Conventionally hair dye compositions are presented in the form of a more or less thick liquid which is poured onto the hair mass, rubbed into the hair mass to distribute it through the hair mass, and then allowed to act on the hair for a period of time, perhaps up to 60 minutes depending on the dye and the temperature, to allow the dye to attach to the hair. In general the higher the temperature the shorter the time period required, thus the hair mass may, for example be covered over by a cap to trap body heat in it, or subjected to heating from a hot air blower. The residual composition is then washed out of the hair.

These known compositions are, however, somewhat awkward to apply and considerable care is required to avoid the dye running down the subject's head and possibly onto his/her clothes. Also considerable care and skill is required in order to obtain either a reasonably even distribution or a heavier application in specific sections of the hair mass for any desired special effect and/or to even out an existing unevenness in colouring.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the above disadvantages.

It has now been found that a particularly effective and convenient application of hair dye and other fluids to hair can be achieved with an endless belt applicator in which the belt portion in contact with the hair is generally corrugated.

The present invention provides a non-drip hair treatment fluid applicator suitable for use in applying a hair treatment fluid to a head of hair and comprising a reservoir having an outlet means provided with a controlled release fluid transfer device comprising an endless belt, supported so as to extend along an endless belt pathway having an exposed first portion disposable in use against a mass of hair on said head, and a second portion in fluid communication with the reservoir for entraining treatment fluid held therein, said endless belt being formed and arranged and supported on a belt guide means at said exposed first portion so as to present a generally corrugated engagement surface with raised portions extending around said belt guide means, thereby to provide a positive engagement of the belt with said hair for transferring treatment fluid thereto when said applicator is drawn over said wetted hair.

The endless belt is conveniently in the form of a more or less plain belt with said exposed first portion supported on a generally corrugated belt guide means, preferably in the form of roller means, with raised rib portions so as to form said belt into a generally corrugated form thereat. Alternatively there could be used a generally plain surfaced belt guide means, conveniently a generally cylindrical roller means, with a belt which has longitudinally extending ribs or the like formed in its outer surface.

With a hair treatment applicator of the present invention there may be obtained a highly efficient transfer of hair treatment fluid to the hair in a controlled manner substantially avoiding the risk of spillage and running down the subject's head and possibly onto his/her clothes. We have found that the corrugated belt configuration tends to"bite" into a hair mass providing a positive engagement therewith which gives good traction providing a steady advancing of the belt as the applicator is drawn over the mass thereby providing a steady controlled dispensing and application of treatment fluid onto the hair.

A further practical advantage obtained with at least some forms of hair treatment fluid, is that, whilst good traction is maintained over hair, such traction is substantially reduced when the applicator passes over hair to which treatment fluid has already been applied whereby further dispensing of treatment fluid onto hair regions which have already had treatment fluid applied to them, is substantially reduced or avoided thereby helping to achieve an even distribution of treatment fluid across the head, in a particularly simple and convenient manner. This also can help reduce the degree of rubbing in of the treatment fluid into the hair which is required in order to achieve an even distribution of the treatment fluid across the head of hair.

The present invention is applicable to various kinds of hair treatment fluids including dyes, perming lotions, conditioners, and shampoos. The present invention is moreover applicable to various different kinds of hair dyes well known in the art of including wash-resistant dyes, including semi- permanent dyes as well as so-called permanent dyes wherein the

dye is permanently bound to the hair and can only be removed by cutting off of the dyes hair or by some chemical treatment.

Where such permanent dyes are used then there will normally be required an oxidising agent. In such cases the normal practice is for the oxidising agent to be kept separately from the dye component and brought onto admixture therewith immediately before application of the mixture thereof to the hair.

Thus in a preferred form of hair treatment fluid applicator of the present invention there are provided at least two discrete compartments for holding at least two different treatment fluid components and provided with closure means formed and arrange for retaining said components in their respective compartments separately from each other prior to use and so as to be operable when required to allow at least one component to pass out of its compartment and into admixture with the other in a said reservoir with which the second belt pathway portion is in fluid communication.

It will be appreciated that various different arrangements are possible. Thus for example each of said compartments may be in communication, via respective closure means, with a common reservoir into which the fluid components are all transferred for mixing. Alternatively one of said compartments may constitute said reservoir with one or more other compartments emptying thereinto for mixing with the component already held in the reservoir. Nested arrangements are also possible wherein a smaller compartment containing one fluid component is enclosed within a second compartment containing a second fluid component.

Conveniently at least one compartment is in the form of a flexible bag, advantageously having at least one frangible or rupturable portion or openable seal or the like operable immediately before use of the applicator, to release fluid contained therein for mixing with one or more other fluid components in the applicator. A particular advantage of the use of a bag compartment is that it simplifies assembly of the applicator and reduces the need for complex sealing arrangements in the applicator, as the bag may be filled with fluid and sealed prior to assembly of the applicator.

Advantageously the applicator has a fluid release control means formed and arranged for actuation by a user for interaction with a said bag for release of fluid therefrom.

Various different arrangements may be used. Thus for example the applicator may include cutting or piercing means for cutting an opening in the bag wall. Alternatively there may be used moveable engagement means for squeezing or compressing the bag so as to burst it, conveniently at a predefined rupturable or frangible wall portion, or to force open a pressure sensitive seal or valve means and then positively to expel the fluid contents therefrom. It is also possible to utilise fluid release control means which simply open a valve or other closure means and allow fluid to drain out of the container under the influence of gravity, shaking etc, though this is less preferred as it generally takes longer to achieve good mixing of the fluid components. Various forms of moveable bag engagement means may be used. Thus for example there may be used a ram means operable by direct axial displacement, or by a screw device.

Various different forms of fluid may also be use with the applicators of the present invention. Thus there may be used

more or less viscous or thick liquids. Other suitable forms that may be mentioned include creams, lotions and gels, with the latter being particularly preferred in view of, on the one hand, their relative freedom from running and on the other hand their relatively good ease of release from the reservoir walls which facilitates dispensing and helps reduce wastage through retention in the reservoir. It is also possible in at least some cases to use relatively thin or low viscosity fluids though it may be desirable in such cases to use a more tightly sealed form of construction e. g. between the belt and the outlet means and/or use a lower porosity or more strongly absorbent belt.

Various forms of belt material and construction may be used through generally at least an outer layer of the belt material is desirable at least partly absorbent and compressible for increasing entrainment of dye fluid and facilitating release thereof as the applicator is drawn over the hair.

Conveniently at least an outer layer of the belt is of a polymeric foam material, preferably an open cell foam material. Various suitable materials are known in the art including polyurethane foam, with varying degrees of porosity and absorbency. If desired a reinforced backing layer, which need not be absorbent, may be used in the belt to increase its strength. Where this is substantially impervious it can also help to expel entrained dye fluid into the hair mass when the applicator is pressed against the hair.

Advantageously there is included in the belt a reinforcing or support carrier or substrate to enhance the tensile strength of the belt. Suitable reinforcing supports could be in the form of a more or less stretch resistant woven or non-woven

mesh of a suitable polymeric fibre. The reinforcing support may be located adjacent the roller (defining an inner face of said belt) and/or in a layer (s) located between said inner face and an outer face of the belt.

Various forms of fibrous material may also be used in the belt for enhancing fluid entrainment, including various forms of woven and other types of construction of fabric. Other forms of multi-element construction may also be used as for example a generally sheet form base with generally filamentary projections therefrom.

The material, from which the belt is constructed, is desirably sufficiently robust to withstand the pulling and stretching forces which may be applied to the material in use of the applicator. It is desirable that the material does not tear and/or permanently deform as it runs over the support rollers in use of the applicator.

The belt may be provided in a range of thicknesses depending upon the type and amount of fluid to be applied. Preferably the thickness of the belt is in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 mm.

More preferably the thickness of the belt is in the range of 1.0 to 3.5 mm.

Desirably the belt and support rollers therefor are formed and arranged so as to provide reasonably good traction between the belt material and the support roller to ensure that the belt does not slip over the surface to which the liquid is to be applied, such as for example a mass of hair, but runs more or less steadily over the rollers so that it is evenly and continually replenished with treatment fluid and provides an

substantially even and continuous transfer of the treatment of fluid to the surface over which it is drawn.

This is especially important with colouring products such as dye-stuffs for hair and sun-tan oils/lotions where uneven coating can lead to uneven fluid distribution and result in uneven coloration and/or streaking. Positive traction between the rollers and the belt material is of particular relevance where the liquid is a fluid such as a sun-tan lotion or more particularly an oil, in view of the lubricating effects of various means are known in the art for increasing traction between belts and support rollers therefore including the use of the belt materials with good frictional properties, suitable tensioning of the belt, and/or roller surfaces with high friction surface coatings on configurations.

The hydrophilicity of the belt material can be chosen/altered to accommodate the hydrophilic properties of the treatment fluid. The hydrophilicity of the material may, for example with a treatment fluid comprising a water based dye-stuff, be increased to increase the uptake of dye-stuff onto the belt (for increasing entrainment thereof) or to decrease the uptake of an oil-based fluid (for improving transfer thereof to the surface being treated). Alternatively, the hydrophilicity may be decreased to decrease the uptake of water based dye-stuff onto the belt material or to accommodate the increase in uptake by the belt of an oil-based fluid.

Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure itself of the material can be chosen to limit or increase the uptake of fluid by the belt. For more viscous and/or thixotropic fluids, a more open relatively large cell structure may be

used for a large uptake of fluid onto the belt. For relatively non-viscous fluids, a less open smaller cell structure may be more useful. Depending on the uptake requirements of the belt, the cell structure i. e. the size and openness thereof can be varied, in addition to selecting the appropriate hydrophilic properties of the material. Typical cell sizes of the material are in the range of from 0.01 to 3.00 mm.

The process of uptake of fluid by the belt material varies with type and structure of material from which the belt is constructed. Where the material is of a conventional open cell foam-like structure with relatively small openings between adjacent cells, the fluid tends to fill said cells as the belt is passed through the fluid to be entrained therein.

The fluid contained in the cells is then expelled from the belt as the exposed part is squeezed against the surface to be treated with said fluid.

Where the material is a three-dimensional almost lattice-type structure, such as is formed in reticulated foams, said fluid tends primarily to coat the lattice structure by forming more or less thin films of the fluid across the rings formed in the three-dimensional lattice structure, which may then recede onto the lattice framework itself leaving a coating of fluid on said framework. In this way the amount of fluid retained in the return run of the belt after it has passed over the surface being treated may be limited.

Advantageously the belt is supported so that the belt pathway tapers inwardly in the direction away from the exposed portion and/or is pressed against the sides of the reservoir outlet so

as to improve sealing thereof against uncontrolled release of dye fluid from the reservoir.

Conveniently the applicator is formed and arranged so that said second portion of the belt pathway is in fluid communication with the reservoir via a slot or other more or less restricted aperture means, so that escape of fluid from the reservoir is substantially restricted to fluid which has been entrained by the belt whereby dispensing of fluid is substantially controlled. Conveniently additional highly restricted aperture means such as micro-perforations are provided through which little or no fluid passes under normal conditions, but when the reservoir is pressurised e. g. by squeezing the surrounding walls of the applicator, fluid may be forced out through these to increase the amount of fluid entrained by the belt e. g. in order to apply locally an increased amount of fluid, or to increase the rate at which fluid is applied.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a hair treatment fluid application system comprising a hair treatment fluid applicator of the invention wherein the reservoir contains a said hair treatment fluid.

The invention also includes a method of treating hair wherein the improvement comprises providing the hair treatment fluid in a hair treatment fluid applicator of the invention and drawing the applicator over the head of hair.

If desired the mass of hair to be treated may be wetted before use of the applicator although this is usually less preferred as less fluid tends to be dispensed before the applicator head

starts to slip and stops entraining more fluid etc. Also if the applicator is used on dry hair the treated areas are more easily seen.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a vertical section orthogonal to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. 2 of a modified embodiment; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding generally to that of Fig. 1 of a further embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through another applicator intended for a two-compartment hair dye; Figs. 6 and 7 are horizontal section (on a slightly enlarged scale) of the applicator of Fig. 5 in planes VI-VI and VII- VII; Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the applicator of Fig. 5 in a plane orthogonal to that of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. 3 of another embodiment with a modified form of belt.

Fig. 10 is a general side view of a further embodiment in an activated condition; Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the applicator of Fig.

10 in an initial storage condition; Fig. 12 is a horizontal section through the fluid reservoir applicator part of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a schematic view of the applicator in use; Fig. 14 is a representation of the lattice type network of a reticulated polyurethane foam; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical section through an applicator provided with a two piece cap.

Fig. 1 shows a hair dye applicator 1 comprising a casing 2 defining a reservoir 3 for holding a supply of fluid dye 4.

Lugs 5 project at either side 6 of an outlet 7 (se Fig. 2) for mounting a belt support roller 8, and further lugs 9 inside the reservoir 3 mount a cylindrical return guide roller 10 for an endless belt 11 which extends around said support and return guide rollers 8,10.

As may be seen in Fig. 2, the belt support roller is in the form of a series of annular discs or wheels 12 on a spindle 13 forming a generally corrugated roller 8 so that when an exposed portion 14 of the belt 11, which is slightly tensioned, passes around the belt support roller 8 it is formed into a corrugated shape 15 which engages wetted hair in a substantially positive manner when the applicator is drawn over the hair (not shown) whereupon the belt is driven around the support and return rollers 8,10 thereby entraining dye fluid 16 which is carried out of reservoir 3 and onto the hair where it is deposited. (It will of course be understood that the applicator will be used in a variety of different attitudes from the fully inverted through a horizontal to a more or less upright position depending on which part of the head is being treated at the time.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of belt support roller 17 which provides a greater degree of support to the belt 11.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of casing 18 which has a separate reservoir compartment 19 with side opening 20 across which the belt pathway 21 extends.

Fig. 5 shows another applicator 31 having a casing 32 having a main central compartment 33 with an enlarged width base portion 34 above which extend first and second reservoir compartments 35,36 at opposite ends 37,38 of the casing 32.

A controlled release fluid transfer device subassembly 39 is slidably received in the casing 32 between the first and second reservoir compartments 35,36, and is covered over by a cap 40 which snap-fits onto the top 41 of the casing 32.

In more detail the transfer device 39 comprises opposed elongate support legs 42 between which are mounted lower and upper belt support rollers 43,44 substantially similar to those in Fig. 2 with an endless belt 45 extending therearound.

At the upper ends 46 of the support legs 42 is provided a cowling 47 which seals over the outer edges 48 of the exposed portion 49 of the belt 45 to avoid undue leakage therearound during use of the applicator 31.

At their upper ends 50 the first and second reservoir compartments 35,36 are provided with inlets 51 closed by caps 52 used for filling the compartments 53,54 and if desired withdrawing small quantities for sensitivity testing etc. At the lower ends 55 of their inner side walls 56, the compartments 35,36 are provided with outlets 57 which are sealingly occluded by the outer faces 58 of the transfer device support legs 42 in the retracted position of the transfer device 39 as shown in Fig. 5. When the device 39 is withdrawn upwardly the outlets 57 are partly or completely

opened, thereby allowing fluid components e. g. dye in one and oxidising agent in the other compartment to be released into the main compartment 33,34 in which they can be mixed together. The transfer device is then retracted again and can be used to dispense the mixture 59 onto the hair as described before.

Fig. 9 shows a modified embodiment similar to that of Fig. 3 but with a plain upper roller 60 and a belt 61 which is provided with longitudinally extending ribs 62 forming a generally corrugated outer belt surface 63.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus for example the bottom ends of the support legs of the transfer device could be omitted and the latter could instead be supported by inter- engaging, preferably snap-fitting, formations provided on the inner walls of the first and second compartments and on the outer sides of the support legs.

Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment of a hair applicator 70 of the present invention with a lower body portion 71 defining a first reservoir 72 (see Fig. 11), an upper body portion 73 mounting a controlled released fluid transfer device 74 and a closure cap 75. A hair parter in the form of a long tooth 76 is pivotally mounted 76 on the outside of the upper body portion 73 for movement between a stowed position (shown in solid line) alongside the upper body portion, and a hair parting position (shown in dashed outline) in which it projects outwardly for drawing through a treatment subjects hair in use of the applicator 70.

Figs. 11 and 12 show the lower body portion 71 in the form of vessel with a generally pistol-grip shape with two generally flat faces at opposite sides 77 (see Fig. 12), a front edge shaped so as to provide a rounded corrugated finger grip surface 78, and a generally flat rear edge 79 for engagement with a user's palm. A recess 80 in the base 81 accommodates a milled edge finish thumb wheel 82 having upwardly extending therefrom, through a sealed 83 aperture 84 in the base wall 81 of the vessel 71, a shaft 85 having a central longitudinally extending slot 86. A generally flattened sealed flexible bag 87 constituting a second reservoir has a central portion 88 extending through and engaged inside the slot 86 within the shaft 85. At opposite sides of the shaft 85 are provided radially outwardly projecting serrated knife edges 89 and around the shaft 85 and parallel thereto, and in relatively close proximity thereto, are fixedly mounted two pairs of angle section doctor blade members 90. When the thumb wheel 82 is turned the shaft 85 is rotated so that two wings 91 of the bag 87 either side of said shaft 85 are dragged around the shaft 85 and forced into respective ones of the constrictions 92 defined between the shaft 85 and said doctor members 90 thereby squeezing liquid 93 into the wing portions 91 and at the same time the knife edges 89 cut into the sides of the central portion of the bag 87 until it bursts open releasing the liquid contained therein. In order to facilitate release of the liquid from the bag the latter could also be provided with weakened portions, pressure sensitive seals etc.

Once the bag 87 has been opened in this way then by continued turning of the thumb wheel 82 the rest of the wing portions 91 are pulled through the constrictions and the doctor members 90

act to squeeze most of the remaining liquid 93 out of the second reservoir constituted by said bag 87 into the first liquid reservoir 72 constituted by the vessel 71 for mixing together with the contents 94 thereof, which are retained within the lower body portion vessel 71 by a film seal 95 extending across the otherwise open upper end 96 of said vessel 71. Repeated inversion, shaking etc may be employed to promote the mixing of the liquid components. In addition paddle means and the like could be mounted inside the vessel 71 in order to intensify mixing as the liquid components sluice around the inside of the vessel 71.

The upper body portion 73 is in the form of a hollow tubular casing 97 having an open lower end 98 which is a sliding fit around the upper end 96 of the lower body portion 71. The upper end 99 of the upper body portion 73 has an open-ended 100 head portion 101 which supports the upper end 102 of the fluid transfer device 74 so that the exposed belt pathway portion 103 thereof projects through the open end 100 in generally similar manner to that described in the earlier embodiments, as for example in Fig. 5.

The lower end 104 of the fluid transfer device 74 has an elongate slot aperture 105 in contact with the lower belt pathway portion 106, and extending downwardly from around said slot is provided an annular wall means 107 provided with a knife edge 108 at its distal end 109. In the initial storage position shown in Fig. 11, the knife edge 108 is supported above and clear of the closure film 105 of the lower body portion 71. Once the liquid components 93,94 have been thoroughly mixed, then the upper body portion 73 is telescoped down onto the lower body portion 71 so that the knife edge 108

punctures the closure film 95 thereby allowing the liquid component mixture 93,94 to pass through the slot aperture 105 into contact with the lower belt pathway portion 106 to be entrained thereby, when the applicator 70 is inverted in use for application of the liquid to the hair 110 of a treatment subject 111 as shown in Fig. 13.

In use of the applicator, the hair parting tooth 76 is drawn through the subject's hair to form a parting 112 and the hair drawn away at either side of the parting. The exposed portion of the belt pathway 103 is then pressed down onto the subject's scalp 113 and drawn along the parting 112 thereby transferring the treatment liquid 93,94 primarily to the hair roots 114 as shown in Fig. 13. Once sufficient treatment liquid has been applied, a new parting may be formed generally alongside but spaced suitably from the first parting and treatment liquid applied to the hair roots along that parting.

It will be appreciated that in this way it is possible to achieve in a particularly simple and convenient manner, a much more even dyeing or other treatment of the hair in subjects who have had their hair treated some time previously and now have dyed hair ends and undyed hair roots. Of course with subjects whose hair is substantially untreated then it will not be necessary to follow such a selective application procedure, and the applicator may be drawn across both the roots and the ends of the hair, and, if desired, additional rubbing in of the treatment liquid carried out to spread the liquid throughout the hair mass.

In order to prevent premature mixing of different liquid components and resulting deterioration of the treatment liquid, the thumb wheel 82 used to operate the system for

opening up the bag 87 holding the liquid component 93 contained therein, is desirably provided with a tamper-proof (or at least tamper-evident) seal 115 or the like. Also in order to prevent premature release of liquid from the reservoir 72 to the fluid transfer system 74, a suitable seal 117 may be provided on the outside 118 of the applicator 70 between the bottom edge 119 of the upper body portion 73 and a stop rib 120 on the outside 121 of the lower body portion 71 for defining the activated condition of the applicator 70 (as shown in Fig. 10)-in which the closure film 95 sealing the reservoir 72 has been breached-thereby blocking telescoping of the upper and lower body portions 73,71.

Figure 14 shows a magnified view of part of the net-worked structure of a reticulated foam material 122 suitable for use in a preferred form of the endless belt of the applicator.

Reticulated foams (which may be of polyurethane or any other suitable polymer) generally have a flexible three-dimensional cellular network structure which defines a multiplicity of cells 123 which are interconnected through openings in the network structure. These materials may be obtained by for example a thermal reticulation process by which cell membranes defining cells in an initially formed foamed polymer formulation are melted and shrunk back into cell ribs 124.

This is in contrast to conventional foams which generally have substantial areas of cell wall or membrane separating adjacent cells to a greater or lesser extent so that communication therebetween is substantially or completely restricted.

In another preferred form of the present invention there is used a modified, two-piece form of cap 125,126 for use with the applicator as shown in Figure 15. The cap 125,126 has a

separately detachable central portion 126 which, on removal, exposes only the raised central corrugations 127 (shown on a slightly exaggerated scale relative to the applicator) of the roller 128 with the belt 129 extending thereover so that the central corrugations 127 and belt 129 protrude from the outer portion 130 of the cap 125 covering the outer corrugations 131 of the roller 128. Use of the modified cap 125,126 allows a user to apply more easily product to the roots of the hair mass without contaminating the rest of the hair mass. This may be of particular benefit where the roots require selective treatment as a result of hair growth since the last application of dye to the hair mass.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, in the applicator of Figs. 10 to 12, additional cutting or spearing means may be provided, for example on the doctor blades for driving into the walls of the bag 87 when it is dragged round by the rotating shaft 85 to open up the gas and release its contents.

Although the applicator of the present invention is primarily intended for use in the application of various treatment liquids to hair, it will be appreciated that it may also be used for the application of other liquids for various other purposes, most notably for cosmetic or protective purposes.

Thus for example such applicators may also be used for applying sun screen to the skin. Accordingly it should be understood that the present invention also extends to encompass such applications.