Hair Band

The present invention relates to a hair band and particularly, but not exclusively to a hair band for treating the scalp and scalp hair.

The hair on a persons head helps keep a persons' head warm and protects the scalp from direct exposure from the sun. However, as with other parts of the body, the hair or more specifically, the skin where the hair grows can develop problems which include for example, dandruff, ringworm, nits and head lice, which are only remedied using suitable treatments.

Head lice are insects that live on the scalp and neck and are easily transferred between persons through contact and persons in close proximity, since head lice can jump. Head lice may make a persons' head to feel itchy and although head lice may be embarrassing and occasionally uncomfortable, they don't usually cause illness. However, young children will often scratch their head frequently, particularly at night, which can lead to an irritation of the scalp. Therefore, and since head lice do not clear up on their own, the condition must be treated promptly to eradicate the head lice from the persons' head and prevent their spread to other persons.

Head lice are a common problem amongst school children since the school environment puts the children in close proximity with each other. As a result it is common for head lice to spread easily between children and particularly girls, since girls generally have longer hair than boys.

Common methods for treating head lice include repeated combing with a fine toothed comb to physically remove the insects from the scalp and scalp hair. However, this is a time consuming process, particularly for persons with long hair and can be difficult to perform properly. Other methods comprise the use of chemicals which are washed into the hair, but these are not suitable for young children and pregnant women.

United Kingdom patent GB2431574 discloses a hair band comprising a series of receptacles on the underside thereof for receiving adsorbent pads that have been loaded with a suitable treatment solution, for example that required to remove head lice. However, it has been found that such a hair band limits the treatment of the scalp and scalp hair to positions near that of the pads and is therefore only of limited use.

I have now devised a hair band which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect there is provided a hair band for treating the scalp and scalp hair, the hair band comprising a resiliently flexible member arranged to fit over a persons head, the member comprising means for holding a treatment for treating the scalp and/or scalp hair, the hair band further comprises a cover which covers the means for holding the treatment.

The cover preferably acts to disperse the treatment evenly over the hair band and disperse the treatment across the scalp and scalp hair. Accordingly, the cover permits the whole scalp and scalp hair to be treated as opposed to a localized region around the hair band.

Preferably, the means for holding a treatment comprise at least one absorbent pad which is removably secured to the underside of the member so that the absorbent pad faces the scalp when the hair band is placed upon a persons' head.

The at least one absorbent pad is preferably housed within at least one recess formed on the underside of the member. Preferably, the at least one recess extends through one side of the member. Alternatively, the at least one recess preferably extends across the full width of the member.

Preferably, the at least one absorbent pad is secured within the at least one recess with a friction fit.

The cover is preferably removably secured over the at least one absorbent pad so that the cover can be removed to permit washing of the cover.

Preferably, the cover comprises a sleeve which fits over the member and the at least one absorbent pad. The cover is preferably closed at one end and open at the other end. Preferably, the open end of the sleeve comprises a flap which can be folded back into the sleeve to close the open end and thus retain the member and the at least one absorbent pad within the sleeve.

Preferably, the resiliently flexible member is substantially C-shaped, so as to fit over a persons head, and is preferably formed of a plastic material.

Preferably, the treatment is suitable for removing head lice.

Preferably, the treatment is in the form of a liquid.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a method of treating the scalp and scalp hair, the method comprising the use of a hair band in accordance with the first aspect, the method comprising: loading the means for holding a treatment with a treatment for treating the scalp and/or scalp hair; placing a cover over the means for holding a treatment; and, placing the hair band upon a persons head.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the member of the hair band of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the member of figure 1 and the absorbent pads;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the hair band with the cover partially placed upon the member; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hair band in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hair band 10 comprising a substantially C-shaped plastic member 1 1 formed with a plurality of recesses 12 on the concave side. The plastic member is resiliently flexible such that the arms 13, 14 of the member 1 1 can be urged apart to place the band 10 upon a persons head (not shown). Upon releasing the arms 13, 14, the arms 13 14 move under the resilient bias of the member 11 to take up its original configuration, thereby causing the member 11 to grip the persons head (not shown).

The recesses 12 are illustrated in figures 1 and 2 as extending through one side of the member 11 ; however, the recesses 12 may also extend across the full width of the member 1 1 so as to create a notch in the member 11. The recesses 12 are sized to provide a friction fit for a series of adsorbent pads 15 which are placed within the recesses 12 and which hold a treatment solution or oil for treating scalp and scalp hair conditions, such as for example, dandruff, ringworm, head lice and nits.

The pads 15 may be first inserted into the respective recess 12 and then loaded with the treatment solution by pouring or otherwise dropping the treatment onto the pad, using a pipette for example. Alternatively, the pads 15 may be first loaded with the required treatment solution and then inserted into the respective recess 12. The pads 15 serve to hold the treatment solution within the member 1 1 , so that when the member 11 is placed upon a persons head, the treatment solution can come into contact with the persons scalp and scalp hair to enable the treatment of head lice, for example.

Referring to figure 3 and 4, the hair band 10 of the present invention further comprises a cover 16 which is generally formed as a sleeve into which the member 1 1 and pads 15, loaded with treatment solution, are placed, before the hair band 10 is placed upon a persons head.

The cover sleeve 16 is closed at one end and the other end is open to enable the member 11 and thus the absorbent pads 15 to be inserted therein. The open end comprises a flap (not shown) which may be folded over once the member 11 has been fully inserted into the cover 16, to close the sleeve and thus prevent the member 1 1 and pads 15 from falling from the cover 16. When desired, the member 1 1 and pads 15 can be removed from the cover 16 so that the cover 16 and pads 15 can be washed.

The cover 16 is formed of a fabric material which acts to draw the treatment solution from the pads 15 and further acts to disperse the treatment solution evenly across the scalp and scalp hair. In this manner, the cover 16 acts to treat the whole of a persons' head as opposed to a localised region of the head.

The cover 16 may further comprise a pattern, or be of a particular colour or arrangement of colours to match a particular dress code or uniform, such as a school uniform.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the hair band of the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of safely treating scalp conditions such as head lice.