It is known to use lengths of flexible material for isolating selected strands of hair during a process of hair treatment such as colouring. Typically, strands of hair to be coloured are first selected by a hairdressing technique known as weaving.

These strands of hair are then laid over a length of liquid impermeable material which effectively isolates the selected hair from the remaining hair. The material will generally have a width of 2 or 3 inches (i. e. between 5 and 8cm) and a length at least equal to that of the hair to be treated. One edge of the material is located adjacent the roots of the selected hair strands and in contact with the scalp. The hair roots are then pressed onto a portion of the material provided with a contact adhesive. The material is thereby retained in position on the scalp during the hair treatment process. With the material secured in place, an appropriate hair treatment substance may be applied to the selected strands of hair.

The present invention seeks to solve certain problems with the presently known hair treatment apparatus and process. These problems include the tendency for leakage of hair treatment substance from the material onto to the scalp and a slipping of the material from its desired position during use.

One aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for treating selected strands of hair, the apparatus comprising a sheet of material for locating adjacent selected strands of hair and at least two elements for locating between the strands of hair, the apparatus being characterised in that the at least two elements are movable towards each other into a hair gripping configuration and away from each other into a hair releasing configuration.

Thus, the sheet of the present invention may be used to isolate hair to be treated and may be retained in a required position by means of the at least two elements. Prior to location of the sheet in the required position, the aforementioned elements may be moved away from each other to allow convenient and ready positioning of the apparatus. Once the sheet has been located as required, the elements may be moved towards each other so as to press against hair strands and thereby grip said strands so as to prevent any undesirable subsequent movement of the sheet.

Preferably, said sheets are arranged so that, when in the hair gripping configuration, each element abuts at least one other element. It is also preferable for said elements to be biased into the hair gripping configuration. Ideally, said elements are biased by means of a spring portion which is resiliently deformed when said elements are moved in to the hair releasing configuration. Furthermore, said elements may extend from, and may be spaced along, said spring portion.

It is particularly desirable for said spring portion to be curved. The spring portion may have a curvature of 4.25cm radius. Ideally, said elements extend from points of attachment with the spring portion in first directions toward a centre of curvature of the spring portion so that free ends of said elements closer to said centre of curvature and distal to said points of attachment move away from one another if the spring portion is deformed so as to increase or remove the curvature thereof.

It is further preferably for said elements to extend from said points of attachment in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to said first directions. The spring portion may be attached to an edge of said sheet of material which, in use, is located adjacent roots of selected strands of hair. The spring portion may also extend upwardly from an upper surface of said sheet so as to restrict liquid located on said upper surface from flowing over said sheet edge. The spring portion may further extend along the full length of said edge.

Ideally, the spring portion and elements are an integral unitary component.

The apparatus may further comprise a handle by which the apparatus may be conveniently gripped and manipulated during use. The handle is preferably U-shaped. Furthermore, the handle is preferably integral with at least one of said elements.

A second aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for treating selected strands of hair, the apparatus comprising a sheet of material for locating adjacent selected strands of hair and an elongate curved member located at an edge of said sheet which, during use, is positioned adjacent roots of selected strands of hair, said member providing a beading for said edge. Optionally, a portion of the apparatus extending from said sheet may be provided to define a handle by which the apparatus may be conveniently gripped and manipulated during use.

Thus, the sheet of the present invention may be conveniently held by a user by means of the handle and the curved member located at an edge of said sheet thereby readily located adjacent the scalp. Hair treatment substance then applied to selected strands of hair is substantially prevented from flowing from the sheet onto the scalp by means of the beading provided by the elongate curved member.

Preferably, said member is of sufficient rigidity not to deform under its own weight. It is also preferable for said member to be made from a metallic wire.

Also, said sheet may be folded back on itself about said member. Adjacent folded portions of said sheet may be secured to one another by means of an adhesive.

Furthermore, said member may be secured to said sheet by means of an adhesive. It is also desirable for a portion of said sheet to be provided with adhesive for receiving selected strands of hair during use.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a part cross-sectional view of the first embodiment taken along line A-A shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of three teeth of the first embodiment arranged in an deformed condition; Figure 4 is a schematic end view of the three teeth shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic planned view of three teeth of the first embodiment arranged in a resiliently deformed condition; Figure 6 is a schematic end view of the three teeth shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the first embodiment in use ; Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a part cross-sectional view of the second embodiment taken along line B-B shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of the second embodiment; and Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

Hair treatment apparatus 2 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. The apparatus 2 is comprised of an elongate strip of flexible material which forms a base sheet 4 upon which other components (described hereinafter) of the apparatus 2 are mounted. The material of the base sheet 4 is impermeable to the hair treatment substances with which the apparatus 2 is to be used. Accordingly, the base sheet 4 forms an effective barrier between said hair treatment substances and strands of hair which are intended to be isolated from said substances. As well as having an impermeable characteristic, the material of the base sheet 4 is preferably also transparent so as to permit inspection of the strands of hair selected for treatment without the need to remove the apparatus 2 from the hair. The aforementioned characteristics of the base sheet 4 may be provided with a synthetic plastics material such as CELLOPHANE (RTM).

The base sheet 4 has an elongate rectangular shape. The particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 has a width W of 7.5cm and an overall length L of 17. 0cm (see Figure 1). These dimensions may however be varied to suit specific circumstances. In particular, the length L may be increased or decreased depending upon the length of hair to be treated. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the apparatus 2 should be at least as long as the strands of hair undergoing treatment so as to ensure isolation of this hair from the surrounding hair.

The aforementioned components mounted upon the base sheet 4 are an applicator member 6 and an adhesive layer 8 (see Figure 1). The applicator member 6 comprises a plurality of projecting elements 10 which extend from a root portion 12.

In the specific embodiment shown in Figure 1 to 7, the plurality of projecting elements 10 comprise twelve teeth 14, each of which comprises a tapered end 15 distal to the root portion 12. The depth D (see Figure 2) of both the root portion 12 and the teeth 14 is approximately 1 mm. This depth may however be varied to suit particular circumstances, for example, the viscosity of the specific hair treatment substance to be used. The depth D may, for example, be increased as said viscosity decreases so as to reduce the risk of an undesirable bleeding of treatment substance over the root portion 12 and on to the scalp during use. One end of the root portion 12 extends laterally and upwardly beyond the plurality of projecting elements 10 to define an inverted U-shaped handle 16. In use, the handle 16 may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger so as to allow ready manipulation of the apparatus 2.

A short length of the applicator member 6 is shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. The applicator member 6 is formed with a curved root portion 12 so that, in use, the apparatus 2 conforms more readily with the curvature of the scalp. As a result, the apparatus 2 may be applied more easily and is more comfortable to the person whose hair is undergoing treatment. The specific embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 comprises a root portion 12 having a curvature of 4.25 cm radius, however other magnitudes of curvature may of course be used. The plane of curvature is perpendicular to the direction in which the projecting elements 10 extend from the root portion 12. Thus, the curvature of the root portion 12 can not be seen in the plan view of Figure 1. The curvature can however be seen in the end view of the apparatus 2 shown in Figure 4.

With reference to Figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that, although the teeth 14 are each spaced from one another along the root portion 12 so as to define hair receiving recesses 18 between adjacent teeth 14, the curved shape of the root portion 12 results in lower surfaces 20 of adjacent teeth 14 abutting one another. It can be seen from Figures 3 and 4 that adjacent teeth 14 abut one another along their length from the root portion 12 to the point where the teeth 14 begin to taper. In the aforementioned Figures 3 and 4, the lower surfaces 20 of the illustrated three teeth 14 abut along the lines indicated with reference numerals 22 and 24.

The applicator member 6 is manufactured from a resilient material, for example, a plastics or metallic material. The resilience of the applicator member 6 is such that said member 6 may be resiliently straightened in use so as to remove or partially remove the aforementioned curvature. In this way, the root portion 12 may act as a spring. As shown in Figure 2, the teeth 14 are each joined to the root portion 12 by means of a bridge element 26. The bridge elements 26 are each located adjacent upper surfaces 28 of the teeth 14 and join only an upper portion of the teeth 14 to the root portion 12 so as to leave a lower portion of the teeth 14 free from the root portion 12. In the embodiment shown, each bridge element 26 has a depth approximately half that of the teeth 14. The bridge elements 26 may of course be provided with a different magnitude of depth relative to the teeth 14. Also, although the apparatus 2 is provided with bridge elements 26 having the same width as the associated teeth 14, one or more of the bridge elements 26 may be narrower than the teeth 14. In this way, the manner in which the teeth 14 move when the root portion 12 is manipulated can be adjusted to suit particular requirements. For example, reducing the depth of the bridge elements 26 will tend to increase the extent of abutment of adjacent teeth 14.

The connection of only an upper portion of the teeth 14 to the root portion 12 allows abutting lower surfaces 20 of adjacent teeth 14 to separate when the root portion 12 is resiliently deformed so as to remove or partially remove the aforementioned curvature. As the curvature of the applicator member 6 is removed or partially removed, the hair receiving recesses 18 moves to an open state and adjacent teeth 14 become spaced from one another (see Figures 5 and 6).

As will be seen from Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the length of the root portion 12 is substantially identical to the width of the base sheet 4.

The root portion 12 of the applicator member 6 is mounted on one end of the base sheet 4 in line with a hair root engaging edge 28 of said sheet 4. The applicator member 6 is secured to the base sheet 4 by means of a suitable adhesive located between mating surfaces of the base sheet 4 and the root portion 12. Adhesive is also provided between mating surfaces of the base sheet 4 and a leg portion 30 which extends from an opposite side of the handle 16 to the root portion 12. The leg portion 30 is approximately 5mm in length and extends parallel to the root portion 12.

Attachment of the leg portion 30 to the base sheet 4 provides a user with greater control over the apparatus 2 (by means of the handle 16) than if the handle 16 was attached to the base sheet 4 merely by means of the root portion 12.

In addition to the applicator member 6, an adhesive layer 8 is also mounted upon the base sheet 4 (see Figure 1). The adhesive layer 8 is a pressure sensitive contact adhesive located on the upper surfaces of the base sheet 4, root portion 12 and leg portion 30 between the broken lines identified in Figure 1 with reference numerals 32 and 34. The adhesive layer 8 may be applied to the aforementioned components either directly or indirectly on a further sheet of material.

In the latter case, the adhesive layer 8 may be provided by a strip of double sided sticking tape (a sheet of material having each side provided with adhesive). The adhesive layer 8 preferably extends between 10 and 20mm along the length of the base sheet 4 from the hair root engaging edge 28.

In use, when selected strands of hair are to be treated, selection of hair strands is achieved by a technique known as weaving. Once the required strands of hair have been selected, the base sheet 4 is placed under said hair with the hair root engaging edge 28 pressed against the scalp and adjacent the root ends of the selected strands. The teeth 14 enter spaces between selected strands of hair so that the root ends thereof locate within the hair receiving recesses 18. This process is assisted by the tapered ends 15 of the teeth 14. Also, location of the selected strands of hair within the recesses 18 is assisted by resilient bending of the root portion 12 so as to substantially straighten said portion 12 and thereby open the recesses 18 and space the teeth 14 as described above. The teeth 14 are preferably pushed between the selected strands of hair so that said strands abut or locate very close to the root portion 12 and hair root engaging edge 28. With the apparatus 2 so located, the teeth 14 assist in preventing undesirable lateral movement of the base sheet 4 relative to the scalp.

Also, once located in the required position, the root portion 12 may be allowed to return to its relaxed curved state. In releasing the root portion 12 and allowing said portion to adopt its original shape, adjacent teeth 14 close over the strands of hair located therebetween and abut one another as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Thus, the teeth 14 not only serve to resist lateral movement of the base sheet 4, but also serve to grip the hair strands to be treated and ensure that the hair root engaging edge 28 is retained adjacent the scalp.

With the apparatus 2 located in the desired position on the scalp, the selected strands of hair are laid so as to extend over the base sheet 4 and are pressed into adhering engagement with the adhesive layer 8. This adhering engagement further assists with the retention of the apparatus 2 in the required position on the scalp. Thus, it will be apparent that the base sheet 4 functions to isolate the selected strands of hair from other hair located below the apparatus 2 and is effective to mask said other hair from exposure to treatment applied to said selected strands of hair.

An appropriate hair treatment substance such as a colouring liquid may be conveniently applied to selected strands of hair by means of a brush. It will be apparent to the skilled reader that the root portion 12 of the applicator member 6 functions as a barrier between the scalp and the hair treatment substance. In other words, any pools of liquid hair treatment substance which form on the base sheet 4 will be unable to simply flow over the hair root engaging edge 28 and undesirably bleed onto the scalp. The raised root portion 12 acts to resist such a flow and thereby provides protection to the scalp. However, the teeth 14 also have a protective function in that they provide a seal about the selected hair strands and therefore tend to prevent hair treatment substance from flowing along said strands and into contact with a subject's skin. Nevertheless, it will be noted from Figures 3 and 4 that the teeth 14 provide a seal at the lower surfaces 20 of the teeth 14 (i. e. at a point immediately adjacent the scalp) and permit at least limited flow of hair treatment substance into the hair receiving recesses 18 between the teeth 14 so as to permit colouring (or other treatment) of the hair roots immediately adjacent the skin.

The applicator member 6 may be manufactured as a single unitary component, however the material used should have the necessary elasticity to allow the aforementioned resilient bending and be sufficiently soft to allow the teeth 14 to close around selected strands of hair and thereby grip and seal said hair strands without damage. It may therefore be preferable to manufacture the root portion 12 (together with the handle 16 and leg portion 30) from a metallic material and the teeth 14 from a rubber material.

Once the hair treatment substance has been applied, the selected strands of hair are covered with a suitable cover sheet. The cover sheet may comprise a further sheet of material similar or identical to the base sheet 4. Alternatively, provided the base sheet 4 has a length greater than the strands of hair being treated, said base sheet 4 can be folded back on itself and laid on top of the selected hair. The cover sheet may be then retained in place adjacent the base sheet 4 by means of the adhesive layer 8 or by one or more additional adhesive layers provided on the cover sheet and/or base sheet 4. If desired, an adhesive layer may be provided along the longer edges of the base sheet 4 so that, when the cover sheet is in place, the selected hair is completely encased between the base sheet 4 and cover sheet, and thereby sealed from the immediate surroundings. A view of the apparatus 2 located on a subject's scalp is provided in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

A modified version of the above described first apparatus 2 is shown in Figures 8,9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings wherein a second apparatus 102 is illustrated as being substantially identical to the first apparatus 2 but without the plurality of projecting elements 10. As in the first apparatus 2, the second apparatus 102 comprises a base sheet 104 upon which are mounted an applicator member 106 and an adhesive layer 108. In the absence of teeth 14, the applicator member 106 is secured to the base sheet 104 by placing the root portion 112 of the applicator member 106 on the upper surface of the base sheet 104 and folding said base sheet 104 around the root portion 112 and back on to said upper surface. In so doing, the leg portion 130 of the handle is covered. The root portion 112 and leg portion 130 are secured to the base sheet 104 by means of an appropriate adhesive. Also, the folded portion of base sheet 104 is secured to the upper surface of the base sheet 104 by means of a suitable adhesive.

The adhesive layer 108 is located on the upper surface of the folded portion of base sheet 104 as indicated by the shaded part in Figures 8 and 10. The adhesive layer 108 preferably extends along the curved surface of base sheet 104 folded about the root portion 112. The dimensions, materials and methods of manufacture and use discussed in relation to the first apparatus 2 are applicable to the second apparatus 102. Clearly, however, due to the absence of teeth 14, there is no need to bend the root portion 112 when locating the base sheet 104 adjacent the scalp.

The base sheet 104 is simply placed against the roots of the selected strands of hair and retained adjacent the scalp by virtue of said hair strands contacting the adhesive layer 108. As described in relation to the first apparatus 2, the root portion 112 provides a barrier between the scalp and any hair treatment substances having a tendency to flow towards the scalp during application thereof.

A further modification is shown in Figure 11 wherein a third apparatus 202 is provided with a plurality of slender elongate teeth 213 which are similar to the teeth of a comb. Indeed, the teeth 214 are shaped and mounted to the root portion 212 of the applicator member 206 in the same way as conventional comb teeth are shaped and mounted. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the hair receiving recesses between the teeth 214 will remain open regardless of whether the root portion 212 is curved or manipulated into a substantially straight configuration. Thus, rather than preventing the apparatus 202 from moving away from the scalp, the teeth 214 serve to resist lateral movement and to assist in preventing bleeding of hair treatment substance on to the subject's skin. As for the second apparatus 102, movement of the third apparatus 202 away from the scalp is prevented by means of the adhesive layer 208.

The third apparatus 202 is constructed in the same way as the second apparatus 102, but with the additional step of pressing the elongate teeth 214 through the base sheet 204 prior to folding said base sheet 204 about the root portion 212. If necessary, this step may be prefixed with the step of piercing the base sheet 204 with an appropriate piercing tool so as to assist with the pressing of the teeth 214 through said base sheet 204.

The present invention is not limited to the specific apparatus and methods described above. Alternative arrangements and suitable materials will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art. For example, the applicator members and base sheets of the aforementioned embodiments may be manufactured as unitary one-piece components, perhaps as mouldings of a plastics material. Also the second and third embodiments described above may be modified so that the discrete applicator members thereof are attached to the associated base sheets in the manner described with reference to the first embodiment. In other words, rather than folding the base sheets of the second and third embodiments back on themselves over the applicator members, the applicator members may be secured to the base sheets by means of the adhesive layer used for attaching the base sheets to the selected hair strands. In this way, less base sheet material is required (since there is no longer any folded portion) and less adhesive is required (since there is no need for any adhesive for attaching adjacent folded base sheet portions to one another). In order to ensure adequate attachment of the applicator members to the base sheets by means of said adhesive, the applicator members may each be provided with one or more tabs which extend across the surface of the base sheets so as to increase the area of mating surfaces of the base sheets and applicator members provided with adhesive. The bond between the applicator members and base sheets is thereby improved.

So as to retain the original function of said adhesive (i. e. to attach selected hair strands to a base sheet), the or each tab should extend across only a small portion of the base sheet width (preferably between 10% and 20% of the base sheet width). The or each tab may however extend across the full depth of the adhesive layer. It is particularly preferable for one tab to be located either end of an applicator member. In this way, the adhesive located centrally across the base sheet width is free to receive selected hair strands. The portion of applicator member extending between the tabs may optionally be secured to the base sheet. Tabs as described hereinabove may also be provided as a modification to the first embodiment.

Any of the aforementioned apparatus may be provided without a handle.