Hair Color Application Device

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of hairdressing of existing art and more specifically relates to an applicator for applying hair coloring fluid to hair.

RELATED ART

Hair coloring, especially highlighting, is a popular technique used to add dimension, brightness, and contrast to the hair. Highlighting involves lightening sections of the hair to create a multi-tonal effect, often giving the appearance of depth and movement. Professional hairdressers frequently use foils to achieve precise and controlled highlights. Foil highlighting involves separating small sections of hair, applying a lightening agent such as bleach or high-lift color, and then wrapping each section in foil. This method is especially favored for its ability to create well-defined, consistent highlights.

However, while foils are an effective tool for achieving precise and controlled highlights, their use poses significant environmental concerns due to the waste they generate. Foils used in hair coloring are typically single-use and cannot be recycled once contaminated with hair dye and lightening products. This results in a substantial amount of waste, as each client can require numerous foils for a single highlighting session. The accumulation of these non-recyclable foils contributes to landfill overflow and environmental pollution. Additionally, the production and disposal of aluminum foils have a considerable environmental footprint, involving energy-intensive processes and contributing to resource depletion. Accordingly, a suitable solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known hair coloring art, the present disclosure provides a novel hair color applicator. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a reusable device that accurately and efficiently applies hair color to highlight hair, without the use of foils.

A device for applying hair coloring fluid to hair is disclosed herein. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the device may include a housing, a container, at least one applicator head and a plunger. The container may be attached to the handle and configured for storing hair coloring fluid therein. The container may include an opening disposed through a bottom thereof for allowing the hair coloring fluid therethrough. The at least one applicator head may include a fluid channel configured to be placed in fluid communication with the opening of the container and terminating with a dispensing tip. The plunger may be configured for insertion into the container and able to be manipulated such that the plunger element forces hair coloring fluid out of the dispensing tip of the at least one applicator head (when attached or otherwise in fluid communication with the container) to apply a predetermined amount of the hair coloring fluid to the hair of the user.

According to other embodiments, the device may include a plurality of interchangeable applicator heads, whereby each of the plurality of interchangeable applicator heads include a fluid channel configured to be placed in fluid communication with the opening of the container. The fluid channel may terminate with a dispensing tip able to hold a section of the hair, and the dispensing tip of at least a portion of the plurality of interchangeable applicator heads may differ in size.

According to another embodiment, a method of applying hair coloring fluid to hair is also disclosed herein. The method may comprise the steps of: providing the device as above; placing the fluid channel of the at least one applicator head in fluid communication with the opening of the container; filling the container with the hair coloring fluid; inserting the plunger into the container; inserting a section of the hair into the dispensing tip of the at least one applicator head; pressing the plunger into the container, thereby applying a predetermined amount of the hair coloring fluid to the section of the hair; and moving the device down a length of the section of the hair to apply the predetermined amount of hair coloring fluid to the length of the section of the hair.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a hair color applicator, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device being used to apply hair coloring fluid to hair, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the device including a handle, a container storing hair coloring fluid, an applicator head attached to the container, and a plunger inserted into the container atop the hair coloring fluid, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the device, illustrating the container including an opening in a bottom thereof, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the device, illustrating the container including a tube attached to the opening, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the device, illustrating the applicator head attached to the container, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a plurality of applicator heads, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of applying hair coloring fluid to hair, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a hair color applicator. Generally, the hair color applicator is a reusable device that is able to be filled with hair coloring fluid, such as bleach, and includes a head for applying the hair coloring fluid to the hair. The reusable device also includes a means of pushing the hair coloring fluid into the head of the device, enabling control over the amount of hair coloring fluid applied to each section of the hair. The device is particularly used for applying highlights to the hair, and as such, the head is particularly suited for concentrating hair coloring fluid in sections on the hair.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7, various views of a device 100 for applying hair coloring fluid 5 to hair 10. In particular, as above, the device 100 is used for applying highlights to the hair 10. The device 100 may be used instead of the typical foils used for highlighting the hair 10, thereby preventing waste of aluminum foil and saving time. It is contemplated that the device 100 may be used with any hair coloring fluid 5, such as bleach, hair dye, or other coloring agents.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown the device 100 being used to apply the hair coloring fluid 5 to the hair 10, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown here, the hair 10 can be sectioned as normal, and streaks of the hair coloring fluid 5 can be applied to the hair 10, at a desired width and length. It should be appreciated that the width, length, etc. of the streaks shown in this figure is for illustrative purposes only to show a clear view of the hair coloring fluid 5 on the hair 10, and the width, length, etc. of the streaks shown in FIG. 1 are not meant to limit the invention in any way.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, there are shown various perspective views of the device 100, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown here (and in FIG. 1), the device 100 may include a handle 110, a container 120, at least one applicator head 130 and a plunger 140. As shown here, the container 120 may be attached to the handle 110. In particular, the handle 110 may be attached to a rear wall 123 of the container 120. In some embodiments, the container 120 and the handle 110 may be one piece. However, it should be appreciated that the container 120 and the handle 110 are not limited to being formed from one piece. For example, the handle 110 may be removable, etc. As shown in these figures, the handle 110 may include an elongated length 111 extending rearwardly from the rear wall 123 of the container 120. This may enable a user, such as a hairdresser, to easily grasp the handle 110 during use of the device 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of the device 100, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown here, the container 120 may be configured for storing hair coloring fluid 5 therein. In particular, the container 120 may include, in some embodiments, a rectangular container 120 having a front wall 122 opposite a rear wall 123, a pair of opposite side walls 124 a, 124 b and a bottom 125 opposite an open top 126. As shown here, the front wall 122, the rear wall 123, the pair of opposite side walls 124 a, 124 b and the bottom 125 all define an interior 127 for storing the hair coloring fluid 5 therein.

The interior 127 may include a volume sized to store the amount of hair coloring fluid 5 needed for highlighting of a client's hair 10. For example, the interior 127 of the container 120 may include (but is not limited to) a liquid volume of between 50 ml to 100 ml. It should however be appreciated that this range is given as an example only to aid in understanding of the invention and should not limit the invention in any way.

The at least one applicator head 130 may be attached about an opening 121 (seen in FIG. 4) in the bottom 125 of the container 120, to place the at least one applicator head 130 in fluid communication with the interior 127 of the container 120 (and thus receive the hair coloring fluid 5). As shown in FIG. 2, the at least one applicator head 130 may include a dispensing tip 132 disposed at a leading end thereof. Further, as demonstrated in FIG. 2 via broken lines, the plunger 140 is adapted for insertion into the interior 127 of the container 120, atop the hair coloring fluid 5, and able to be manipulated such that the plunger 140 forces hair coloring fluid 5 out of the dispensing tip 132 of the at least one applicator head 130. In particular, the plunger 140 is configured to be manually pushed into the hair coloring fluid 5, to force the hair coloring fluid 5 into the at least one applicator head 130.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the plunger 140 may include a downwardly extending plate 142 preferably of a size and shape generally equal to the interior 127 of the container 120, such that the plate 142 is able to displace as much of the hair coloring fluid 5 as possible through the opening 121.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate a top plan view (FIG. 4) and a side view (FIG. 5) of the device 100, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown here, the container 120 may include the opening 121 disposed through the bottom 125 thereof for allowing the hair coloring fluid 5 therethrough. Further, as illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 5, the container 120 may include a tube 128 extending downwardly from the opening 121 of the container 120. This may enable attachment of the at least one applicator head 130. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, the at least one applicator head 130 may include a fluid channel 131 disposed through the at least one applicator head 130 which terminates at the dispensing tip 132. The tube 128 of the container 120 may thus insert into the fluid channel 131 of the at least one applicator head 130, at an end opposite the dispensing tip 132.

Accordingly, the plunger 140 is able to be pushed into the hair coloring fluid 5 (in the container 120), which pushes the hair coloring fluid 5 through the opening 121 of the container 120, through the tube 128, into the fluid channel 131 of the at least one applicator head 130 and out through the dispensing tip 132. In some embodiments, a section of hair 10 to be colored is able to be placed into the dispensing tip 132 and the dispensing tip 132 is then ran down a desired length of the hair 10 to apply the hair coloring fluid 5 to the hair 10. In use, the user may apply only a sufficient amount of pressure needed to dispense a desired amount of the hair coloring fluid 5 for the particular section of hair 10.

As shown in FIG. 3 in particular, in some embodiments, the at least one applicator head 130 may include a tubular portion 135 through which the fluid channel 131 spans and a pair of winged members 136 a, 136 b extending from either side of the tubular portion 135. An end of the pair of winged members 136 a, 136 b may include the dispensing tip 132. The dispensing tip 132 may be defined by a pair of inwardly tapered and pointed sides 133 a, 133 b defining a dispensing gap 134 therebetween in line with the fluid channel 131. The dispensing gap 134 between the inwardly tapered and pointed sides 133 a, 133 b may be sized to receive the section of the hair 10 therein, enabling the dispensing tip 132 to grip the hair 10 as it applies the hair coloring fluid 5 thereto. The configuration of the pair of inwardly tapered and pointed sides 133 a, 133 b, along with the dispensing gap 134 therebetween, may concentrate the hair coloring fluid 5 in sections, or streaks, on the hair 10.

In some embodiments, the plunger 140 may be configured to attach to the handle 110 of the device 100. For example, As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the plunger 140 may include a plunger handle 141 attached to the downwardly extending plate 142. The plunger handle 141 may include a first shaft 143 located at a first end 149 thereof, and a second shaft 144 located at a second end′ 151 thereof. In this embodiment, the handle 110 of the device 100 may include a first aperture 112 disposed through a first end 113 thereof, and a second aperture 114 disposed through a second end′ 115 thereof. Accordingly, the first shaft 143 may be configured for insertion into the first aperture 112; and the second shaft 144 may be configured for insertion into the second aperture 114. As such, the plunger 140 is able to be attached to the handle 110, enabling downward pressure to be applied to the plunger 140, pushing the plate 142 into the interior 127 of the container 120 and forcing the hair coloring fluid 5 through the opening 121 thereof (and into the at least one applicator head 130).

As shown in FIG. 3 in particular, the plunger handle 141 may include a length extending between the first and second shaft (143, 144). In some embodiments, as shown here, the length may include an elongated opening 145 therein. Further, the plunger 140 may include a vertical portion 146 attached centrally to the downwardly extending plate 142 and extending upwardly therefrom. The vertical portion 146 may include a length equal to, or greater than, a depth of the interior 127 of the container 120, enabling the plate 142 to be pressed to maximum depth in the interior 127. In between the vertical portion 146 and the first shaft 143 may include a horizontal portion 147, attaching top sides of the vertical portion 146 and the first shaft 143. In some embodiments, as shown here, the horizontal portion 147 may include a curved top 148. For example, the curved top 148 may include a concave curvature. This may aid in use of the device 100, as the curvature may conform to a curvature of the hand of the user during use.

Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrating a front perspective view of a plurality of applicator heads 130, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the plurality of applicator heads 130 may be interchangeable. In particular, the applicator heads 130 may be chosen based on a desired width of the streak of hair color and/or the thickness of the hair of the user.

As shown here and as discussed above, each of the applicator heads 130 may include the tubular portion 135 through which the fluid channel 131 spans and the pair of winged members 136 a, 136 b extending from either side of the tubular portion 135. Further, as shown here, the dispensing tip 132 of at least a portion of the applicators heads 130 may be differently sized. In particular, as above, the dispensing gap 134 between the inwardly tapered and pointed sides 133 is able to hold a section of the hair 10 therein for application of the hair coloring fluid 5 thereto. As such, the dispensing gap 134 between the pair of inwardly tapered and pointed sides 133 of at least a portion of the applicator heads 130 may be differently sized. For example, one applicator head 130 may include a dispensing gap 134 of 1 mm in width and another applicator head may include a dispensing gap 134 of 2 mm in width, etc. The dispensing gap 134, along with the configuration of the pair of inwardly tapered and pointed sides 133, concentrates the application of the hair coloring fluid 5 onto the hair. As such, a particular applicator head 130 may be chosen based on desired section size of the hair 10, thickness of the hair 10, desired streak width, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 8, showing a flow diagram illustrating a method 200 of applying hair coloring fluid to hair, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, the method 200 may include one or more components or features of the device 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method 200 may include the steps of: step one 201, providing the device as above; step two 202, placing the fluid channel of the at least one applicator head in fluid communication with the opening of the container; step three 203, filling the container with the hair coloring fluid; step four 204, inserting the plunger into the container; step five 205, inserting a section of the hair into the dispensing tip of the at least one applicator head; step six 206, pressing the plunger into the container, thereby applying a predetermined amount of the hair coloring fluid to the section of the hair; and step seven 207, moving the device down a length of the section of hair to apply the predetermined amount of hair coloring fluid to the length of the section of hair.

It should be noted that certain steps may be optional and may not be implemented in all cases. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.