MICRO PARTING TOOL

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to the field of hair styling tools.

BACKGROUND

In styling hair, a stylist may need to separate hair into small partitions for work. One case where such partition arises is in forming microlocs, which are similar to dreadlocks but smaller in size (typically sized from ⅛ inch up to ½ inch (3 mm-13 mm)). Microlocs can be formed by taking small sections of hair (“micro parts”) and twisting them tightly to form coils. Such small microlocs can offer benefits of decreased maintenance and more styling options compared to other hair style options, particularly for individuals with hair having naturally tight curls.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In general, the disclosed tool facilitates a stylist in making even separations of hair to facilitate forming parts with even size and/or spacing, such parts having particular utility in forming microlocs. The tool can have a generally planar body with at least one notched edge bounding a portion of the body. In the simplest form, a single notched edge is employed. The notched edge can having a series of notches separated by separators, the notches and the separators having matched widths that vary in size to allow a stylist with the option of using either the notch or the separator to measure a hair part with the part size and/or spacing from an adjacent part matching a desired width indicated by the appropriate notch or separator. Indicia can be provided on the body aligned with the notches and/or the separators to provide an indication of the notch and/or separator widths. Such indicia could indicate the measurements in US customary units (fractions of inches, typically in even multiples of 1/16″ or ⅛″) or in metric units (typically even multiples of millimeters).

The notched edge may be configured such that the separators are substantially square, with the depths of the notches increasing with increasing notch width. The separators can extend from a baseline that defines one end of each notch.

The tool can also include a series of sized apertures for measuring the diameter of hair locks. The body can be provided with aperture indicia aligned with the apertures to provide an indication of the aperture sizes. The aperture indicia could indicate the measurements in US customary units (fractions of inches, typically in even multiples of 1/16″ or ⅛″) or in metric units (typically even multiples of millimeters).

Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. The detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view that illustrates a hair micro parting tool having a body and a notched edge, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tool shown in FIG. 1, showing indicia that can be provided on the tool;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a tools that shares many features in common with the tool shown in FIGS. 1-2, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating a hair micro parting tool having a body that can serve as a styling comb, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 5 & 6 illustrate a tool with notches set in from a common edge, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 7 & 8 illustrate a tool with notches and separators provided along two notched edges, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the drawings may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described product or methods of use. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood from there.

It is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the products. Accordingly, the product and components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

In general, the embodiments described herein relate to a micro parting tool for separating hair into small parts, such as for styling into microlocs. The tool can include.

In some embodiments, any component of the tool can be made primarily of any suitable durable material. For example, in some embodiments, the tool can be made primarily of plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the tool can be made primarily of cellulose acetate, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), any other suitable durable plastic, or any combination thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1 & 2, a tool 100 is shown including a generally planar body 102 having at least one notched edge 104. In some embodiments, a single notched edge 104 is employed. The notched edge 104 is formed by a series of notches (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, & 106E) and a series of separators (108A, 108B, 108C, 108D, 108E, & 108F) that partially define the boundaries of the notches (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, & 106E). For example, separators 108A & 108B define boundaries of notch 106A.

The notches (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, & 106E) and separators (108A, 108B, 108C, 108D, 108E, & 108F) have different widths, to provide a stylist with different measurements when forming microparts in hair. Each notch (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, & 106E) has a notch width W_N and an adjacent separator (108A, 108B, 108C, 108D, & 108E) with a matching separator width W_S, allowing the stylist to readily select either the separator or the notch to form a hair part with the desired width as either a measurement of the part or a measurement of its spacing from an adjacent part. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, notch 106E has a notch width WNE and is bounded on one side by separator 108E which has a separator width WSE that is roughly equal to the notch width WNE. A separator and notch could be considered to have roughly equal widths when the separator width W_S is within the range of 80% to 120% of the notch width W_N, within 90% to 110%, or within 95% to 105%. In the tool 100, the notches (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, & 106E) and separators (108A, 108B, 108C, 108D, & 108E) have widths (W_N, W_S) that are even multiples of 1/16 inch (˜1.6 mm), with widths measuring as follows:

As shown in FIG. 2, indicia (110A, 110B, 110C, 110D, & 110E) can be provided on the body 102 to indicate to the user the measurements of the notch and separator widths, such as in fractions of inches.

Some or all of the separators (108A, 108B, 108C, & 108D) can be substantially square, extending from a baseline 112 (shown in FIG. 1) on the body 102 by a separator height H_S (shown in FIG. 2 for separators 108E and 108F) that is roughly equal to the separator width W_S. A separator could be considered substantially square when the separator height H_S is within the range of 80% to 120% of the separator width W_S, within 90% to 110%, or within 95% to 105%.

The body 102 may be provided with a series of apertures (114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, & 114E) that vary in size, and can be used to measure the diameter of microlocs. As shown in FIG. 2, the body 102 can have aperture indicia (116A, 116B, 116C, 116D, & 116E) positioned adjacent to the apertures (114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, & 114E) to indicate to the user the dimensions (such as an aperture diameter DA) of each of the apertures (114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, & 114E), such as aperture diameter DAE of aperture 114E, as shown in FIG. 2. In the tool 100 shown, the apertures are circular have the following diameters:

The body 102 may be provided with an auxiliary aperture 118 to allow it to be connected to a key ring or chain for convenient transport and/or storage.

Referring to FIG. 3, a tool 150 is shown that has many features in common with the tool 100 shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, including a generally planar body 152 having at least one notched edge 154. The notched edge 154 is formed by a series of notches 156 and separators 158, which can be similar to the notches (106A-106E) and separators (108A-108F) of the tool 100 shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, but where the separators 158 are smoothly transitioned where they join the body 152. These transitions can be ignored when defining the notch widths W_N, separator widths W_S, and separator heights H_S; these measurements (W_N, W_S, H_S) can be defined based on whet the measurements would be if the notches 156 and separators 158 were rectangular. The tool 150 can include a series of apertures 160 and the body 152 can be provided with indicia (not shown) similar to the indicia (110A-110E) and/or the aperture indicia (116A-116E) shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, a tool 200 is shown including a generally planar body 202 having at least one notched edge 204. The notched edge 204 is formed by a series of notches 206 and separators 208, which can be similar to the notches (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, & 106E) and separators (108A, 108B, 108C, 108D, 108E, & 108F) of the tool 100 shown in FIGS. 1 & 2.

The body 202 can be provided with a series of teeth 210 and extend into a handle 212, enabling the body 200 to also serve as a styling comb.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a tool 300 is shown including a generally planar body 302 having at least one notched edge 304. The notched edge 304 is formed by a series of notches 306 and separators 308, which can be set in from a common terminating edge 310. In such cases, each notch 306 could be defined to have a notch depth ZN extending from the terminating edge 310, as shown in FIG. 6. The body 302 can include a series of apertures 312.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a tool 300 is shown including a generally planar body 352 that can have at a first notched edge 354 and a second notched edge 356. The notched edges (354, 356) are formed by a series of notches 358 and separators 360. The body 352 can also be provided with a series of apertures 362.

Different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for anyone of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations, and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible considering the above teachings without departing from the following claims.