FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an innovative hair capturing device that can be used for a variety of applications. For example, it may be used as a fixation mechanism for holding a catheter used to access a blood vessel of hairy animals, or it can be used as a hair extension device to supplement natural hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

There are several cases in which it is required to affix or attach an object to a human hair (either synthetic or natural hair). For example, methods and devices for applying hair extensions are known in the art. Many methods rely on affixing the hair extension to the scalp or natural hair of a person via hair clips, clasps, pins and the like. However, these methods are not structurally sufficient for maintaining the attachment of the hair extension to the user, and the hair extensions typically become detached while in use.

In some other cases, it is required to affix an object to a synthetic or natural hair, for example, for hairy animal, in order to secure a catheter to the limb of the animal. Common methods rely on affixing the object (e.g., catheter) to the limb an animal via adhesive means, such as adhesive tape. However, removing the adhesive from the limb may cause the animal an unpleasant experience and may even hurt the animal's limb.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair capturing device which is capable of being firmly attached to a human hair or to an animal's fur.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the claimed subject matter discloses a hair capturing device for fixating a limb of a hairy animal. The fixation may secure a catheter to the limb. The fixation is achieved by a plurality of bristles that compress and/or tighten the hair between the bristles. Prior art fixation products, especially in the veterinary market, for example, the sometimes are based on adhesive materials. This claimed subject matter discloses a non-adhesive hair capturing device having a body and multiple bristles extending from the body. The body may be elastic and secured around the animal's limb. The hair capturing device is configured to capture the animal's hair and/or limb. The claimed subject matter enables fixating catheter to the limb, fixating a broken limb, or replacing any other action that may require the use of an adhesive tape to secure objects/elements to the body of the animal. In some cases, the hair capturing device can be used without shaving an area in the limb. For example, the bristles enable fixating the limb without cutting the animal's hair.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a hair capturing device, comprising:

- a body;

- a plurality of bristles extending from a lateral surface of the body, said bristles are configured to capture a hairy section of an animal or a human; and

- a connector configured to secure the body of the hair capturing device to a hairy section of an animal or a human.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the connector is configured to secure the body of the device around a limb of the hairy animal in one or more points.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of bristles are arranged in rows that form an alternating pattern in which the spacing between each bristle in a first row is such that a mating bristle in a following row may fit between the bristles of said first row, thus each bristle of said first row holds adjacent bristles of the following row in an interlocked position via friction or pressure.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a securing member configured to secure one or more objects to a human or an animal, such as a catheter to the animal's blood vessel or other medical accessories,, a hair extension to the hair of a user, or any other object suitable to be affixed to humans or an animals.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least some of the bristles are connected to each other using one or more elastic bristle connectors.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the bristles are identical. According to an embodiment of the invention, the bristles are differing in one or more of the followings attributes: size, density, color, texture, and shape.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the bristles may be made of plastics, metal, polymer, a combination of the above, or any other material having rigidity level that enables catching fur or hair between the bristles.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the plurality of bristles is coated by a chemical material having a predefined effect. Alternatively, at least a portion of the plurality of bristles may comprise a chemical material having a predefined effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 discloses a side view of the hair capturing device, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of the hair capturing device with 3 components, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a gripper component having bristles, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of a catheter hair capturing device, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a rear section, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

Fig. 6 shows an intermediate member; Figs. 7-9 schematically illustrate a hair capturing device, according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a possible configuration of the bristles that can be implementing in hair capturing device, according to an embodiment of the invention.

The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described.

The present invention discloses a hair capturing device for affixing one or more objects to an hairy region of a human or an animal, for example, to a limb of a hairy animal or to a synthetic or natural hair (e.g., of a human). The hair capturing device may be used to affix a catheter to the limb when accessing the animal's blood vessel, for example, when drawing blood from a hairy animal. The hair capturing device may also be used for splinting the limb, using the hair capturing device as a splint. Alternatively, the hair capturing device may be used for applying hair extensions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the hair capturing device comprises rows of bristles that are arranged in an alternating pattern in which the spacing between each bristle in one row is such that a mating bristle in a following row may fit between the bristles of that one row. Depending on the application or usage of the hair capturing device, the bristles may be provided in different shapes and heights and may form different profiles of alternating patterns. For example, the bristles in one row may have a specific height and specific thickness, while the bristles in the following row may be higher than the previous row and they may have a thicker profile. In another example, the bristles in each row may have a uniform shape and height. For example, one row may comprise an odd number of bristles (e.g., five bristles), while the following row may comprise an even number of bristles (e.g., four bristles). The hair capturing device may further comprise a gripper to secure one or more objects such as a catheter, hair extensions, or any other object suitable to be affixed to a hairy animal.

A hairy animal is defined herein as an animal having a hair density that may fit the bristles of the hair capturing device, for example, in the range of 2,000-20,000 hairs per square centimeter. The animals may be dogs, cows, cats, birds, foxes, horses, monkeys, small animals, swine, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, horses, companions animals, small ruminants, poultry, equine, exotics animals, human beings, and any other animal having a hair density that fits the bristles of the hair capturing device as disclosed below. For example, a catheter secured to the animal's limb or any other tissue by the claimed invention may be a peripheral venous catheter (PVC), peripheral venous line or peripheral venous access catheter placed into a peripheral vein for intravenous therapy such as medication fluids. Upon insertion, the line can be used to draw blood or other fluids in any type of an intravenous procedure.

The hair capturing device may be modular and comprises multiple components secured to each other as elaborated below. The first component is a gripper configured to secure the catheter when accessing a blood vessel of the animal, for example, when drawing blood or injecting fluid into the animal's blood vessel. The second component is the rear section, configured to form a loop with the gripper, for example, around the animal's limb. In some cases, the hair capturing device of the present invention comprises one or more intermediate members configured to be secured between the gripper and the rear section. The intermediate members are configured to enable a user to adjust the length of the hair capturing device, for example, according to the size of the animal's limb, as the hair capturing device is configured to surround at least part of the animal's limb, preferably the entire limb.

In some exemplary cases, the gripper, connector and the rear section are configured to be disposable items used a single time only. In some other cases, the components of the hair capturing device are sterilized after use. In some other cases, there is no need to sterile the hair capturing device. In some exemplary cases, the hair capturing device of the subject matter may be used as a medical accessory, for example, to affix fractures or other orthopedic disorders. Alternatively, it may be used for other applications, such as hair accessories, for example, to affix an ornament or any other usage that may require affixing one or more objects. In such a case, the gripper may not be used, and the hair capturing device will comprise multiple intermediate members and a rear section configured to close a loop around the animal's limb, for example in order to splint the animal's limb. When used to affix the animal's tissue, the width may be in the range of suitable to the target animal. For example, for pets such as dogs or cats its width may be provided in the range of 2.5-8 centimeters. Of course, this range depends on the type and size of the animal, and therefore it may be provide in variety of widths.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a hair capturing device 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hair capturing device 100 comprises a plurality of bristles, the gripper, the intermediate member and the rear section. Hair capturing device 100 is in an open position, before the user secures device 100 to the animal's limb or to a human hair. The gripper comprises a front tip configured to be secured to the rear section. The front tip comprises a front tip upper section 102 and a front tip bottom section 105. The front tip is configured to be inserted into a niche 177 in the rear end of the rear section. In some exemplary cases, the front tip bottom section 105 comprises a textured or roughened surface, configured to prevent the front tip from sliding outside the niche 177. The roughened surface may comprise multiple subsequent protruding lines, extending outwards from the front tip, for example extending at 0.3-5 millimeters. The roughened surface is optional only.

The gripper also comprises a securing member configured to secure a catheter to the animal's blood vessel. The securing member comprises an arrangement suitable for securing at least one object, wherein such an arrangement can be provided in variety of ways that may be depended or influenced in accordance with the form of the object. For example, in this embodiment the securing member comprises a front member 110 and a rear member 120 that forms such an arrangement. The members 110 and 120 form a hole 115 via which a user may place the catheter onto the animal's blood vessel. In many cases, the catheter is coupled to wires for transferring the blood drawn from a container to the animal. In some exemplary cases, the plurality of bristles are arranged in rows such as indicated by numerals 125, 130 and are located in a front section of hair capturing device 100. In this example, the plurality of bristles 125, 130 are configured to facilitate securing the hair capturing device 100 around the animal's limb, as the animal's fur is caught between the bristles. For example, in some cases, the height of the plurality of bristles 125, 130 is in the range of 0.5-30 millimeters. As will be appreciated a person skilled in the art, the plurality of bristles 125, 130 may have other ranges of heights, depending on their application and the type of animal on which they are intended to be used. The multiple components of the hair capturing device 100 may have identical or different bristles, as desired by the person skilled in the art. The bristles may differ in size, density, color, texture, shape and the like. In some exemplary cases, at least a portion of the plurality of bristles 125, 130 may be coated by a chemical material having a predefined effect. For example, the front tip of the plurality of bristles 125, 130 may be coated with an anesthetic material. The gripper also comprises a bottom section 140 that corresponds to the plurality of bristles 125, 130. The bottom section 140 may be a surface from which the plurality of bristles 125, 130 extend. The bristles may extend at different forms/angles/deflections depending on the anatomic structure of the animal or the application for which the hair capturing device 100 may be used. In some cases, the bottom section comprises a plurality of bristle connectors, each of the bristle connectors is configured to be coupled to two bristles. In some cases, the bristles are arranged in multiple lines expanding from the rear side of the component to the front side of the component, as the component may be the gripper, the intermediate member or the rear section. The bristles' arrangement, density, length and additional properties may vary according to various needs, such as the animal's type, size, medical conditions, hair density and the like. The plurality of bristles 125, 130 may be made of plastics, metal, polymer, a combination of the above, or any other material having rigidity level that enables catching fur between the bristles. The rear most part of the gripper is a connector 150 configured to secure the gripper to the next component, either the intermediate member or the rear section. The connector shown in the figures is exemplary only, and is shown as implementation. Other options for connecting rigid or elastic modules are also included in the scope of the claimed subject matter. The connector may have a protruding member configured to fit in a niche or cradle of the next component.

The connector 150 of the gripper is configured to secure the gripper to the intermediate member. The intermediate member comprises a plurality of bristles 153 configured to catch the animal's fur and two connecting sections. The intermediate member comprises a front connecting section 152 configured to fit to the connector 150 of the gripper. In some cases, the front connecting section 152 is configured to fit to connectors of other intermediate members, so as to enable connecting a plurality of intermediate members in a subsequent manner, one after the other. Such subsequent manner enables placing several (for example, 2-20) intermediate members, according to the size of the limb or tissue to which the hair capturing device 100 is secured. The intermediate member also comprises a rear connector 155 configured to be secured to a front connecting section 165 of another intermediate member or a front connecting section of the rear section. In some exemplary cases, the front connecting section 165 and the rear connector 155 may be designed in multiple ways. In some other cases, the gripper and the additional modules of the hair capturing device 100 are manufactured as a single sheet of material, without the need to connect them using a connection mechanism.

The rear section may also comprise a plurality of bristles 170 located in the top side of the rear section. The bottom side 160 of the rear section may be used to connect the plurality of bristles 170. In some exemplary cases, the bottom side 160 of the components may have some elasticity, for example in the range of 3-20 percent, enabling the user of the hair capturing device 100 to stretch the hair capturing device 100 around the animal's limb to tighten the grasp of the limb by the hair capturing device 100. The rear section also comprises a niche 177 configured to receive the front tip of the gripper. The niche 177 may be defined between a protruding member 175 located in the top side of the rear section and a base layer 173 located in the bottom side of the rear section, away from the animal's fur. The front tip bottom section 105 may slide next to the base layer 173 while the front tip upper section 102 may slide next to the protruding member 175.

Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of the hair capturing device 200 with 3 components, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The hair capturing device 200 comprises a gripper having an upper hole 210 in which the catheter may be accessed when connecting a syringe for short-term administration of drugs to the animal, to draw blood from the animal, and for other operations. The upper hole 210 is defined between two sections. The upper hole 210 may have a shape and size as designed by a person skilled in the art. The gripper may also comprise a front tip 205 configured to be secured in a niche of the rear section, next to the base layer 240 of the rear section. The gripper also comprises apertures 250 and 255 in the sidewalls surrounding the upper hole 210. The apertures 250 and 255 may be configured to adjust the catheter and secure it to the hair capturing device 200, while inserting the catheter into the animal's limb. The hair capturing device 100 also comprises aperture adjusters 253, 252, configured to adjust secure the catheter in the aperture 250, 255, respectively. The aperture adjusters 253, 252 may be elastic arms extending from the front member 110 and the rear member 120. The aperture adjusters 253, 252 may hold a lateral side of a catheter. The aperture adjusters 253, 252 may have different forms depending on the type of object they may interact with. The gripper comprises a barrier 220 configured to separate the bristles 230, 235 of the gripper from the section that secures the catheter to the animal's limb. The gripper comprise two groups of bristles, the first group of bristles 230 is located on the right side of the gripper and the second group of bristles 235 is located on the left side of the gripper. In some cases, each of the groups of bristles 230, 235 may comprise one or more lines of bristles, for example 3 lines of bristles, each line comprises 5 bristles. The gripper is connected to an intermediate member having a first group of bristles 238 in the right side and a second group of bristles 239 in the left side. The rear section also comprises a group of bristles 260. In some exemplary cases, the bristles are arranged in alternately arrangement. For example, the first line of bristles has a first arrangement, the second line of bristles has a second arrangement, the third line of bristles has the first arrangement, the fourth line of bristles has the second arrangement and so on.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a gripper component having bristles, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The gripper component is configured to grip the catheter to the animal's limb. The gripper element comprises a connector 305 configured to enter a niche in a component located next to the gripper. The gripper may comprise a plurality of bristles 340, 342 and 345 located on a top side of the hair capturing device 100, the top side is pressed against the animal's fur when the hair capturing device 100 is in use. The gripper also comprises a barrier 320 configured to separate the plurality of bristles 340, 342 and 345 from the section that secures the catheter to the animal. The bottom side of the gripper comprises a plurality of bristle connectors 310, 312 and 315, each of the bristle connectors 310, 312 and 315 may be configured to be coupled to two bristles. For example, bristle connectors 312 is connected to both bristle 340 and bristle 342 and bristle connectors 315 is connected to both bristle 342 and bristle 345. This arrangement improves the stability and strength of hair capturing device 100.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of a catheter hair capturing device 400, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The hair capturing device 400 comprises a gripper forming a hole 412 in which the catheter may be accessed, for example, when connecting a syringe. The gripper comprises a front tip 410 configured to be secured to the rear-most member of the hair capturing device 400. The gripper also comprises a first group of bristles 420 and a second group of bristles 415. For example, the gripper has a gap of 15 millimeters between the first group of bristles 420 and the second group of bristles 415. A rod 425 is mounted in the gap between the bristles' groups, configured to force the entire section to bend and stretch over the animal's limb. The rod 425 is part of the intermediate member, extending forward from the cradle of the intermediate member. The intermediate member also comprises two groups of bristles, first group 430 and second group 435, and second rod 440 is mounted in the space between the groups 430 and 435. The second rod 440 extends forward from another intermediate entity or from the rear section.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a rear section, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The rear section has a front end 515 configured to receive a rear end of the intermediate member of a rear end of the gripper. A rod 510 may extend forward from the front end 515 as explained above. The rear section may comprise one or more bristle sections 530 configured to catch the animal's fur between the bristles. At least some of the bristles in the bristle section 530 may be connected to each other using a plurality of elastic bristle connectors 520. The rear part of the rear section comprises a niche 550 configured to receive the front tip of the gripper. The niche 550 may be defined between a plate 560 extending between the bristle connectors and the protruding member 540.

Fig. 6 shows an intermediate member, which is almost identical to the rear section, only that the rear side of the intermediate member has a connector 660 configured to be received by a front end of the next component.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a hair capturing device 700 in an open position, according to an embodiment of the invention. Hair capturing device 700 comprises a plurality of bristles 2 arranged rows, wherein the bristles in one row may have different attributes than the bristles in the row a head of it or behind it, for example, in terms of height, width, deflection, spacing between bristles, etc., as shown by rows 701a and 702a and the following rows 701b and 702b.. In this embodiment, the bristles of row 701a and 702a having different height and they are arranged in an alternating pattern in which the spacing between each bristle in row 701a is such that a mating bristle in row 702a may fit between a plurality of bristles of row 701a. Similarly, the bristles of 702a and may fit between a plurality of bristles of row 701b, and so on to the following row 702b. In this embodiment, the bristles of rows 701a and 701b are aligned by their heights is different, and the bristles of rows 702a and 702b are aligned by their heights are different. That is, each of rows 701a and 701b include bristles arranged in a substantially identical pattern, which allows each bristles of row 702a to mate with every other row 701a and 701b such that mating of the bristles may form an interconnection that capture together the hair in a tight and secured manner.

In this embodiment, hair capturing device 700 further shows a catheter 7 located within a gripper 1. Hair capturing device 700 may comprise a front tip 712 that is configured to be inserted into a niche 714 in the rear end of a rear section 713, and a flexible base layer 715 from which bristles 2 extend. Fig. 8 schematically illustrates a rear perspective view of hair capturing device 700 of Fig. 7 (without the catheter 7). Fig. 9 schematically illustrates hair capturing device 700 in a closed position, which causes the bristles in rows 701 and 702 to form an interconnection that capture together the hair in a tight and secured manner (i.e., results when two adjacent rows 701, 702 are mated). According to an embodiment of the invention, each bristle of row 701 holds adjacent bristles of row 702 in an interlocked position via friction or pressure. It should be noted that rows 701 and 702 may not be identical, as best seen in Fig. 7.

In this embodiment, the rows of bristles are arranged in two identical groups in a spaced and parallel manner, as indicated by numerals 721 and 722. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the hair capturing device 700 may comprise only a single group, or it may comprise a plurality of groups that may comprise more than two groups. For example, Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a possible configuration of the bristles that can be implemented in hair capturing device 700, in which the bristles are arranged in eight groups 801-808. As shown in this figure, the groups are parallel and space apart similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 7. The number of groups may change according to the desired usage of the device (i.e., width, length, height, etc).

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but only by the claims -that follow.