BACKGROUND Hair design by hairdressers and other hair stylists involves a wide range of methods. One standard form is to apply a part to the hair by combing hairs to either side of a defined line. However generally that line has always been a straight part extending down the symmetrical centre of the head or along a parallel line to the symmetrical centre. Another form is across the front of the head in order to define a front fringe area where the hair in front of the part line is combed down over the face above the eyes. Clearly from each of these traditional forms there has developed the traditional straight elongated comb with a rigid linear spine from which extend parallel and linearly arranged plastic or other synthetic moulded bristles or teeth.

There have been modifications to the traditional comb but these are not generally known.

In recently published US patent 5,694, 953 there is disclosed a hairdressing comb having a series of spaced pairs of hair-lifting teeth with the teeth of each pair defining between them a gap into which hair can enter. Each hair-lifting tooth has a hair-lifting formation and the hair-lifting formations of each pair of teeth both extend into the corresponding gap. The hair-lifting formations of each pair of teeth are staggered with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction of the teeth, and the one hair-lifting formation

extends into the gap to a point laterally beyond where the other hair lifting formation extend into the gap.

Also in recently published US patent No 6,189, 540 to Stovall et al there is shown a hair styling comb including a moulded plastic or metal core member with a body part having first and second sets of integrally formed spaced apart comb teeth extending in directions substantially normal to each other. The first set of teeth extends from an elongated spine part of the body and a layer of a resilient friction material is moulded over the body part to cover opposed planar surfaces of the body part and to extend within spaces between adjacent teeth of both sets. The overmoulded layer provides surfaces between each tooth which are adherent to human hair comb to facilitate parting, back combing or ratting hair comb during a styling procedure.

However the above-disclosed apparatuses do not overcome a general problem in the art to which the present invention is directed. There is developing a fashion of having a part in the hair that is not a straight line. It is necessary for a hairdresser to design this part with the use of the traditional linear comb. This makes the creation of the design a tedious and laborious activity. Therefore to have your hair in this design is also quite expensive. Due to the difficulty of creation of the design, it is generally not readily achievable by the person wishing to have the hair design or by theirfriend or assistant.

There was a desire and need by the applicants to develop a comb or brush, which may be easily used during combing to form non-rectilinear parting operations without slipping from the user's hands. Providing a comb or brush, which may be easily and firmly gripped is particularly required.

It is an object of the invention to attempt to overcome or at least ameliorate the shortcomings of the prior art hair comb or brushes used for styling or parting combs and to provide a new article that can dramatically assist with parting of hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hair comb or brush comprising a substantially rigid member having, a body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, an elongated spine portion integral with the body part, and a first set of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from the spine portion; and at least one line of substantially parallel teeth are aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration at the edge of the first set of spaced apart teeth wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a required part in the hair such that in use the at least one line of aligned teeth are placed where the part is required and combed or brushed away from that} ine to leave the required part.

Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a set of at least two hair combs or brushes with each comprising a body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a support portion connected or integral with the body part, and a first set of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from the support portion; and-the first comb or brush having an outer edge of its first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair and the second comb or brush having an outer edge of its respective first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair and wherein each of the set of hair combs or

brushes are shaped to have their respective pattern or configuration corresponding to each other such that in use the respective at least one line of aligned teeth of each of the set or combs or brushes can be placed adjacently where the part is required and at least one of the set of two hair combs or brushes combed or brushed in opposing directions away from the other to form the required part.

The invention also provides a method of preparing a non-linear part of the hair of a person including the steps of : providing a set of at least two hair combs or brushes with each comprising a body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a support portion connected or integral with the body part, and a first set of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from the support portion ; and an outer edge of its first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration placing a first of the hair combs or brushes with its non-rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart teeth at the required position wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair placing a second of the hair combs or brushes substantially adjacent with its non- rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart teeth at the required position wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair and moving at least one from the set of two hair combs or brushes combed or brushed in direction away from the other to form the required part.

Each of the set of two hair combs can have their respective outer edge of the first set of spaced apart teeth spaced relative to each other so that when the set of two hair combs or brushes are placed adjacently or in partially overlapping formation, the teeth are

interleaved so as to jointly form a single line of spaced apart teeth that corresponds with the pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned features and advantages of the invention together with other important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description, which follows in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair brush in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the hair brush shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the hair brush shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the hair brush shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an diagrammatic underneath plan view of two hair brushes of a first set of hair brushes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.; FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a hair brush in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a hair brush in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the description which follows like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawing with these same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures may not be to scale in all views in the interest of clarity.

Referring to Figures 1 through 4 there is shown a hairbrush 11 comprising a substantially rigid member having, a body part 15 adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, an elongated support portion 16 integral with the body part 15. A first set of spaced apart teeth 21 extends substantially parallel from the support portion 16. At least one line of substantially parallel teeth 22 are aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration at the edge of the first set of spaced apart teeth 21. The pattern or configuration of the outer line of substantially parallel teeth 22 corresponds with a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a required part in the hair such that in use the at least one line of aligned teeth are placed where the part is required and combed or brushed away from that line to leave the required part.

The support portion 16 of the hairbrush 11 has a curved plate structure substantially following the curvature of the head.

Referring to Figure 5 there is shown a set of two hair brushes 31, 32 with each comprising a body part 15 adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a support portion 16 connected or integral with the body part 15. Each includes a first set of spaced apart teeth 21 extending substantially parallel from the support portion 16. The first brush 31 has an outer edge 22 of its first set of spaced apart teeth 21 aligned in a predetermined non- rectilinear pattern or configuration. The pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. The second brush 32 also has a respective outer edge 22 of its respective first set of spaced apart teeth 21 and is aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration.

That pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. The pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair of being zigzag or sawtooth

Each of the set of hair brushes 31,32 are shaped to have their respective pattern or configuration corresponding to each other such that in use the respective at least one line of aligned teeth 22 of each of the set or combs or brushes can be placed adjacently where the part is required and at least one of the set of two hair brushes 31,32 combed or brushed in direction away from the other to form the required part.

Each of the set of two hair combs has a second set of spaced apart teeth 25 extending substantially parallel from the support portion 16. The spacing of the second set of spaced apart teeth 25 is greater than the spacing of the first set of spaced apart teeth 21.

In another form of the invention (not shown) each of the set of two hair combs 31,32 has their respective outer edge 22 of the first set of spaced apart teeth 21 spaced relative to each other. When the set of two hair combs or brushes are placed adjacently or in partially overlapping formation, the teeth are interleaved so as to jointly form a single line of spaced apart teeth that corresponds with the pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair.

In use of preparing a non-linear part of the hair of a person the user provides a set of at least two hair combs or brushes with each comprising a body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a support portion connected or integral with the body part, and a first set of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from the support portion; and an outer edge of its first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration. The user places a first of the hair combs or brushes with its non- rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart teeth at the required position wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. Then the user places a second of the hair combs or brushes substantially adjacent the first with its non-rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart

teeth at the required position wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. To operate the user moves at least one of the set of two hair combs or brushes combed or brushed in opposite directions away from the other to form the required part.

As shown in Figure 5 the pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair is a zigzag or sawtooth design.

As shown in Figure 6 the pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair is a weave or a rectangular sine wave design.

As shown in Figure 7 the pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair is a wave-like or sinusoidal design.

The set of two hair combs or brushes can include a dye applicator (not shown) in one or both of the hair combs or brushes. In use a hair-dyeing medium is expelled from openings in the body part or in one or more of the teeth so as to provide a streaking or dyeing effect while also providing the required part.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein those skilled in the art will appreciate that various substitutions and modifications may be made in the hair comb or brush without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example in other variations the support portion of at least one of the set of two hair combs or brushes has a spine with the body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand extending from an upper side of the spine and the first set of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from a lower side of the spine. The support portion of at least one of the set of two hair combs or brushes can extend at right angles

to the body part to provide a T shape with a handle able to be held by the user. The invention therefore is not limited to the described embodiments but to the scope of the appended claims.