FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device designed to untangle hair or fur during the natural process of combing through the hair, and particularly to a hair detangler comb.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Combs and brushes for the hair have either a single row or multiple rows of teeth or bristles that are stroked through hair. In most cases, the bristles are stationary and located in a fixed position on the comb or brush in one or more rows. However, when hair gets tangled it becomes difficult to continue the stroke of the comb through the hair as the tangled areas prevent the comb from moving down the shafts of the hair. If the tangled hair is pulled too tightly by the comb or brush, it can form a tight knot. Knots cannnot always be untangled and may have to be cut out of the hair.

[0003] Various solutions have been proposed to help detangle hair, including wide-toothed combs, and combs with reciprocating or rotating teeth. However, combs with reciprocating or rotating teeth can sometimes cause tangles to worsen, and can lead to hair damage and even breakage.

SUMMARY

[0004] In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a comb for detangling hair which includes a handle, a head portion attached to the handle, and a plurality of teeth attached to the head portion. At least some of the teeth comprise first and second proximal ends, and a distal end, the first and second proximal ends being spaced apart from one another and being relatively moveable, wherein such relative movement of the proximal ends of said at least some of the teeth causes flexion of the tooth.

[0005] The flexion of the tooth can assist in detangling of the hair because it can help to move the hair shafts as the comb is drawn through the hair.

[0006] In certain arrangements, one of the proximal ends of each tooth of the comb is movable, and the other proximal end of each tooth is fixed to the head portion in a stationary position, such that a relative movement between the two ends is created by movement of only one end of the tooth. [0007] For example, at least some of the proximal ends of each tooth can be mounted to at least one attachment section mounted in the head portion, and at least one such attachment section is moveable within the head portion to move the proximal tooth ends attached thereto.

[0008] The moveable attachment section can be a bar defining a longitudinal direction. In some arrangements, two longitudinal attachment sections can be provided, and the first proximal ends of the teeth can be attached to one of the longitudinal attachment sections while the second proximal ends of the teeth can be attached to the other of the longitudinal attachment sections.

[0009] A mechanism for moving the at least one moveable attachment portion can be provided. The mechanism can include a motor, or can be a manually-operated crank handle.

[0010] The motor can be connected to the at least one moveable attachment portion via a gear wheel and a crank, so that the movement of the at least one moveable attachment portion is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the attachment section.

[0011] The teeth can be made of a flexible material selected from the group consisting of plastic and silicone. The comb may be U- or V-shaped, with the apex of the tooth forming the distal end.

[0012] In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a comb for detangling hair including a handle, a head portion attached to the handle, and a plurality of teeth attached to the head portion. At least some of the teeth comprise first and second proximal ends, and a distal end, the first and second proximal ends being spaced apart from one another and being relatively moveable with respect to each other. Movement of at least one of the first and second proximal ends can cause modifications in the shape of the tooth.

[0013] The modifiable shape can be an increase or decrease in dimension between the first and second proximal ends.

[0014] The increase or decrease in dimension between the first and second proximal ends of the teeth can be caused by movement of at least one attachment portion mounted to the head portion, one of the first or second proximal ends of each tooth being attached to the movable attachment portion while the other of the first or second proximal ends of each tooth is attached separately to the head portion. The movement of one of the first or second proximal ends of each tooth can cause flexion of the tooth.

[0015] The relative movement of the first and second proximal ends of the teeth can be operated by a motor housed in the handle. [0016] The teeth can be made of a flexible material selected from the group consisting of plastic and silicone. In some arrangements, the teeth can be made of a flexible plastic material, and the distal ends of the teeth can be coated or made of a flexible silicone material. The teeth can be U- or V-shaped, with the apex of the tooth forming the distal end.

[0017] The modifications in the shape of the tooth can assist in detangling of the hair by moving portions of a hair shaft as the comb is drawn through the hair. As the tooth modifies its shape by bending or flexing back and forth in a gentle motion, this spreads the hair apart so that it is easier to comb the hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] Fig. 1 is a view of an arrangement of a detangler comb according to the disclosure.

[0020] Fig. 2 is an example of an arrangement of teeth for a detangler comb according to the disclosure.

[0021] Fig. 3 is an example of an arrangement for moving the teeth for a detangler comb according to the disclosure.

[0022] Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing components of a detangler comb according to the disclosure.

[0023] Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing components of a detangler comb according to the disclosure.

[0024] Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of a detangler comb according to the disclosure.

[0025] Fig. 7 shows an alternative arrangement of a detangler comb according to the disclosure having a manual operation.

[0026] Fig. 8 is another arrangement of a manual detangler according to the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hair detangler comb systems comprising combs or brushes having reciprocating and/or spaced teeth are disclosed herein. In the following description, the term "comb" is generally used, which is intended to be a general term referring to combs (typically having one row of teeth) or brushes (typically having multiple rows of teeth or bristles), and is not intended to be limiting.

[0028] Referring to the figures, the detangler comb systems according to the present disclosure incorporate a comb comprising teeth configured to engage hair. The teeth may be configured to include a variable or modifiable shape. Typically the shape may be modifiable through the action of the system. As shown in the illustrated arrangements, the teeth define U-shaped or V-shaped teeth. The U- or V-shaped teeth have first and second ends which are each connected to a comb body, and form proximal, or base, ends of each tooth that are spaced apart slightly, with the apex of the U- or V-shape forming the distal end of the tooth. Variations on this tooth shape are also envisaged within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the teeth may have a wishbone-shape or a Y-shape comprising a U-shape or V-shaped portion at proximal ends of the teeth, while the distal ends of the teeth extend longitudinally from the join of the two proximal ends, and are thus more similar to traditional comb teeth. Further, the teeth could have more than two proximal ends (for example, three or four proximal ends), and could thus be three-dimensional. Such shapes are intended to be encompassed by this disclosure and by the general terms "U-shaped" or "V-shaped". The spaced apart nature of the proximal ends of the teeth define a direction that is generally referred to herein as a width. The teeth are typically positioned on a comb body with the width approximately perpendicular to a length of the comb body. Thus, as the comb is typically run through the hair in a motion that is also perpendicular to the length of the comb body, the width of the teeth is generally parallel to the hair strands as the comb is drawn through the hair. It will, of course, be appreciated that the teeth may be placed in any other orientation on the comb body. For example, the width of the teeth could be aligned parallel with the length of the comb body.

[0029] The teeth are preferably formed of a flexible material. One preferred flexible material is a flexible plastic material, and another preferred material is a flexible silicone material. The teeth may each be formed of a single material, or may be formed of mixed materials. For example, the proximal ends of the teeth may be formed of a slightly stiffer but yet still flexible material, whereas the distal, apex ends of the teeth may be formed of or coated in a more flexible and softer, more slippery material than that of the proximal ends. For example, in one embodiment, a tooth can be formed of a plastic material, and at least the apex of the U- or V-shaped tooth can be coated in a layer of silicone or elastomer material, which can provide a softer protective end cap to the teeth. In a further arrangement, an exterior surface of the teeth can be entirely coated in a layer of a silicone material. In yet another arrangement, the apex of the U- or V-shaped tooth can be formed of a silicone material, attached to firmer plastic material ends that are attached to the comb body.

[0030] In one embodiment, the teeth comprise or are coated with a material configured to impart increased or decreased resistance to movement with respect to hair in which the teeth are engaged. For example, all or a portion of a tooth may also include material configured for low resistance with hair, e.g., provide a low resistance or slick surface that hair may glide along. One suitable material that can provide a low resistance is a silicone material. All or a portion of a tooth may include material configured for high resistance with hair, e.g., to grip hair. In one embodiment, the surface of a tooth may include surface features configured to provide a desired high or low resistance. For example, surface features may include ridges, dimples, or other differential surfaces. The surface features may be combined with low or high resistance materials to assist in detangling operations. The surface features or tooth material may also be specialized to provide desired resistance to wet or dry hair. In one embodiment, the teeth are configured to provide variable resistance along the head of the comb. For example, a first side of one or more teeth may be configured to provide increased or decreased resistance compared to a second side. Similarly, the proximal ends of teeth may be configured to provide increased or decreased resistance compared to the distal ends of teeth. It will be appreciated that other variations of variable resistance may be provided, such as between inner and outer portions of a tooth or apposed teeth or to provide variable resistance based on the direction the comb is moved through hair.

[0031] In various embodiments, the teeth can be configured to include a modifiable shape. The modifiable shape is typically modifiable by the operational movements of the comb, e.g., a relative movement between the attachment sections. The modifiable shape may include an increase or decrease in dimension along the tooth or between portions of the tooth, e.g., proximal and distal portions or first and second legs of the tooth, or between adjacent teeth. In one embodiment, the shape of a tooth is modifiable such that the distance between legs of a tooth increase or decrease along the length or width of the head when the shape is modified. The increase or decrease in distance between the legs at the proximal end may be different than an increase or decrease between the legs at the distal end. The shape modification may involve flexion or twisting of the tooth as at least one of the proximal ends is moved.

[0032] The detangler comb systems according to the present disclosure can incorporate a relative movement of the proximal, base ends of each tooth, which causes the tooth to flex or modify its shape. This movement may be a reciprocating movement of one, or both, ends of the teeth, such as a backwards-and-forwards motion in a direction that is roughly perpendicular to the width of the tooth. For example, one proximal end of a tooth can be held stationary, while the other end is moved in a direction perpendicular to the width of the tooth. In another arrangement, both proximal ends of the tooth can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the width of the tooth. In an alternative arrangement, the backwards-and-forwards reciprocating motion could be parallel with the width of the tooth. Additional flexing movements of the tooth can be incorporated. For example, an up-and-down movement can be added in addition to the backwards-and-forwards motion.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary arrangement of a comb 10. The comb 10 includes a handle portion 20 and a head portion 30 on which U- or V-shaped teeth 40 are attached. The head portion 30 may receive at least two attachment sections 32, 34 such that first and second ends 42, 40 of each tooth 40 can be connected to a different attachment section. In one arrangement, shown in Fig. 2, which is a detail view showing the teeth 40, two attachment sections 32, 34 are provided. Each attachment section 32, 34 is elongate, and can have, for example, a bar shape. The two attachment sections 32, 34 are positioned side-by-side with one long side of one of the attachment sections adjacent to one long side of the other attachment section. Each attachment section 32, 34, has a plurality of ends of the teeth 40 fixed thereto. For example, all the first ends 42 of the teeth 40 can be attached to the first attachment section 32, while all the second ends 44 of the teeth 40 can be attached to the second attachment section 34. An apex portion 46 of each tooth 40 bridges across the two attachment sections 32, 34. The attachment sections 32, 34 are designed such that a relative backwards-and-forwards reciprocating motion can be created between them. This may be achieved by movement of just one of the attachment sections, with the other remaining stationary, or with movement of both of the attachment sections.

[0034] In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the first attachment section 32 can be fixed into the head portion 30 so as to be immovable, while the second attachment section 34 can be attached to an actuating mechanism 36 provided in the head portion 30 so as to be reciprocatingly moveable in a back-and-forth direction along axis A, which can be parallel with the elongate direction of the attachment sections (and in this arrangement, parallel with a length of the head portion 30). The actuator mechanism 36 can comprise a toothed gear wheel 37, a crank 38, and an actuator 39. The head portion 30 can include a seating member 31 which can include cutouts for receiving the first and second attachment sections 32, and an axle 35 on which the gear wheel 37 can rotate.

[0035] Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the handle section 20 can incorporate various user interfaces to allow the use to control the operations of the comb 10. As shown, control switches 22 and 24 may be operatively coupled with the handle section 20 to allow the user to initiate, terminate, or otherwise modulate a supply of power to a motor 50, for example. The source of power may be an external power source that may be provided to the comb or may be an internal power storage device such as a battery (not shown), which may be positioned in a battery compartment 52 within the handle section 20. The switches 22 and 24 may comprise or operatively couple with contacts 25 configured to couple or control the supply of power to the motor 50. The motor may also comprise various operational stages that may be modulated by control operations at the switches 22, 24. The handle section 20 may be split into two parts 27, 28, for ease of assembly and may include a battery compartment cover 26. Inside the handle section 20, the motor 50 may be connected to the battery by contacts 25 operable by the switches 22, 24 to drive a gear wheel 54. The motor 50 can be provided with a motor housing 51 to mount the motor 50 in the handle section 20 and to reduce vibration therefrom. The switch 22 may turn on the motor 50 or couple power thereto, while the switch 24 may turn off the motor 50 or decouple power thereto. A soft switch pad 53 may be incorporated to help seal the switches 22, 24 and to provide a better user feel. The gear wheel 54 can in turn drive the gear wheel 37, crank 38, and actuator 39 via the linkage 55 that forms part of the actuating mechanism 36 to move the attachment section 34 and cause relative movement between the tooth ends 42, 44, e.g., causing flexion or shape modifications with respect to the teeth 40. An O-ring seal 56 can help seal the battery compartment cover 26, to prevent water ingress into the handle section 20, and motor brackets 58, 60 can be used to mount and stabilize the motor 50 in the handle section 20. A further O-ring seal 62 can help seal the handle section 20 where the head section 30 is joined thereto. Various contact bridges 64 and a contract bridge housing 66 may be provided for electrically coupling the actuating mechanism 36 with the battery. [0036] As shown in Fig. 6, a hook 70 can be provided on an end of the comb 10 so that it can be hung up when not in use. The hook 70 may include an open end to receive a structure to which the comb 10 may be hung. The open end may be positioned along a side or handle section 20 facing portion of the hook 70. The hook 70 may be partially extendable from the handle section engage to engage the structure. The hook 70 may be retractable back into the handle to grip the structure. The hook 70 may be rotatable with respect to the handle section 20 to hide or expose the opening. The hook 70 may be made of a flexible or shape conforming material to resiliently bend around the structure or be conformable to a desired or customizable hook shape to fit various sized structures. A grip pattern 72 can be incorporated into the exterior of the handle portion 20 so that the comb 10 can be easily gripped even when it is wet so that it can be stored and used in the shower, for example. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, a silicone cap 74 is also provided on the distal ends of the teeth 40, to provide a lowered resistance so that the comb can more easily glide through hair. The caps 74 can be shaped to provide a more rounded, or balllike shape to the ends of the teeth 40, which can also reduce the possibility of damage to the skin of the scalp. The embodiment of Fig. 6 additionally has a slightly different shape of tooth 40, which is a wishbone-type shape where the distal ends of the teeth 40 are longitudinal while the V-shape aspect of the teeth is closer to the proximal ends.

[0037] In operation, a user can position the hair detangler in the hair, which may be damp or dry, and operates the switch 22 to turn the motor 50 on. The motor drives gear wheel 54, which in turn drives gear wheel 37 that operates crank 38 and thence actuator 39 via the linkage 55. This causes a backwards-and-forwards reciprocating motion of attachment section 34 within seating member 31. This reciprocating motion causes the ends 44 of the teeth 40 to move in a direction parallel to the length of the handle section 30. The movement of ends 44 of the teeth 40 causes a flexing action of the teeth 40. As the comb is moved through the hair shafts, the flexing of teeth 40 helps to gently break apart any tangles in the hair. For example, apexes 46 may position between locks of hair and changes in dimensions of the teeth 40 along the proximal ends, e.g., relative distances between the first and second ends 42, 44, may allow the teeth 40 to gently break apart tangles as the dimensions increase and decrease.

[0038] Another embodiment is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, which show manually operated arrangements of the detangler comb 10. The handle portion 20 incorporates a crank handle 100 that includes a pivot connection 104 to the handle portion 20, and a spring arrangement 102 that urges the crank handle 100 to the open position. The spring arrangement 102 may include wrapped, coiled, or layered spring configurations such as a leaf spring configuration 106 as generally depicted in Fig. 7. In this or another embodiment, the spring arrangement 102 may include other or alternate arrangements such as a spring 108 configured as generally shown in Fig. 8 wherein the spring 108 is positioned to maintain or return the crank handle 100 to a first position, as shown, when the crank handle 100 is released from a second position to extend the attachment section 34 and hence provide relative movement between ends 42, 44 of the teeth 40. The crank handle 100 can operate the second attachment section 34 that is connected to the second proximal tooth ends 44, so as to cause the reciprocating movement of the attachment section 34, and hence the teeth 40.

[0039] Various comb detangler systems are described herein in non-limiting examples to assist the reader in understanding the various beneficial aspects. Those having skill in the art will appreciate upon reading the present disclosure that various teeth arrangements may be used without departing from the various beneficial aspects. For example, teeth may be provided in two rows that move in a way that helps to separate the tangled hair. Similarly, various motor and actuation mechanisms may be determined from the examples provided, any of which are to be considered specifically identified herein, and may similarly be appropriately increased or decreased without departing from the beneficial aspects described herein.

[0040] This disclosure describes various elements, features, aspects, and advantages of various embodiments of the hair detangling systems, apparatuses, and methods thereof. It is to be understood that certain descriptions of the various arrangements or embodiments have been simplified to illustrate only those elements, features and aspects that are relevant to a more clear understanding of the disclosed embodiments, while eliminating, for purposes of brevity or clarity, other elements, features and aspects. Any references to "various embodiments," "certain embodiments," "some embodiments," "one embodiment," "an embodiment", or "an arrangement" generally means that a particular element, feature and/or aspect described in the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The phrases "in various embodiments," "in certain embodiments," "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment," or "in an embodiment" may not refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the phrases "in one such embodiment" or "in certain such embodiments," while generally referring to and elaborating upon a preceding embodiment, is not intended to suggest that the elements, features, and aspects of the embodiment introduced by the phrase are limited to the preceding embodiment; rather, the phrase is provided to assist the reader in understanding the various elements, features, and aspects disclosed herein and it is to be understood that those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such elements, features, and aspects presented in the introduced embodiment may be applied in combination with other various combinations and sub-combinations of the elements, features, and aspects presented in the disclosed embodiments. It is to be appreciated that persons having ordinary skill in the art, upon considering the descriptions herein, will recognize that various combinations or sub-combinations of the various embodiments and other elements, features, and aspects may be desirable in particular implementations or applications. However, because such other elements, features, and aspects may be readily ascertained by persons having ordinary skill in the art upon considering the description herein, and are not necessary for a complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a description of such elements, features, and aspects may not be provided. As such, it is to be understood that the description set forth herein is merely exemplary and illustrative of the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined solely by the claims.

[0041] It will be further appreciated that for conciseness and clarity, spatial or relative terms such as "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "lateral," "longitudinal," "backwards-and- forwards", "up-and-down" and others may be used herein with respect to the illustrated embodiments. However, it should be appreciated that the teeth and detangler comb systems may be used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute.

[0042] All numerical quantities stated herein are approximate unless stated otherwise, meaning that the term "about" may be inferred when not expressly stated. The numerical quantities disclosed herein may be nominal numerical quantities and are to be understood as not being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless stated otherwise, each numerical value is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. In some illustrative embodiments, dimensions including a parameter, measurement, diversion, or range may be given. It is to be understood that any such parameter, measurement, diversion, or range is provided as an illustrative example or instance of an embodiment and is not intended to limit that or other embodiments. For example, unless otherwise specified, illustrations of dimensions and how such parameters or measurements of such dimensions relate to other parameters, e.g., with respect to movement, support, engagements, interfacing dimensions are provided to aid the reader's understanding of the features and may not be illustrated to scale nor universally applicable to every embodiment.