 12 comb

(88) 12a comb element

(89) 12b beam

(90) 12b1 hollow

(91) 14 front barrel

(92) 14a front end part

(93) 14b male thread

(94) 14c flange

(95) 14d rib

(96) 14e projected portion

(97) 14f projection

(98) 14h groove

(99) 16 cap

(100) 16b thread

(101) 16c projection

(102) 20 absorbent fabric

(103) 22 rear barrel