Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for use in the cosmetic treatment of a person’s hair, for example bleaching or dyeing/colouring.

Background to the Invention

[0002] The cosmetic treatment of hair, for example by adding or removing colour to selected portions of a person’s head (highlighting) or to all the hair on the head has long been popular, but is now increasingly so. Some of the chem icals used in these treatments can produce allergic or other adverse reactions on a person’s skin and measures need to be taken to shield the scalp during treatment. Various measures have been proposed for spacing the hair to be treated from the scalp, for example using aluminium or other metal foils, or pa pier mache or plastics shields. Flexible horseshoe-shaped headbands, com monly referred to as“Alice bands” in some countries, have been employed to space hair from the head during treatment, the bands being joined together or overlapping to create a barrier between the skin and chemicals being used to treat the hair. However, these are difficult to fit on the head, particularly as people’s head shapes vary widely, and therefore to ensure that a safe barrier is created to avoid the chemicals coming into contact with the skin at any stage during the treatment.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for use in the cosmetic treatment of a person’s hair, comprising a plurality of resiliently- deformable plastics components connectable together to form a close-fitting cap over a person’s head, the components fitting together so as to overlap while providing spaces through which strands of hair may be drawn for treatment.

[0004] Preferably, the apparatus comprises:

a flexible neck band securable, in use, around the person’s neck;

a plurality of partial loop bands extending, in use, along the sides and rear of the head connectable together one above another, the lowermost partial loop band being connectable to the neck band; a flexible loop band locatable around the person’s head, the loop band being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart attachment points along an up per part of the band, in use, and

a plurality of flexible headbands provided with attachments adjacent the opposed ends thereof, the attachments being co-operable with respective ones of the attachment points to enable the headbands to extend from one side of the head to the other, the widths of the headbands being such as to permit each successive headband extending across the head to overlap with an adjacent such headband, thereby providing a continuous covering of the head from the first flexible loop band across the front of the head to the part of the loop band extending behind the head, whereby strands of hair may be drawn, in use, be tween the bands to extend over the external surfaces of the headbands and separated from the head.

[0005] The flexible loop band is formed from a flexible strip having adjustable fixings adjacent the opposite ends thereof whereby the strip may be formed into a loop around the head and secured to form a close fit around the head.

[0006] Each attachment point comprises a projection and the attachments comprise at least one aperture through the headband engageable over a re spective projection.

[0007] Each projection comprises a resiliently-compressible stud, the head- bands having at least a resiliently-deformable portion adjacent each end in which the apertures are formed, the apertures being resiliently deformed over the studs so as to retain the headband in position on the loop band.

[0008] The attachment points each preferably utilise a separate connector having pins for engaging apertures provided in the headbands. The headbands may be connected together by connectors at intervals along their lengths.

[0009] The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of crown bands con nectable one above another, the lowermost crown band being connectable to the loop band and the uppermost crown band being connectable to one of the headbands. [0010] The components are preferably formed of resiliently-deformable plas tics material, such as a silicone rubber offering resistance to damage by treat ment chemicals. The neck band and the partial loop bands preferably incorpo rate a deformable wire along their lengths whereby the partial loops retain a shape to which they are deformed, thereby assisting fitting of the apparatus to individual heads.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the in vention:

Figure 1 is a view of a head with the first stage of the apparatus of the in vention installed thereon;

Figure 2 is a corresponding view showing the next stage of installation;

Figure 3 is a view towards the rear of the head and to one side showing the start of the installation of the head bands;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 , with the completed assembly, before the strands of hair are pulled between the headbands for treatment;

Figure 5 is a front view of the head with the apparatus installed and the hair drawn through for treatment; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a connector for use in the apparatus of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

[0012] The invention will be described with reference to the drawings, ex plaining the sequence of stages for assembly and fitting on to the head. As sembly begins with the fitting of a base band or neck band 1 around the per son’s neck. The neck band 1 is formed from an extruded strip of a silicone rub ber material having a central tubular formation 2 on one face thereof containing a malleable metal wire enabling the band to retain the desired shape when curved around the neck and providing rigidity. The band 1 may be held closed by means of ribbons 1 a attached to the free ends thereof and tied at the front of the neck in a bow. [0013] The band 1 has a plurality of pairs of holes therethrough adjacent to the upper edge thereof in use. Selected ones of the holes receive a connector 3, as illustrated in Figure 6. Each connector 3 is in the form of an integrally moulded plastics flat back plate 3a having projecting from one face thereof a first pin 3b and a larger deformable pin 3c. The larger pin 3c is rendered de formable by being shaped with two spaced limbs joined together at the ends thereof remote from the back plate 3a. Each of the limbs is angled such that the pin 3c is wider at its mid-point than at either end. Since the connector 3 is moulded in a resiliently-deformable plastics material, the limbs of the pin 3c can be squeezed together to pass through a hole, as explained hereinafter, but will expand apart when released. The first pin 3b has an enlarged head at the free end thereof which can be forced through one of the holes on the band 1 , the sil icone rubber material resiliently deforming to enable this and then closing around the remainder of the pin 3b to hold the connector in position on the band 1.

[0014] A series of four partial loop bands 4, 5, 6 and 7 (it will be appreciated that the number required will depend on the size of the person’s head, and Fig ures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate installations in which only three are used) are mounted together one above another. Each partial loop band consists of the same mate- rial as the neck band 1 and is provided with a first series of holes 8 along the lower edge thereof and a second series of smaller holes 9 along the upper edge thereof. The holes in the first series 8 are sized to receive therethrough a larger pin 3c on a connector 3, the pin being squeezed as described hereinbefore to permit it to pass through the hole before being released to retain the band on the pin. The smaller holes in the second series 9 are sized to correspond with those in the neck band 1 , receiving therein the first pin 3b of a connector 3. The bands 4-7 are thus joined together at intervals along their lengths, overlapping but deformable to allow hair to be pulled between them as described hereinaf ter. The bands 4-7 are shaped to conform generally with the sides and rear of the person’s head and the lowermost partial loop 4 is attached to the rear part of the neck band 1 by connectors 3. [0015] A loop band 10 is then attached to the uppermost 7 of the partial loop bands using connectors 3 in the manner described with reference to the inter connection of the partial loop bands 4-7. The loop band 10 is in the form of a plain strip of silicone rubber having spaced larger holes along its lower edge for engaging the larger pins 3c of connectors 3 and spaced smaller holes along the upper edge for engaging the smaller pins 3b of connectors 3. At one end of the loop band 10 a central hole is provided, while the other end of the loop band 10 has a series of central holes spaced therealong to permit adjustment of fit of the loop band around the person’s head. The two ends may be fastened together by means of a conventional clip fastener 1 1 whose form is essentially the same as the larger pin 3c of the connector 3.

[0016] A series of crown bands 12 is then attached successively above the loop band 9 to fill the back of the head. Each crown band consists of a length of silicone rubber strip identical to that used for the loop band 9, the first 12a, be- ing connected to the loop band using connectors 3 and the others being suc cessively connected upwardly from the first to achieve the configuration shown in Figure 2. Headbands 13, consisting of longer lengths of the material forming the crown bands, are then attached from one side of the loop band 9 to the oth er using connectors 3. The first of the headbands 13a is also attached to the uppermost crown band 12, as shown in Figure 3, while the remaining head- bands are successively fitted across the head towards the forehead, each being joined to the preceding headband by connectors 3, to achieve the configuration illustrated in Figure 4.

[0017] To complete the installation of the apparatus ready for hair treatment, strands of hair are drawn out between the bands to lie on the external surfaces thereof. In practice, strands of hair will be placed in position over the exterior of the assembled components as each component is assembled with the others, rather than assembling the whole apparatus first and then drawing the hair through, which is much less convenient. The projecting larger pins 3c of the connectors 3 serve as guides to assist in arranging the hair for treatment. This configuration is illustrated by Figure 5, in which the simple ribbon fastening 1 a of the neck band 1 is replaced with an adjustable latch fastening of the type used in cycle helmets, for example.

[0018] Because of the resiliently-deformable nature of the silicone rubber material, the hair is sealed between the bands close to the scalp, preventing the passage of the treating chemicals on to the scalp and thereby protecting the skin against harm by the chemicals used in the treatment.

[0019] A further advantage of the apparatus of the invention is that all the components are readily washable, permitting them to be re-used, while the use of separate components that are incrementally attached permits ready fitting to a wide variety of head shapes and sizes while maintaining satisfactory sealing against contact between the chemicals and the skin. The apparatus when as sembled is relatively light in weight and is therefore comfortable for the wearer in use.