60/434,194, filed December 17,2002, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional hair dye applicator devices that utilize a compressible bottle containing liquid, such as a dye, are well known in the art. However, such devices typically do not provide means for controlling application of the fluid to the user's hair in an acceptable manner. Furthermore, these prior art devices are not designed to treat specific types of ethnic hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid is provided that includes a body having at least two rows of substantially rigid teeth extending therefrom. The rows of teeth are staggered along a longitudinal axis of the dispensing member with a majority of the teeth having at least one orifice therein with each orifice being in fluid communication with the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. In a particular embodiment, the orifices in the teeth of each row face inward. The fluid can include at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair straightener.

A hair fluid applicator is also provided that includes a collapsible fluid container for containing a fluid. In a particular embodiment, the fluid container includes an open end for allowing egress of the fluid. The applicator also includes a compressible air container encasing a majority of the fluid container and a one-way air valve configured to allow air into the air container and to prevent air from exiting therefrom. The applicator also includes a dispensing member having at least two

rows of teeth extending therefrom with a majority of the teeth having at least one orifice therein. Each orifice is in fluid communication with the fluid container during a fluid application process. The applicator can also include a one-way fluid valve disposed between the open end of the fluid container and the dispensing member. The one-way fluid valve is configured to allow egress of the fluid while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container.

A method of applying fluid to hair to be treated is also provided that includes providing a hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid comprising a body having at least two rows of substantially rigid teeth extending therefrom. The rows of teeth are staggered along a longitudinal axis of the dispensing member. A majority of the teeth have at least one orifice therein that is in fluid communication with the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. The method further includes compressing an air container coupled to the dispensing member to force fluid contained within a fluid container disposed within the air container through the orifices in the teeth, and passing the teeth through the hair to be treated to apply fluid thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a flowable fluid hair applicator provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the hair applicator illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the one-way air valve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way air valve illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a one-way fluid valve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way fluid valve illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A description of various embodiments of the invention follows.

A flowable hair fluid applicator 10, which can be disposable or reusable and be used to treat ethnic hair, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Generally, the applicator 10 includes an air container 12 that encases at least a majority of a collapsible fluid container 14 (FIG. 2) that can contain a fluid, such as a colorant, dye, shampoo, conditioner, hair straightener, etc. The air container 12 is resiliently compressible, i. e. , defonnable when squeezed, but returns to its original shape, and can include a one-way air valve 16 for allowing air into the air container while preventing air from exiting therefrom. The air container 12 includes an open end 18 couplable to a dispensing head, head part, brush head, or dispensing member 20 through which the fluid is delivered to hair to be treated. In a particular embodiment, the dispensing member 20 can be screwed onto the air container 12 or otherwise affixed thereto. A one-way fluid valve 22 (FIG. 2) is disposed between the open end 18 of the air container 12 and the dispensing member 20 for allowing egress of the fluid from the fluid container 14 while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container (see, for example, FIG. 47 of U. S. Patent 6,357, 449, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference).

The dispensing member 20 can include two rows of bristles/teeth 24 that are staggered along a longitudinal axis of the dispensing member 20. In a particular embodiment, the bristles 24 are substantially rigid. Orifices 26 can be provided at the tip, along the shaft, and/or at the base of some or all of the bristles/teeth 24. In one embodiment, the orifices 26 in alternating teeth face inward, which helps contain the fluid and minimize spilling of the fluid.

An embodiment of the one-way air valve 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and includes a duckbill-type valve 28 having a slit 30 through which air is allowed to

flow into the air container 12, although other types of one-way valves can be implemented. The valve 16 can include raised members or bumpers 32 that support the fluid container 14 above the slit 30 so that air can flow into the air container 12.

The valve 16 can also include a flange 34 that snap-fits into the air container 12 and provides a seal.

The one-way fluid valve 22 (FIGS. 5 and 6) can include a flange 36 that forms a seal between the fluid container 14 and the dispensing member 20. The one- way fluid valve 22 can also include a duckbill-type valve 38 that includes a slit 40 such that the fluid passes in a one-way direction through the valve 22. In other embodiments, other types of one-way fluid valves can be implemented.

In operation, when the air container 12 is compressed, the air pressure between the air container and the fluid container 14 increases since the air cannot escape. This increased pressure collapses the fluid container 14 that pumps fluid up through the one-way fluid valve 22 into the dispensing member 20 and out through the orifices 26 in the bristles/teeth 24. When the compression on the air container 12 is relieved, the one-way fluid valve 22 does not allow the back flow of fluid to the fluid container 14. Due to the higher outside pressure, air outside rushes in through the one-way air valve 16 and enters the space between the two containers 12,14 to equalize the pressure.

With no backflow, the fluid container 14 collapses and by repeating the steps, fluid continuously flows out of the dispensing member 20 with every compression until the desired amount of fluid is evacuated from the fluid container, regardless of the orientation of the applicator 10.

In particular embodiments, the valves 16,22 can be formed from a flexible material, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, such as silicone. The one-way fluid valve 22 can be formed from a chemically-resistant material. In specific embodiments, the air container 12 can be formed from a low density polyethylene, and the dispensing member 20 can be formed from polypropylene. In one embodiment, the fluid container 14 is formed from a low density polyethylene/PPO blend.

Any of the hair fluid applicators disclosed herein can be used on humans as well as animals, such as a dog.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.