WO1995020339A1

WO1995020339A1 - A hairstyling aid

Info

Publication number: WO1995020339A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/000172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Vasey
Original assignee: Mark Vasey
Priority date: 1994-01-29
Filing date: 1995-01-27
Publication date: 1995-08-03
Also published as: AU1464395A

Abstract

A hair brush having a brush head portion (7) and a detachable handle (1) extending axially from the brush head portion, the brush head portion (7) and the handle (1) having inter-engaging means (2, 3, 4, 5, 16, 19) forming a non-rotatable connection between the brush head portion and the handle, the inter-engaging means having a limited axial extent along the brush head and/or the handle whereby the handle may be removed from the brush by manipulating the hand alone.

Description

A Hairstvlinσ Aid

This invention relates to hairstyling aids and in particular to hairstyling aids that are combined with detachable handles, as well as to a method of using them.

A number of hairstyling aids with detachable handles are already known. For example in United States Patent 3967630 a bristle hair curler combination is disclosed which consists of a set of bristle hair curler elements and a curler handle that is attachable to a curler element so as to assist in putting this very distinctive type of roller into the hair. The advantage of this combination is that it assists the user by giving him the use of the handle in controlling the roller, so that he can brush through each section of wet hair prior to winding the roller into the hair and detaching the handle. It should be understood that, when setting hair, one always puts a plurality of rollers into the hair during the process. This is unlike the process of blow drying with a hand held dryer when a single brush is used. Thus, the separate handle described in the above prior art only serves the purpose of helping to brush each section of wet hair prior to the rolling of a bristle hair curler into it for use in setting the hair. A major disadvantage of the combination of United States Patent No. 3967630 is that, although one can use just one hand to connect the handle to each roller, it takes two hands to disconnect it. This prior art is clearly for use with specially manufactured setting rollers of the bristle hair type and is not intended for use in any other hair styling process or with any other type of hair styling aid. It is therefore only an improvement over earlier prior art strictly with regard to bristle hair setting rollers.

The main drawback of all prior art hair styling aids that have detachable handles is that either the connection or the disengagement of the handle from the styling aid, or both, requires the use of two hands to complete the action.

Another drawback is that all prior art hair¬ styling aids with detachable handles require the specific manufacturing of not just the handle but the aid it connects to, which makes the production much more expensive and complicated.

It is known that the process of blow drying hair with a hand held dryer is always done in conjunction with a single brush, the dryer being held in one hand and a brush in the other and the wet hair being brushed and dried a portion at a time, whereas the process of setting hair involves a plurality of rollers being put into wet hair and the hair then being dried under a hooded dryer.

One very popular brush for use in blow drying is a round brush. Round brushes are made of many different materials and combinations of materials. They all have a head and a handle. The handle helps control the brush head. The heads are all substantially cylindrical in shape and are made of different materials such as bristle, nylon, plastic, and rubber. The size and type of brush head used will help determine the style created. All these brushes are designed to be held in either hand, while a blow dryer is held in the other hand. During blow drying the round brush is worked through one section of wet hair at a time and then hot air is blown onto and through that section of hair. Once that section is dry the brush is then removed and put into the next section of wet hair, which is usually adjacent to the first section. This procedure is repeated until all the hair is dry or a different brush is required.

Blow drying with round brushes is a very popular way of styling hair, particularly in professional hair salons where there is a high demand from clients who like the effect but find it difficult to achieve at home. The most common difficulties encountered by non-professionals in using round brushes are failure to get enough root lift, struggling to manipulate a brush through the back of the hair, using the opposite hand to one's natural hand to use the brush while holding the hair dryer in the other hand, the air blast from the dryer distorting the already dried sections of hair, and tangling of the hair. For professionals the problems are that the process is normally very time consuming compared with setting, but that setting cannot be used to achieve the same effect of root lift and natural looking curl, and again that the air blast from the hair dryer can distort and disarrange the portion of the hair which has already been styled.

It is the primary aim of the present invention to provide a round brush that is quicker, easier and more effective to use, whether in a salon or at home. It is a further aim to provide round brushes that are easy to manufacture, and a clear and simple way of storing, identifying and cleaning them. Keratin in the hair shaft is an elastic substance which can be reversibly deformed using heat. When the hair is wet, the water breaks down the hydrogen and saline bonds, causing the keratin chains to slide against each other. This makes it possible to realign the chains into a new shape. As the hair dries new hydrogen and saline bonds are formed, which keep the hair in shape. When a round brush is worked through a section of wet hair and heat is applied, this is what happens. However, more often than not, the brush is removed from its section when the hair may be dry, but still warm or even hot. Therefore these hydrogen and saline bonds have not yet set into their desired shape. To maximise the effect of the round brush in each section, the hair needs to cool down naturally or be cooled down by applying the cold air setting found on professional type hair dryers. A problem with this is that it is very time consuming, so more often than not the brush is removed from its section before it has time to cool, this makes the desired effect much weaker with less root lift. Another problem is that as most people dry their hair one section at a time, once having removed the brush from its current section and placed it into the next adjacent section of wet hair, as they proceed to dry it, the heat and air blast from the dryer disarrange the previously completed section, destroying or weakening the effect, as well as quite often over- drying the hair. In order to improve on the limited effectiveness of the finished blow dry, most people use further heated appliances such as electrically-operated hot brushes or curling tongs which can damage the hair. It is a further aim of the current invention to avoid the need for these heated appliances, thereby saving time and energy, and improving the condition of the hair.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair brush including a generally cylindrical brush head portion and a detachable handle extending axially from the brush head portion, the brush head portion and handle having inter- engaging means forming a non-rotatable connection between the brush head portion and the handle, the inter-engaging means having a limited axial extent along the brush head portion and/or the handle whereby the handle may be connected to and removed from the brush by manipulating the handle alone.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a hair styling aid comprising a styling head and a handle, the head and handle having respective first and second connection means arranged to form a low separation-force coupling between the head and handle, such that the head and handle are capable of being easily coupled to and uncoupled from each other by a user in a single-handed operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of styling hair using a brush with a head and a detachable handle comprising: a) brushing and blow-drying a first section of hair; b) rolling said first section of hair around said brush head, detaching said handle from said brush head and leaving said first section of hair to cool on said brush head; c) attaching a further brush head to said handle; d) brushing and blow-drying a further section of hair; e) rolling said further section of hair around said further brush head, detaching said handle from said further brush head and leaving said further section of hair to cool on said further brush head; f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) until the whole head of hair is dry and cool; and g) removing the brush heads from the hair. A preferred embodiment of this invention provides a selection of round brush heads of different sizes and made of heat resistant materials, with at least one handle that can connect simply and easily to the chosen brush head using just one hand to do so, while the other hand is free to hold the hair dryer. The round brush is used to start to dry the hair as normal, but at the point when a first section is dry and the brush would normally be removed to place in the next wet section of hair, the handle is detached using only one hand leaving the brush head in that section to cool down. The handle can now be used to pick up a new brush head and work it through the next section of hair. Because the previously dried section is still held by its own brush head it will not be distorted by the blast from the dryer. As each brush head holds and defines its own section of dried hair the user will now experience fewer tangles and more control of the directional movement of the hair.

The detachment of the brush head from the handle is preferably achieved by an axial pull of the handle away from the head or by squeezing the handle, pressing a button or sliding or lifting a catch or similar device that allows its smooth and light release, so as not to disturb the brush head from its section of hair, and so that the action can be performed with one hand. The springiness of the material forming the connection between the handle and the brush head can be employed to bias the head away from the handle when the button or catch is operated. However, the mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the brush head and the handle should be sufficiently secure to work the brush head through the hair without the head accidentally disconnecting from the handle. The mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the head and the handle may in one preferred embodiment be integral with the brush head and/or the handle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the brush head is balanced so that, when released from the handle, the head will remain more accurately in its own section of hair, without being dragged out of line by any imbalance in the head or by the weight of the handle. This will enable the user to create much better results particularly through the top and back of the hair.

Once the hair has all been dried and styled according to the present invention, the brush heads can be removed preferably commencing with the first one to be put in. As every section has been allowed to cool evenly and accurately all that is needed to do is dress out the hair with ones hands for a quick and accurate finish with maximum root lift and no need to tong or hot brush the hair.

As already discussed, although one would normally use just one brush at a time when brushing and blow-drying a section of hair, a number of advantages are achieved by having a handle that disconnects leaving the brush heads in the hair. For example, because each section is allowed to cool down with the brush in it, one creates more root lift and desired directional movement. Because of the one-handed disconnection action, one can continually hold the hair dryer in one hand without having to keep putting it down to connect or disconnect the brush. The brushes left in the top of a head of hair will stay more evenly balanced and can be left in a horizontal plane, unlike round brushes with permanently connected handles which would fall over to one side under the weight of the handle, thus distorting the roots and creating uneven directional movement. A further advantage of this invention is that the round brushes used throughout the hair are not restricted by their handles, so the user can for example put a plurality of brushes side by side horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, in any combination. By using this invention, fewer tangles are created and effects can be achieved which were previously difficult, if not impossible to achieve. The individual user can even blow-dry and style the back of their own hair where previously they would have struggled. The brush of the present invention is also quicker and easier to use and is energy saving, since there is no need to use electric hot brushes or tongs after drying the hair.

A preferred embodiment of the current invention suggests a brush comprising at least two parts made from any suitable material that allows the connection and easy release of the handle from the brush head using just one hand. Preferably the brush comprises a main handle or grip portion, and a top section which interconnects to the main handle, the top section holding the brush head. The connection of the main handle and the top section may be achieved by a guide means such as a mandrel on the top section which may be cylindrical and a central cavity on the main handle. To stop the accidental disengagement of the brush head and top section from the handle there may be a recess on the main handle directly corresponding with a cooperating lip on the base of the top section. By having the mandrel on the top section one can create a lighter brush head component such that, when a brush head is disconnected, it can be left in a horizontal plane in the hair and the reduced weight will reduce the likelihood of it pulling to one side. The relationship between the main handle and the top section is such that there should be as little axial friction as possible, so that although they may resist rotating relative to each other when sideways pressure is applied, they can separate with as little friction or resistance as possible when the main handle is pulled axially away from the top section holding the brush head. The connection of the main handle and top section may alternatively be achieved by means of a bayonet fitting a screw connection, or a latched or ramped connection. The handle should be released from the head with as little friction as possible but it is important to have a mechanism that allows the connection and disconnection of the handle from the top section, but stops the accidental release of the brush head from the handle when brushing the hair for example. To stop this accidental disengagement of the brush head from the handle but still provide a brush that can be used with one hand only, one preferred embodiment of the invention suggests that a piece of sprung steel may be located inside a cavity in the main handle so that when the top section is connected into the main handle, the mandrel of the top section may slide up and snap over a ball bearing or pin or other inter-engaging means that directly engages a groove in the mandrel. To release the top section one may simply depress a button located on the main handle that in turn pushes down a lever onto the sprung steel, causing the inter-engaging means to disengage the groove in the mandrel, allowing the smooth, light, one-handed release of the brush head from the handle.

A common variety of round brush is the wire type or bottle brush which involves the bristles being wound between two wires. The wire ends may then be bonded permanently into a handle made usually of wood or plastic. In an embodiment of the present invention these wire ends may be bonded into the top section of the brush, so the user is able to disconnect and connect the different brush heads as required, all with one hand.

It should be understood that there are many ways to stop unwanted rotation of the brush head relative to the handle. For example, the prior art US Patent No. 3967630 suggested various ways of achieving non-rotation. However, the sole originality of the invention of that US Patent relied simply on stopping the rotation between an already known setting roller and a handle attachable to the roller while brushing the wet hair into a condition suitable for inserting a roller and prior to the rolling of a lock. All of the methods of stopping this rotation disclosed in this US patent were known, but it was the clear objective to use them in connection with this type of hair curler that was novel, as all prior art bristle hair curlers with attachable handles did not provide means to reliably prevent the independent rotation of the curler and its handle. So in the embodiments of the present invention it should be understood that the non-rotatability of the main handle and the top section can also be achieved in many ways, but that in preferred embodiments of the present invention the connection between the handle and top section should resist the accidental separation and rotation of the two during blow-drying, while still creating a brush that has a connection that can release the top section and brush head smoothly and lightly from the handle so that it can be done with only one hand while holding the hair dryer in the other hand, and still not disturb the hair. This enables people to achieve quicker, better, and more desirable effects with blow-drying hair than ever before.

It is an important point that normally a full head of setting rollers is used prior to sitting under a hooded dryer. Each roller creates the root lift and directional movement of its own section of hair prior to drying. The user needs a much smaller amount of skill and dexterity to set hair than to blow-dry with a round brush. When blow-drying with a hand held dryer it is the skill of manipulating a brush through the hair while at the same time controlling the air blast from a dryer that makes the process so much harder. With the current invention this need for a high level of skill is directly addressed. Also, whereas setting gives very distinct and obvious effects the current invention can be used on many more hairstyles. In some cases just one or two brush heads may be used.

In order to attain the desired objective, the top section of the brush may be designed in various ways, depending on the exact brush head to be held. For example, if a round wire brush head is to be held the top section may be made of one solid piece of wood, metal, plastic or any suitable heat resistant material and then the wire ends of the brush may be glued or bonded into a pre-formed hole. It should be understood that there are many suitable means for connecting and disconnecting the brush heads from the handles, such as pins, springs, pegs, latches, catches, even magnets, so a key point is not the mechanism but the fact that it should be operatable with the use of just one hand. The mechanism that connects and releases the handle might be external on the handle or the brush head, or internal, or a combination of both. It should also be understood that for economic reasons the detailed embodiments of the current invention which follow suggest ways of using currently manufactured round brushes, but the invention could work just as well with specially manufactured brush heads. These heads may not even be round, they might be any shape such as half round or hexagonal. A key point is that they should preferably be balanced so that when they are placed in the hair and the handle is removed, they do not become lopsided and distort the desired root or directional movement. Therefore, in some cases the brush heads may be counter-balanced by directly adding additional weight to them. In one embodiment, the brush stem might engage and disengage directly into the handle, thereby saving the need for the extra component formed by the top section connecting the brush head to the main handle.

As a plurality of brush heads would be used in the method of the current invention, it is a further suggestion that these brush heads would be displayed in containers or boxes that would present them at approxi¬ mately a 45 degree angle to the vertical, thereby assisting their one hand connection and release to the handle. This presentation arrangement is of particular benefit to a stylist who while standing up to do some one's hair can simply reach out and connect the handle to a desired brush head with only one hand and continue to hold a hand held dryer in the other. Known rollers that are presented in their own boxes are generally presented vertically, but even presenting the brush heads of the present invention horizontally would aid their connection to the handle. The sets of round brush heads for use in the present invention may comprise different sizes of brush heads. Thus, to aid the user further it is suggested that the heads and/or their individual compartments may be colour coded to assist the selection of the correct brush head and the quick identification of the correct compartment to put it back into.

When using round brushes, they require regular cleaning, as loose hair becomes trapped in between the bristles. This is unhygienic and looks very unpro¬ fessional. Therefore, it is suggested that the proposed display box that holds the brush heads and handles should have drain holes in the base and/or side walls to allow the whole unit to be picked up and placed in brush cleaner or sterilising fluid. Once clean, the box holding the brush heads and handle may be lifted out of the fluid allowing it to drain away through the holes, leaving all the brushes clean and ready for use.

In another embodiment of the invention one might have a variety of styling aids such as a vent brush, pin comb, or large flat bristle brush, all connected to top sections by appropriate means, but the top sections all being connectable to and disconnectable from the handle.

In US Patent No. 3967630 is disclosed a hair curler element that has a handle that may be frictionally engaged with the curler and requires the use of two hands to disconnect it. This curler and attachable handle is clearly only intended for use with a hooded dryer and would be totally unsuitable for use with a hand held dryer. Even if a skilled person tried to use the product of US Patent No. 3967630 for blow drying, they would fail to gain any advantage because, as already stated, blow-drying has traditionally been done with a single brush at a time and, therefore, the advantages and benefits of leaving brush heads in the hair would not have been apparent, because the user would have been unaware of the possibility of using the method of the present invention. Moreover, even once aware of the advantages, the curler of US Patent No. 3967630 requires two hands to remove the handle. It is also important to realise that the length by which bristles on bristle hair curlers extend from the cylindrical curler core is always roughly the same, and it is the diameter of the curler core that changes the size of the curler and therefore the effect. The bristles are used solely to help the curler grip the hair. Accordingly, such a bristle hair curler would not be suitable as a round brush substitute.

Furthermore, the connection between the curler and handle in US Patent No. 3967630 is achieved frictionally within the curler core itself by at least one axially extending retaining member on the handle defining several axially parallel engagement surfaces which are adapted to cooperate with said engagement surfaces of the curler core. This arrangement therefore requires the specific manufacturing of not only the handle but the curler elements, and would not fit any other known roller. In addition, the handle is detached after placing each curler in the wet hair. Once all the curlers have been used, the hair is then dried under a hooded dryer.

The current invention suggests a handle that may be attachable to the already widely used and popular wire stemmed round brush head. It also allows the connection of all known round brush heads without their special manufacturing and the connection of virtually all known styling aids such as combs and all other types of brushes and rollers. Moreover, their detachment as well as connection can be achieved with one hand only. With the method of the present invention, the handle remains connected to each brush head until the hair is dry, and each section is dried one after another. This process generates a much more intense and concentrated heat, far hotter than the general heat generated by a hooded dryer because each wet section of hair needs to be dried so quickly. The prior art discussed above makes no allowances for this intense heat because the intention is to put the setting rollers in wet hair which is dried more gently, after the withdrawal of the handle. Unless such rollers and handles are made of suitable heat resistant material they would melt or become distorted under the heat of a hand held dryer. In addition, the whole process of blow drying puts much more stress on the components of the brush because greater tension is applied as the brush grips and pulls the dried hair. The prior art discussed above makes no allowances for this high stress since it is only intended to brush through a section of wet hair prior to rolling it.

The current invention does not require any minimum brush core or brush radius, and thus allows the use of brushes with central cores as small as one or two millimetres, for example. There are many hair styles where the length of the hair is too short to put bristle hair curlers in, but the current invention will cater for all of these hair styles.

It is suggested that the heads and the handle of the present invention may be injection moulded out of suitable heat resistant grade plastics. The handle and each of the heads may respectively be an integral injection moulded plastics unit, the connection and release means being an integral part of the handle and/or the heads, wherein the application of a predetermined pressure to at least one point or region of the brush allows the single handed operation of the connection and release means.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 shows a brush of the present invention with the handle connected;

Figure 2 shows the brush of Figure 1 with the brush head disengaged from the handle;

Figure 3 shows the main handle and top section of the brush of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a conventional wire stemmed bristle brush head;

Figure 5 shows a wire stemmed bristle brush head bonded into a top section such as that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows an end view of the main handle of Figure 3;

Figures 7 and 8 show a brush with a mechanism for connecting and disengaging a brush head and top section from the handle;

Figures 9 and 10 show a brush with an alternative mechanism that could be used to connect and disengage the top section to the main handle;

Figure 11 shows a brush with a further alternative connecting and disengaging means;

Figures 12 and 13 show two adaptions to wire round brushes that allow the direct connection of the brush head to the handle without the need for a top section.

Figure 14 shows a main handle and an alternative top section;

Figure 15 shows an end view of the top section of Figure 14; Figure 16 shows a partially cut-away view of the top section of Figures 14 and 15 connected to the handle;

Figures 17 to 23 show some cross sections of different shapes for use in connecting the brush head and handle;

Figure 24 shows a perspective view of a brush head and handle container;

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 24 with the heads presented in their own compartments within the container;

Figure 26 shows a round brush with a solid core for connecting to and disconnecting from a handle;

Figure 27 shows another alternative embodiment of a mechanism for connecting and disengaging the brush head and handle;

Figures 28 and 29 show a further alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 30 and 31 show yet a further alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 32 shows a further embodiment of brush with the handle disengaged;

Figure 33 shows the handle and the mechanism used to connect and disengage the handle from the top section on the brush head shown in Figure 32;

Figure 34 shows a cross section through the top section of figure 33;

Figure 35 shows the mechanism inside the handle of Figure 33;

Figures 36 and 37 show the handle of Figure 33 connecting to different styling aids;

Figures 38 and 39 show a further preferred embodiment of brush;

Figures 40 to 42 show yet another preferred embodiment of brush; Figures 43 and 44 show yet another preferred embodiment of brush; and

Figure 45 shows a further preferred embodiment of brush.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a wire stemmed round brush head 7 bonded into a top section 9 by gluing or other suitable means. The two wire ends 10 of the brush head 7 (see Figure 4) are bonded into a centrally pre-drilled hole 6 in the top section 9. In Figure 1 the brush head 7 and the top section 9 are shown connected to the main handle 1. In Figure 2 the brush head is shown disconnected from the handle. The connection between the top section and the handle in Figures 1 and 2 is achieved by a cylindrical mandrel 4 on the top section 9 engaging a central cavity 2 in main handle 1. To stop the top section and the handle from turning accidentally relative to each other when the brush is in use, a recess 3 is provided on the main handle 1 that directly corresponds with a matching lip or protrusion 5 on the base of the top section 9. The non rotation of the two components can be achieved in many ways, but those which assist the easy one handed connection are preferred. For embodiments which employ a recess and corresponding lip or protrusion as shown in Figures 2 and 3, Figures 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 show cross sections B, C, D, E, F, G of some suitable shapes for the recess and lip. As one can see any shape other than the circular cross section A shown in Figure 17 could be used. Where a circular cross section B is preferred, as shown in Figure 18, an additional pin or lip 1" can be used or, as seen in Figure 21, a central bore 2" in the shape of a hexagon could be provided on the top section or handle which would directly correspond with a matching mandrel. It does not matter if the lip or recess is on the main handle 1 or top section 9, but in most cases having the male protruding part on the top section 9 will create a lighter component which is preferable to assisting the balance of the brush head 7. The shapes shown in the Figures are a few examples only of the many that could be used, some employing a recess and corresponding lip, or simply a central mandrel and matching non-rotational cavity.

Figure 4 shows a conventional wire stemmed brush head 7 on its own. The two bare wire ends 10 can be seen prior to their bonding into the top section 9. The other two ends are cut shorter and have an end cap 8 over them. The end cap can be designed to act as a counterbalance to the weight of top section 9, if necessary. Figure 5 shows the brush head 7 of Figure 4 bonded to the top section 9 via a pre drilled hole 6 to form the brush head of the present invention. For clarification. Figure 6 shows an end view of the main handle 1 with its central engaging cavity 2 and its recess 3.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate just one suggested mechanism for stopping the accidental release of the brush head 7 from the main handle 1 during use while enabling the brush head and handle to be disconnected one-handedly when desired. In this embodiment there is a lip 5 that corresponds with a recess 3 on the main handle 1 in a similar manner to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 but there is no cylindrical mandrel 4 or corresponding central cavity 2 (see figures 1 to 3). Two sprung arms 11 on the handle snap into two holes or grooves 12 on the top section to stop the brush head 7 accidentally disengaging from the handle. Means (not shown) are provided to release the arms by pressing a button or similar device, to allow the brush head and handle to be disconnected one-handedly. Figure 9 and 10 show another embodiment of a mechanism to assist the one handed connection and release of the the top section 9 from the handle 1. The handle has a cavity 2 and a recess 3 and the top section has a mandrel 4 and a protrusion 5, as shown in figures 1 to 3 and means for connection and disconnection comprises a spring loaded ball bearing 15 supported in a radial recess 17 in the handle 1. A button 14 on the exterior of the handle is connected to the ball bearing 15 via a spring 13. The ball bearing 15 engages a groove 16 in the cylindrical mandrel 4 when the top section 9 and handle 1 are put together. The release of the two parts is achieved by operating the button 14 so as to allow its one handed operation, to lift the ball bearing out of groove 16 and allow the disconnection of top section 9 from the handle.

Figure 11 shows another preferred embodiment of a release and connection mechanism. In this embodiment the cavity 2 in the main handle 1 is enlarged and a piece of sprung steel 18 is located inside the cavity. A protrusion 19 is formed on the sprung steel strip 18 and when the top section 9 is pushed into the main handle 1, the groove 16 in the cylindrical mandrel 4 slides up and snaps over the protrusion 19 to hold the top section on the handle. To release the top section from the handle, one simply presses the button 14 that in turn depresses the sprung steel strip 18 causing the protrusion 19 to disengage from the groove 16 in the mandrel 4 of the top section 9. A gentle axial pull of the main handle 1 away from the top section 9 will disconnect them leaving the brush head 7 in its own section of hair.

Figures 12 and 13 show two brush heads 7 which instead of bonding into a top section 9 have their ends 10 adapted to engage directly into the main handle 1. In figure 12 there is a "T" joint 20 that could engage inside the main handle 1. In figure 13 the ends 10 have two ball bearings or beads 34 that could engage inside the main handle 1.

In figures 14, 15 and 16, the top section 9 has been milled down to a much smaller diameter, this makes the whole component lighter, which is beneficial in aiding the precision balance of a brush head 7 when released into a section of hair.

Figures 24 and 25 illustrate a suggested box 27 for the brush heads 7 to be stored in. The brush heads 7 would be put into their own colour coded compartments 26, that present them at approximately a 45 degree angle to the vertical, to aid the one handed connection of the main handle 1 to the top sections 9. The box 27 can be lifted by the handles 28 and put into a larger water-tight container 29, so as to be able to pour sterilising fluid or brush cleaner over the heads 7. Once clean, the inner box 27 can be lifted out of the fluid and the handles 28 can be hooked onto supporting rims 30 on the container 29 to allow the fluid to drain away through drainage holes 32 in the box 27.

Figure 26 shows a round brush with a solid core. In this embodiment the brush head is bonded directly onto the end of the top section 9, rather than being connected by means of a pre drilled hole 6 (c.f. figures 1 to 3) . This embodiment is very useful when styling aids with flat ends, such as heated rollers, are to be attached to the top section 9 for connection with a handle 1.

Figure 27 shows another embodiment of the invention, with a mandrel 4" on the main handle 1 and a cavity 2" in the top section 9. A location pin or ball bearing 19" locks into a groove or under cut channel 20" in the top section. To release the brush head 7 from the handle, the button 14" is pressed, which in turn pushes down on a piece of sprung steel 18" which in turn disengages the pin 19" from the groove 20". In this embodiment there is no recess and corresponding lip to stop unwanted rotation, but instead the central mandrel 4" is not round but hexagonal in cross section, and this directly corresponds with a hexagonal cavity 2" in the top section 9. The mandrel and cavity could have any other cross sectional shape that stopped the unwanted rotation of the handle and head, such as triangle, half moon, oblong, square and so on.

With all these preferred embodiments of the invention that have been described it is important to remember that there are many other alternatives in materials, dimensions, and mechanisms that can achieve the desired objective of creating a brush having a head which can be connected to and disconnected from a handle using just one hand.

In the embodiment shown in figures 28 and 29, the mandrel 4 is on the main handle 1 and connects into the cavity 2 in the top section 9. The connection between the main handle and the top section is achieved by means of two flexible plastic arms 35 extending from the handle and having a protrusion 36, on the distal end of each arm. A corresponding cavity 37 is provided in the top section 9 with grooves or holes 38 cut into the side walls of the top section. The handle may be pushed towards the top section such that the arms 35 slide into cavity 37 and protrusions 36 engage in holes 38. The release of the top section 9 from the handle 1 is achieved by pressing protrusions 36 radially inward disengaging the protrusions from the holes 38 and allowing smooth and light release of the brush head 7 from the handle. The flexible arms preferably have a predetermined springiness which gently ejects the brush head from the handle when protrusions 36 are depressed.

The arms 35 may be integral with the handle or may be fitted to the handle by means of a collar 39. The mandrel 4 acts as a guide during connection but is not essential for operation of this embodiment.

In the embodiment of figures 30 and 31 the connection of figures 28 and 29 is effectively reversed with the arms 35 extending from top section 9 and the recess 37 and holes 38 being formed in the handle 1. In the top section 9 there is a cavity 40 which extends inside the mandrel 4, thereby allowing the wire ends of the brush to be inserted substantially right through the top section, such that the length of the main body of top section 9 can be axially shorter than if the cavity 40 did not extend into mandrel 4. This is advantageous as the brush head can then be lighter and more balanced.

In a further embodiment (not shown) a spring could be provided, for example in cavity 2 of figures 28 to 31, such that when protrusions 36 are pressed inwardly, the spring biases the handle 1 away from the brush head 7. The force provided by the spring should be sufficient to aid separation of the handle and brush head but not large enough to disturb the brush head from its section of curled hair.

In another embodiment, instead of flexible arms the brush heads might simply snap onto the handle by means of a raised lip running around the complete circumference of the handle, so that when the handle was pushed into a head, this lip would snap into an undercut running around the circumference of the head, holding the two components together. The non-rotation of the parts could then be achieved by additional means. The raised lips or edge on the main handle would have flexible walls, so by squeezing them so they deform, the handle could be withdrawn from the heads leaving them in the hair. Clearly, the two connecting means could be reversed, such that the lip is on the head and the undercut is on the handle.

As in practically all cases of use the present invention, a plurality of brush heads will be used it is a further suggestion that when wire brush heads are used they could have an end cap 8 that is shaped so as to allow the brush head to stand up vertically on its own when placed on the horizontal surface. This would allow for the one handed connection of the handle as well as being space saving. The end caps can be any shape that allows the heads to stand vertically on a flat surface, such as cone shaped or a flat disc. This shaped end cap could also be adapted to fit the solid type brush heads, or the brush head tops could even be shaped to stand up on their own.

Using moulded plastics allows for any design alternatives where the two components have this relationship where the flexibility of the material allows connection and release by simply applying a predetermined pressure.

In figure 32 a round brush head 42 is connectable to and disconnectable from a handle 1. The handle 1 includes a button 43 and a hexagonal mandrel 45, which may advantageously be made of nylon. The round brush head 42 on top section 9 is provided with an axial hexagonal cavity 47 in the top section 9. A location pin 4 on the hexagonal mandrel 45 connects with the interior of cavity 47 to hold the head 42 on the handle. when button 43 is depressed the location pin 44 is released from the brush head. The top section 9 is bonded onto the brush head 42 and the top section 9 may also be of nylon.

Figure 33 shows the handle 1 and the top section 9 with its internal hexagon 47 internally undercut at 48 to hold the location pin 44 so as to secure the top section 9 onto the smaller external hexagon 45. The relationship between the two nylon hexagons means it is easy to align the two parts one- handedly and there is very little friction as the two parts move axially together or apart.

Inside the handle 1 the location pin 44 is connected with the push button 43, as shown in figure 35, by means of a sprung strip 49.

In figures 36 and 37 the same handle 1 as shown in figure 32 is illustrated connecting and disengaging from a vent brush 50 and from a comb 51 respectively. Although there is no advantage in putting a plurality of such vent brushes or combs into the hair, the invention would work very well if one had a set of different brush or comb heads that could attach and disengage from the one handle.

The embodiment of Figures 38 and 39 comprises a handle 1 with two arms 60 and 61. On the distal end of each arm is a lip or hook 62. The top section 9 has a hollow interior 63 with protrusions 64 formed on the interior. Thus, when the handle and top section are pushed together, the lips 62 clip behind the protrusions 64 and hold the top section and handle together as shown in Figures 38 and 39. To release the top section 9 from the handle 1, the two arms 60, 61 are squeezed or compressed together in the direction of arrows 65, 66, the lips 62 disengage from the protrusions 64 and the handle may be one-handedly disengaged from the brush head 7. In fact, as the compression force on the arms is released, the natural springiness of the material from which the handle is formed acts to restore the arms to their rest position and positively displace the top section from the handle as the forward surface 67 of lips 62 acts against the tapering surface 68 of protrusions 64.

A flexible plastics, rubber or foam section 69 may be fitted between the two arms 60, 61 to give a more positive feel to the operation of connecting and disconnecting the brush head and handle and to increase the return force which returns the arms to their rest position.

In Figures 40 to 42, the wire ends of the brush head 7 are inserted directly into the top section 9 which is formed of a unitary piece 70 of flexible plastics of substantially U-shaped cross-section when viewed from the side, as shown in Figure 40. The brush head 7 connects into one arm 71 of the U-shaped top section and the other arm 72 of the top section is provided with a ramped protrusion 73. An opening 74 is provided in the handle 1 so that, when the handle and brush head are connected, the protrusion 73 extends through opening 74 to hold the two parts together, as shown in Figure 41. A ramp 75 may also be provided inside the hollow handle 1 so that, when the protrusion 73 is depressed to release the brush head from the handle, the springiness of the top section and ramps 73 and 75 act to positively eject the brush head from the handle.

As can be seen in Figure 45, the embodiments of Figures 38 to 44 can all be provided with the male part on one of the handle or the top section and the female part on the other handle or top section. Figure 45 shows an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 40, but with the male and female parts reversed. In the embodiment shown in Figures 43 and 44, the hollow handle 1 is formed with a hole 76. The top section 9 is adapted to slide inside the hollow handle 1. The top section has a flexible longitudinal arm 77 extending from the top section and integral therewith. A tab 78 is formed at the distal end of arm 77. When the top section is fitted to the handle the tab 78 protrudes through hole 76 and acts to hold the two parts together. Depression of tab 78 allows the handle to be released from the brush head.

The embodiments shown in Figures 38 to 45 may all be injection moulded and each of the top section and handle may comprise only one integral part so that there is a minimum of working parts. The natural springiness in the plastics can be used to eject the brush head from the handle and some form of ramping can be employed to improve the positive separation of the two parts.

In all the above described embodiments, where the invention allows for the bonding of a brush head onto or into a top section it should be understood that the top section can be dimensioned to have any desired or appropriate length and/or diameter. Moreover, the individual brush bristles may, for example, be bonded directly into the top section, so that the top section effectively becomes the brush head body.

Furthermore, in all embodiments, the connec¬ tion and release means can be reversed so that, for example, where a mandrel on the top section corresponds with a cavity on the handle, it would be equally poss¬ ible to provide the mandrel on the handle and the cavity in the top section.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A hair brush including a generally cylindrical brush head portion and a detachable handle extending axially from the brush head portion, the brush head portion and handle having inter-engaging means forming a non-rotatable connection between the brush head portion and the handle, the inter-engaging means having a limited axial extent along the brush head portion and/or the handle whereby the handle may be connected to and removed from the brush by manipulating the handle alone.

2. A hair brush according to Claim 1 wherein the inter-engaging means are integral with the brush head portion and/or the handle.

3. A hair styling aid comprising a styling head and a handle, the head and handle having respective first and second connection means arranged to form a low separation-force coupling between the head and handle, such that the head and handle are capable of being easily coupled to and uncoupled from each other by a user in a single-handed operation.

4. An aid according to claim 3, wherein said first and second connection means are arranged to prevent accidental uncoupling of the head and handle during normal use of the aid.

5. An aid according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said first connection means is integral with said head and said second connection means is integral with said handle.

6. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said first and second connection means comprise respective complementary interfitting formations shaped and dimensioned to form the low-separation-force coupling between the head and handle.

7. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein one of said first and second connection means comprises a spigot member and the other of said means comprises a socket member, the spigot and socket members being constructed and arranged to form the low separation-force coupling.

8. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 7 including a latch mechanism which is arranged to retain the styling head and handle coupled together and which is readily releasable by a user in a single-handed operation.

9. An aid according to claim 8, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a spring-biased member on the handle and a cooperable notch on the styling head.

10. An aid according to claim 9, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a pair of spring-biased members on the handle and a pair of cooperable notches on the head.

11. An aid according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the or each spring-biased member has, at the forward end thereof, an inturned claw member arranged to engage in the or one of the cooperable notches on the styling head, the or each inturned claw member being spring- biased to a position in which it snaps into the or one of the cooperable notches during the final stage of coupling the head and handle together.

12. An aid according to claim 8, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a push-button mechanism provided on the handle and having a latch detent and the styling head comprises a spigot member defining a recess which, when the head and handle are coupled together, receives the latch detent.

13. An aid according to claim 12, wherein the latch detent is releasable from the recess by a force exertable by a user on a push button of the mechanism.

14. An aid according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the latch detent comprises a spring-loaded element releasable from'its latching position in the recess by means of a or the push button.

15. An aid according to claim 14, wherein the spring-loaded element is a ball.

16. An aid according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the latch detent comprises a projection mounted upon a spring arm which is connected to a or the push button, such that, on depression of the latter, the detent is released from its latching position in the recess.

17. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 16, wherein said first and second connection means are arranged to form a relatively loose sliding fit affording no or insufficient friction to retain the head and handle coupled together, such coupling being maintained by means of a or the latch mechanism, as the case may be, capable of single-handed operation by the user to release the latch mechanism, thereby enabling the head and handle to uncouple in a substantially friction-free motion.

18. An aid according to any one of claims 3 to 16, wherein said first and second connection means are arranged to form the low separation-force coupling such that the head and handle can be uncoupled easily from each other by a user in a single-handed operation and wherein sufficient friction force is provided between said first and second connection means to retain the head and handle in their coupled state until such time as an uncoupling force is applied by a user.

19. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 18, including means arranged to prevent relative rotation movement between the head and handle in the coupled state thereof.

20. An aid according to claim 19, wherein said means for preventing relative rotational movement between the head and handle is constituted by said first and second connection means.

21. An aid according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said means for preventing relative rotational movement between the head and handle comprises respective complementary interfitting formations on the head and handle.

22. An aid according to claim 21, wherein the complementary interfitting formations comprise a spigot on one of the head and handle and a socket on the other of the head and handle.

23. An aid according to claim 20, wherein the socket is a slot on the head or handle, as the case may be.

24. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 23, wherein the styling head comprises a wire stemmed round brush head.

25. An aid according to claim 24, wherein said second connection means comprises a stem or stems extending axially of the wire stemmed brush head.

26. An aid according to claim 25, wherein the stem or stems provide a or respective projections cooperable with said first connection means, such cooperation providing the only means forming the low separation- force coupling between the head and handle.

27. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 26, wherein the low separation-force coupling provided by said first and second connection means between the head and handle is a substantially zero separation-force coupling.

28. A hair styling aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. One or more styling aids in accordance with any of claims 3 to 28 and in combination with a heating device arranged to receive the head of the or each aid for heating purposes.

30. One or more styling aids in accordance with any of claims 3 to 28 and in combination with a container adapted to store a plurality of said brush heads with the longitudinal axis of each brush head inclined at an angle to the vertical.

31. A method of styling hair using a brush with a head and a detachable handle comprising: a) brushing and blow-drying a first section of hair; b) rolling said first section of hair around said brush head, detaching said handle from said brush head and leaving said first section of hair to cool on said brush head; c) attaching a further brush head to said handle; d) brushing and blow-drying a further section of the hair; e) rolling said further section of hair around said further brush head, detaching said handle from said further brush head and leaving said further section to cool on said further brush head; f) repeating steps c), d) and e) until the whole head of hair is dry and cool; and g) removing the brush heads from the hair.