SPECIFICATION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention. This invention relates to cosmetic and beauty tools in general and to an improved and novel applicator device for highlighting hair in particular.

Prior Art. The hair highlighting industry is one of the most popular and steadily growing industries in the United States. As the industry has grown, the demand for highlighting tools has skyrocketed as well. In general, the hair highlighting process involves isolating selected strands of hair and applying a color to same. Such a process is also referred to as "streaking," "tinting," and "frosting." However, the professional and home-hair highlighting tools heretofore devised and utilized have many disadvantages, and therefore an improvement over the prior art is desired. For example, many prior art highlighting tools such as hair colorant caps and hair highlighting combs/brushes, are not cost-effective or time-efficient. Furthermore, many such prior art highlighting tools can also be complex, not capable of being easily manufactured or used. Furthermore, the use of highlighting combs/brushes often results in the tangling and snarling of hair and can result in a messy and cumbersome procedure. Uneven applications and unnatural results are also disadvantages associated with such prior art tools. For example, highlighting caps are not very efficient to treat roots. In contrast, highlighting combs/brushes concentrate too much colorant onto the roots, yet not enough towards the end of the hair. An alternative to utilizing these tools is performing the highlighting process manually, i.e. using the hands to apply and disperse hair colorant to selected locks. However, this method has its own drawbacks because it requires the user's skin and fingernails to come into contact with the colorant chemicals, where they can have an undesirable effect as they can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. Accordingly, to date, several significant problems still need to be addressed with regard to the currently available highlighting tools and methods.

For these reasons, an improved tool and method for highlighting hair, meeting the following objectives, would be highly desirable in the industry. B. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved highlighting applicator that obviate the disadvantages associated with many prior art highlighting tools. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved highlighting applicator that is cost effective and time efficient.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved highlighting applicator that is simple in construction and capable of being manufactured at a reduced cost.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved highlighting applicator that is easy to use by both professionals and the average consumer.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved highlighting applicator that rninimizes or obviates the tangling and snarling of hair.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved highlighting applicator that allows for a natural and even application from the root to the end of the hair. These and other objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.

C. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved applicator device for highlighting hair comprising a closure cap configured to be mounted on a container configured to receive or contain a composition for application to the hair; the closure cap further comprising an opening for dispensing the composition; the closure cap further comprising a hair securer situated near the opening for entraining a lock of the user's hair as the composition is dispensed along the length of the lock.

D. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES AND FIGURES

The accompanying tables and figures exemplify several preferred embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that these embodiments are not intended to be either exhaustive, or limiting of the invention. They are but examples of some of the forms in which the invention may be practiced.

FIGURES IA-I C depicts various views of one preferred embodiment of the applicator device of the present invention.

FIGURES 2A-2I depict various views of a second and third preferred embodiment of the applicator device of the present invention

FIGURES 3A-3D depict how the applicator device of the present invention is to be utilized.

FIG 3 A depicts the applicator device engaged to a selected lock of the user's hair. FIG 3B is a close up of the applicator device and lock of hair. FIG 3C is an isometric view depicting the applicator device pulled half-way down the lock of hair and the highlighting composition delivered to half the lock.

FIG 3D is an isometric view depicting the applicator device pulled completely down the lock of hair and the highlighting composition delivered along the whole length of the lock.

E. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An improved applicator device 1 for highlighting hair is disclosed. As depicted by Figures 1A-1C and 2A-2C, improved applicator device 1 comprises a closure cap 2 configured to be mounted on a container 3, said container 3 in turn configured to receive or contain a desired flowable composition 4, such as a highlighting composition or colorant. Although the following discussion describes the applicator device 1 for use in highlighting hair, it is to be understood that applicator device 1 can be utilized in conjunction with other compositions and in other applications. Thus, the term "composition" refers to any desired substance to be applied to the hair, including but not limited to colorants, lighteners, highlighters, tinting solutions, glossers, detanglers, oils, conditioners, or a combination of any of the foregoing. In a preferred embodiment, container 3 can be a commercially available container with a pre-included composition 4, alternatively container 3 can be an empty container that a user can subsequently fill with the desired composition 4. hi the highlighting industry, container 3 generally takes the form of a squeeze bottle or squeeze bulb, however other embodiments of container 3 are also contemplated. As used herein, the term "user" refers to any individual who manipulates applicator device 1 for self-use or use on others, and the term further refers to both professionals as well as average consumers.

Continuing with a discussion of a preferred construction of applicator device 1, closure cap 2 will further comprise an opening 2a to dispense composition 4 from container 3. As depicted by Figures 1A-1C, colorant or highlighting composition 4 being dispensed from opening 2a, will follow a flow path, herein designated as F. In a preferred embodiment, and as depicted by Figures 1A-1C and 2A-2C, closure cap 2 will further be provided with a screw thread 2d to allow it to be screwed onto the opening 3a of container 3, container 3 in turn comprising an external mating screw thread 3d. In a preferred embodiment, and as depicted by Figures 1A-1C and 2A-2C, closure cap 2 will further comprise a hair securer 5. As depicted by Figures 1A-1C and 2A-2C, hair securer 5 will comprise a stem region 5a extending off a side 2f of closure cap 2, adjacent to opening 2a. In a further preferred embodiment, stem region 5a will terminate into a hook region 5b, said hook region 5a being situated substantially perpendicular to flow path F. Figures IA-I C depict a first preferred embodiment of hook region 5b, while Figures 2A- 2C depict a second preferred embodiment of same. As can be seen from Figures 1A-1C and 2A-2C, hair securer 5 will be comprised of substantially smooth and flat surfaces. As will be discussed below, this will help to minimize tangling/snarling of hair. As depicted by Figures 1A-1C and 2A-2C, stem region 5a and hook region 5b of hair securer 5 will define a notch 5c for entraining a lock 7 of the user's hair. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, notch 5c will have a pre-determined size and angle. As can be seen from the foregoing discussion, a preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates hair securer 5 being substantially in the shape of a hook, however this is understood to be a non-limiting example. Another suitable shape of hair securer 5 is depicted by Figures 2D-2I. As can be seen, in this embodiment, hair securer 5 is substantially in the shape of a flexible circle.

Continuing with a discussion of a preferred construction of applicator device 1, in one preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that closure cap 2 and the hair securer 5 can be integrally molded to each other. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that hair securer 5 can be detachably connected to closure cap 2. For example, closure cap 2 can comprise a groove on its side, whereby stem region 5a of securer 5 can be removably inserted into this groove. Other means of achieving a detachable connection between securer 5 and closure cap 2 include Velcro strips, clasps, clips, snaps, and the like, hi this embodiment of the invention, a plurality of detachable hair securers 5 and notches 5c of varying shapes, sizes, and configurations can be provided. That is to say that hair securer 5 need not be in the shape of a hook, and the size and shape of notch 5c need not be limited to what is disclosed. In this fashion, different securers 5 can then be attached to closure cap 2, depending on the lock 7 of hair to be treated. For example, a thicker lock 7 would require a securer 5 having a bigger and deeper notch 5c, while a thinner and finer lock 7 would require a securer 5 having a smaller notch 5c.

In constructing closure cap 2 and hair securer 5, the inventor contemplates utilizing plastic material such as polypropylene, however other suitable materials may also be utilized. As can be seen from the foregoing, the construction of applicator device 1 is simple, making it capable of being manufactured at a reduced cost.

A preferred method of use of applicator device 1 will now be provided, in the context of a user manipulating device 1 for treating her own hair. See Figures 3A-3D. As depicted by Figures 3A and 3B, the user will first select the lock 7 of hair to be treated with the highlighting composition/colorant 4. The user will then place notch 5c of hair securer 5 as close to the scalp as possible. The user will then isolate the selected lock 7 from the rest of the hair by placing the root of lock 7 into notch 5c of hair securer 5, whereby notch 5c will easily catch the hair without tangling or snaring. As discussed above, hair securer 5 will be comprised of substantially smooth and flat surfaces to provide for this benefit. After the selected lock has been entrained in notch 5c, applicator device 1 can be used single handedly, in a quick and easy fashion. There is no requirement for complicated maneuvers, or the need for the user's hands to come into contact with composition 4.

As depicted by Figures 3C and 3D, the user will then begin to dispense the colorant 4 along the length of lock 7, by squeezing container 3 consistently and continuously from root to tip. As the user moves container 3 and applicator device 1 down the length of lock 7, securer 5 will function as an entraining mechanism to keep lock 7 isolated from the rest of the hair as it is being treated. In this manner, other areas of the hair are not contacted by composition 4. Securer 5 will also function as a guide mechanism to allow the user to apply highlighting composition 4 to the length of lock 7 in a precise, controlled and even manner. Thus, what is provided is a novel highlighting container-applicator combination, which functions not only to entrain the desired lock but also to simultaneously dispense the composition thereto. After the highlighting composition has been applied to selected lock 7, the user will disengage lock 7 from hair securer 5. The user may then repeat the above process on other selected locks 7 on the head to achieve the desired end result. After the application is complete, the composition 4 is left on the hair for processing and subsequently rinsed, pursuant to desire and/or industry standards.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiment, other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art from a review of the foregoing. Those embodiments as well as the preferred embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the scope and spirit of the following claims.