NAME OF INVENTOR: DAMIEN WOZYNSKY MCFARLAND

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Utility Patent Application 17/314,980, filed on May 7, 2021; US Provisional Patent Application 63/062,689, filed on August 7, 2020; and US Provisional Patent Application 63/062,630, filed on August 7, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hair styling tools, and more particularly, to hair foam sponge brushes.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) BACKGROUND

Hair foam sponges’ brushes are a popular product. There are different types of sponge brushes on the market today. These foam sponge brushes assist with curling or twisting hair. However, the foam sponge brushes that is on the market takes 5 to 45 minutes to achieve any sort of results. Conventional foam brushes are typically flatsurfaced and have bore holes to assist with starting dread locks and natural curls. However, the process is lengthy and almost useless, as conventional hair foam brushes are flat and of soft in texture. The design is what causes so much time to be spent trying to achieve the starting of dread locks and/or curls.

The market has double-sided sponge brushes with different textures to help create different curl or coil patterns. If the user needs to apply both sides, this can be time consuming and very messy.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that can efficiently and easily achieve the starting of dread locks and/or curls. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is hair styling tool that includes a base member with a body pad attached to the base member. The body pad can be a foam brush member with a

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) plurality of holes formed therein. A plurality of hair shapers can be disposed in the holes of the body pad.

The hair shapers can extend outward from respective ones of the plurality of holes. In some embodiments, the hair shapers can be formed in equatorial rows across the body pad. In some embodiments, one or more centrally located rows of the plurality of equatorial rows can be shorter than outermost located rows of the plurality of equatorial rows. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the plurality of hair shapers have ends cut at an angle, where the angle could be cut a central equatorial axis of the body pad. In some embodiments, the hair shapers can each have a hole (112) formed along a length thereof and can be formed of a resiliently flexible material.

In some embodiments, the hair shapers extend, from a bottom side thereof, into respective ones of the plurality of holes, wherein the plurality of hair shapers (101A) are attached to the base member (107 A). These hair shapers can be plastic, resiliently flexible pieces. The hair shapers can have a ball-shaped end. In some embodiments, the hair shapers may terminate below a surface of the body pad, within the holes. In some embodiments, the hair shapers can extend outward at least partially from at least some of the plurality of holes.

In some embodiments, the hair styling tool further includes a first removable attachment material affixed to or formed integrally with the base member, and a second removable attachment material affixed to or formed integrally with the body pad, wherein the first removable attachment material is removably attachable to the

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) second removable attachment material, permitting a user to place one or more different body pads onto the base member. In some embodiments, the hair styling tool further includes a plurality of attachment material holes formed in the second removable attachment material, where the plurality of attachment material holes align with the plurality of holes in the body pad.

The hair styling tool can cut the time in more than half to achieve desired results, allowing a user to achieve hair coils, curls, and/or starting of dread locks in fraction of the time as compared to conventional hair styling tools. For example, one-minute styles can be achieved with embodiments of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is bottom side perspective view of a hair styling tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hair styling tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom side perspective view of a hair styling tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hair styling tool of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top side view of the hair styling tool of FIG. 3; and

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) FIG. 6 is a partial detailed perspective view of an alternate styling pad attached to the hair styling pad of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” "below" and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word “each” is used to refer to an element that was previously

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) introduced as being at least one in number, the word “each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements, but can also mean a singular element.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hair styling tool 100 can include a base member 107 with a body pad 103 disposed on a bottom surface of the base member 107. A spine 105 may optionally be disposed between the base member 107 and the body pad 103. A plurality of holes 108 can be formed in the body pad 103, and a plurality of hair shapers 101 can be disposed in respective ones of the plurality of holes 108. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of hair shapers 101 can extend outward from the respective ones of the plurality of holes 108. In some embodiments, the plurality of hair shapers 101 can have holes 112 formed therein.

The body pad 103 may be formed from sponge, foam or another similar soft, flexible and/or pliable material. The body pad 103 may have a flat outer surface, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or may have a wavy surface 119, such as that shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, for example.

The hair shapers 101 may be formed from foam, sponge, metal, silicone, rubber, hard plastic, soft plastic, or the like. The hair shapers 101 can be smooth, firm, pliable, textured, and/or the like. The hair shapers 101 can be formed in various cross- sectional shapes, such as round (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), square, triangular, polygonal, or the like. The spine 105 can be made from various materials, including wood, plastic, rubber, foam, sponge or the like. The base member 107 can also be formed from various materials, such as wood, foam, sponge, metal, silicone, rubber, hard plastic, soft plastic, or the like.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) In some embodiments, the plurality of hair shapers 101 can extend outward at varying lengths. In some embodiments, the plurality of hair shapers 101 in equatorial rows across the body pad 103. In some embodiments, one or more centrally located rows of the plurality of equatorial rows are shorter than outermost located rows of the plurality of equatorial rows. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the plurality of hair shapers have ends cut at an angle 110, typically, but not limited to, angled toward a central equatorial axis 111 of the hair styling tool 100. In some embodiments, one or more centrally located rows may be flat or parallel with the base member 107.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 5, a hair styling tool 100A can include a base member 107A having a body pad 103 A attached thereinto. A plurality of holes 108 A can be formed through the body pad 103 A. A plurality of hair shapers 101 A can be disposed in respective ones of the plurality of holes 108 A. Typically, the plurality of hair shapers 101 A extend, from a bottom side of the base member 107 A (or from first removable attachment material 113, as described below) into respective ones of the plurality of holes 108 A.

In some embodiments, the plurality of hair shapers 101A can be disposed within the plurality of holes 108A in the body pad 103 A. In other words, the hair shapers 101 A, in this embodiments, would not extend above a surface of the body pad 103 A, as shown in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the plurality of hair shapers 101 A can extend at least partially outward from the plurality of holes 108 A, as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The body pad 103 A may be formed from sponge, foam or another similar soft, flexible and/or pliable material. The body pad 103A may have a wavy or bumpy outer surface 119, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 6, or may have a more flat-shaped surface, or a combination thereof.

The hair shapers 101 A may be formed from foam, sponge, metal, silicone, rubber, hard plastic, soft plastic, or the like. The hair shapers 101 A can be smooth, firm, pliable, textured, and/or the like. The hair shapers 101 A can be formed in various cross-sectional shapes, such as round, with a larger, rounded head (as shown in FIG. 4), square, triangular, polygonal, or the like. The base member 107 can also be formed from various materials, such as wood, foam, sponge, metal, silicone, rubber, hard plastic, soft plastic, or the like.

In some embodiments, the hair styling tool 100 A further includes a first removable attachment material 113 affixed to or formed integrally with the base member 107 A, and a second removable attachment material 115 affixed to or formed integrally with the body pad 103 A. The first removable attachment material 113 can be removably attachable to the second removable attachment material 115, permitting a user to place one or more different body pads, such as body pad 103C of FIG. 6, onto the base member 107 A. In some embodiments, a plurality of attachment material holes 117 are formed in the second removable attachment material 115, where the plurality of attachment material holes 117 align with the plurality of holes 108 A in the body pad 103.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various material may be used for the components of the hair styling tool. The base may be formed from a solid material, while the brush may be foam, sponge, or the like. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the base may be foam, sponge, or a more rigid material, provided that the hair shapers are formed from a soft, flexible material, such as foam, sponge, or the like. Further, other shapes may be used in addition to the figure-eight design shown in the drawings. Such shapes can include geometric and non-geometric shapes, such as round, rectangular, pear shaped, or the like. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of,

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference.

Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above "Detailed Description." While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)