Background Art Generally, hairbrushes are devices to style and comb hair. The hairbrushes have a cylindrical body with a plurality of bristles which are provided around an outer surface of the body at regular intervals to efficiently curl hair, different from combs having a plurality of teeth aligned in a straight manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional hairbrush includes a cylindrical body 1, a handle 2 which is provided at a rear end of the body 1 and has a predetermined length, and a plurality of bristles 3 which are provided around an outer surface of the body 1, so as to comb or curl hair.

However, the above-mentioned conventional hairbrush causes an inconvenience to a user, because the conventional hairbrush forces the user to repeatedly put down and pick up the hairbrush. In addition, the conventional hairbrush is problematic in that the hairbrush may be broken by rolling and falling from a position on which the user puts down the hairbrush. Particularly, the above-mentioned problems cause an inconvenience to users, who professionally arrange and cut hair, such as a hairdresser and a barber. Therefore, a hairbrush having an improved structure is required to overcome the problems experienced in the conventional hairbrush.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a handle for hairbrushes which has at a rear end thereof a rotary tap having a finger hole to allow a user to easily execute a hair-cutting operation by a use of a cutter or other hair-dressing operations while hanging the rotary tap of the hairbrush on a finger, and easily curl or comb hair by bristles of a body of the hairbrush while the user inserts his/her smallest finger in the finger hole of the rotary tap and rotate an intermediate barrel and an anti-slip ring of the handle relative to the rotary tap of the handle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle for hairbrushes which easily loosens hair by simply rotating the intermediate barrel and the anti-slip ring relative to the rotary tap by pulling the hairbrush while holding only the rotary tap after the user executes a hair-curling and hair-drying operation.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a handle for a hairbrush. The hairbrush includes a cylindrical body, the handle which is coupled to a rear end of the body and has a predetermined length, and a plurality of bristles provided around the outer surface of the body. The handle includes a shank axially projected from the rear end of the body to a predetermined length, a hollow anti-slip ring having a cylindrical-type shape, with a knurled surface integrally provided around an outer surface of the anti-slip ring, the anti-slip ring being forcibly fitted over the shank of the body, an intermediate barrel comprising a cylindrical-type barrel member having a predetermined length, and a rotary tap having a finger hole at a predetermined portion thereof to insert a finger of a user in the finger hole, with a locking shaft axially integrally projected from a front end of the rotary tap to a predetermined length, so that the intermediate barrel is fitted over the locking shaft of the rotary tap such that a front end of the locking shaft of the rotary tap is exposed through

the second hole to the outside and is coupled to the intermediate barrel by a locking unit, thus rotating relative to the intermediate barrel. The barrel includes a first hole having a predetermined length provided at a front end of the barrel member to forcibly fit the barrel member over the shank of the body, a second hole provided at a predetermined portion of a sidewall of the barrel member in rear of the first hole, and a third hole axially provided at a rear end of the barrel member to be perpendicular to the second hole.

At least one fitting projection may be longitudinally formed along an inside surface of each of the anti-slip ring and the first hole of the intermediate barrel, and at least one fitting groove may be longitudinally formed along an outside surface of the shank, projected from the rear end of the body, to correspond to the fitting projection, so that the fitting groove of the shank sequentially engages with the fitting projection of the anti-slip ring and the fitting projection of the first hole of the barrel.

The locking unit may include an annular groove formed around the front end of the locking shaft of the rotary tap which is exposed to the outside through the second hole of the intermediate barrel, and a retainer ring fitted over the annular groove through the second hole of the barrel.

The locking unit may include a hook which is formed on the front end of the locking shaft of the rotary tap which is exposed to the outside through the second hole of the intermediate barrel.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional hairbrush; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hairbrush having a handle, according to a first embodiment of the present invention ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hairbrush having the handle of FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the handle of the hairbrush of FIG. 2 ; and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a handle for hairbrushes, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hairbrush having a handle, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hairbrush having the handle of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the handle of the hairbrush of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the hairbrush of the present invention includes a body 10, an anti-slip ring 20, an intermediate barrel 30 and a rotary tap 40.

The. body 10 has a cylindrical-type shape in the same manner as bodies of conventional hairbrushes, with a plurality of bristles 12 which are provided around an outer surface of the body 10 at regular intervals, so as to comb or curl hair. The body 10 of the hairbrush of the present invention has at a rear end thereof a shank 14 which is axially integrally projected from the rear end of the body 10 to a predetermined length. The shank 14, which is projected from the rear end of the body 10, has at least one fitting groove 14a which is longitudinally formed along an outside surface of the shank 14, so that the anti-slip ring 20 and the intermediate barrel 30 are forcibly sequentially fitted over the shank 14 of the body 10.

The anti-slip ring 20 has a cylindrical-type shape and is preferably made of a material which is a rubber or a synthetic resin. The anti-slip ring 20 further

has a knurled surface 22 which is integrally provided around an outer surface of the anti-slip ring 20. The anti-slip ring 20 is forcibly fitted over the shank 14 of the body 10. In the meantime, at least one first fitting projection 22a is integrally formed along an inside surface of the anti-slip ring 20 to correspond to the fitting groove 14a of the shank 14 of the body 10, so as to prevent the anti-slip ring 20 from rotating around the shank 14 while the anti-slip ring 20 is fitted over the shank 14 of the body 10.

The intermediate barrel 30 has a cylindrical-type shape. The intermediate barrel 30 includes a first hole 32 which has a predetermined length and is provided at a front end of the intermediate barrel 30 to forcibly fit the barrel 30 over the shank 14 of the body 10. The intermediate barrel 30 further includes a second hole 34 which is provided at a predetermined portion of a sidewall of the intermediate barrel 30 in rear of the first hole 32 of the barrel 30, and a third hole 36 which is axially provided at a rear end of the intermediate barrel 30 to be perpendicular to the second hole 34 of the barrel 30.

The intermediate barrel 30 is fitted over the shank 14 of the body 10 through the first hole 32. The intermediate barrel 30 is further fitted over a locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40, and is coupled to the locking shaft 44 by a retainer ring 46 which is a locking unit to couple the locking shaft 44 to the intermediate barrel 30 such that the rotary tap 40 rotates relative to the inter mediate barrel 30. At this time, the retainer ring 46 is detachably fitted over the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40 through the second hole 34 of the intermediate barrel 30.

The rotary tap 40 has a finger hole 42 at a predetermined portion thereof to insert a finger of a user in the finger hole 42. The rotary tap 40 further has the locking shaft 44 which is axially and integrally projected from a front end of the rotary tap 40 to a predetermined length, so that the intermediate barrel 30 is fitted over the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40 such that a front end of the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40 is exposed through the second hole 34 to the outside.

Accordingly, the rotary tap 40 rotates relative to the intermediate barrel 30 by the

retainer ring 46 which is the locking unit to couple the locking shaft 44 to the intermediate barrel 30.

At this time, the locking unit comprises an annular groove 44a which is formed around the front end of the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40 which is exposed to the outside through the second hole 34 of the intermediate barrel30, and the retainer ring 46 which is fitted over the annular groove 44a through the second hole 34 of the barrel 30. The locking unit allows the rotary tap 40 to be rotatably coupled to the intermediate barrel 30 and prevents the rotary tap 40 from undesirably removing from the third hole 36 of the intermediate barrel 30.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a handle for hairbrushes, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the locking unit of the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of elastic hooks 48 which are formed on the front end of the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40 which is exposed to the outside through the second hole 34 of the intermediate barrel 30, thus coupling the locking shaft 44 to the intermediate barrel 30 through the third hole 36 of the intermediate barrel 30. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the elastic hooks 48 allow the rotary tap 40 to be rotatably coupled to the intermediate barrel 30 and prevent the rotary tap 40 from undesirably removing from the third hole 36 of the intermediate barrel 30.

Next, the operation and effect of the handle for hairbrushes of the present invention will be described herein below.

In the handle for hairbrushes of the present invention, the anti-slip ring 20 is forcibly fitted over the shank 14 which is axially projected from the rear end of the body 10. At this time, the fitting groove 14a of the shank 14 engages with the first fitting projection 22a which is formed on the inside surface of the anti- slip ring 20, so as to prevent the anti-slip ring 20 from rotating around the shank 14 of the body 10.

The first hole 32 of the intermediate barrel 30 is forcibly fitted over the shank 14 of the body 10 after the anti-slip ring 20 is fitted over the shank 14. At

this time, the fitting groove 14a of the shank 14 engages with a second fitting projection 33a which is formed on the inside surface of the intermediate barrel 30, in the same manner as that described for the assembling process in which the anti- slip ring 20 is fitted over the shank 14. Of course, the operational effect of the engagement of the second fitting projection 33a with the fitting groove 14a remains the same as the first fitting projection 22a.

Therefore, the third hole 36 of the intermediate barrel 30 is fitted over the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40. The retainer ring 46 of the locking unit is fitted over the annular groove 44a of the locking shaft 44 of the rotary tap 40 through the second hole 34 of the intermediate barrel 30, so as to prevent the rotary tap 40 from undesirably removing from the intermediate barrel 30 and allow the rotary tap 40 to smoothly rotate relative to the barrel 30.

In the meantime, in case of use of the elastic hooks 48 as the locking unit, the hooks 48 of the rotary tap 40 are inserted into the third hole 36 of the intermediate barrel 30 to be elastically hooked on a front end of the third hole 36, so that the rotary tap 40 is prevented from being undesirably removed from the intermediate barrel 30 and smoothly rotates relative to the barrel 30.

When using the hairbrush having the handle with the above-mentioned construction, the user inserts his/her smallest finger in the finger hole 42 of the rotary tap 40, and grips both the anti-slip ring 20 and the intermediate barrel 30 with his/her remaining fingers, thus easily combing and curling the hair with the hairbrush.

At this time, because the anti-slip ring 20 and the intermediate barrel 30 may rotate relative to the rotary tap 40 of which the finger hole 42 is hanged on the his/her smallest finger, the user smoothly rotates the anti-slip ring 20 and the intermediate barrel 30 relative to the rotary tap 40 by use of the remaining fingers.

In addition, in case that the user desires to arrange the hair, to use a sprayer, to cut the hair by use of a cutter, or to dress the hair, using his/her hand which grip the hairbrush, the user can easily execute the above motions with the remaining fingers of the hand while hanging the hairbrush on the smallest finger

of the hand through the finger hole 42 of the rotary tap 40. Thereafter, in case that the user desires to repeatedly use the hairbrush, the user can easily grip the anti-slip ring 20 and the intermediate barrel 30 of the hairbrush by the use of the remaining fingers, because the hairbrush is hanging on the smallest finger by the finger hole 42 of the rotary tap 40.

Furthermore, the hairbrush having the handle of the present invention may easily loosen the hair by simply rotating the anti-slip ring 20 and the intermediate barrel 30 relative to the rotary tap 40 by pulling the hairbrush while holding only the rotary tap 40 after the user executes a hair-rolling and hair- drying operation while curling the hair.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a handle for hairbrushes which has at a rear end thereof a rotary tap having a finger hole to allow a user to easily use the hairbrush. The hairbrush having the handle of the present invention is advantageous in that the user conveniently uses the hairbrush, because the hairbrush having the handle of the present invention does not force the user to repeatedly put down and pick up the hairbrush, but allows the user to hang the handle of the hairbrush on a finger. Furthermore, the hairbrush having the handle of the present invention allows the user to easily curl and comb the hair by rotating a body of the hairbrush relative to the rotary tap while hanging the rotary tap of the handle on the finger. In addition, the hairbrush of the present invention may efficiently loosen the hair by simply rotating the body relative to the rotary tap by pulling the hairbrush while holding only the rotary tap.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.