60/434,192, filed December 17,2002, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional hair dye applicator devices that utilize a compressible bottle containing liquid, such as a dye, are well known in the art. However, such devices typically do not provide means for controlling application of the fluid to the user's hair in an acceptable manner. Furthermore, these prior art devices do not provide means for controlling application of the liquid in a desired pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid is provided that includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end and a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal end. The dispensing member also includes a plurality of bristles extending from the distal end. One or more orifices can be provided in the distal end that are fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. In other embodiments, the distal end includes a plurality of bristles with at least one of the bristles including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. The fluid can include at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair straightener.

A hair fluid applicator is also provided that includes a collapsible fluid container for containing a fluid, the fluid container having an open end for allowing egress of the fluid. The applicator also includes a compressible air container encasing a majority of the fluid container, a one-way air valve configured to allow

air into the air container and to prevent air from exiting therefrom, and a dispensing member having a proximate end, which is attachable to the air container, and a distal end. The distal end can include at least one orifice in fluid communication with the open end of the fluid container. The dispensing member can also include a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal end. The applicator also includes a one-way fluid valve disposed between the open end of the fluid container and the dispensing member. The one-way fluid valve allows egress of the fluid while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container.

A method of applying a fluid to hair to be treated is also provided that includes providing a hair fluid applicator including a dispensing member that includes body having a proximate end and a distal end and a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal end. The dispensing member also includes a plurality of bristles extending from the distal end. The method further includes adjusting the neck to a desired angle for applying fluid to the hair and applying fluid to the hair to be treated through the dispensing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing member illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tip of the dispensing member provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tip of the dispensing member provided in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the one-way air valve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way air valve illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a one-way fluid valve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way fluid valve illustrated in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A description of various embodiments of the invention follows.

A touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator 10, which can be disposable or reusable, is illustrated in FIG. 1. Generally, the applicator 10 includes an air container 12 that encases at least a majority of a collapsible fluid container 14 that can contain a fluid, such as a colorant, dye, shampoo, conditioner, hair straightener, etc. The air container 12 is resiliently compressible, i. e., deformable when squeezed, but returns to its original shape, and can include a one-way air valve 16 for allowing air into the air container while preventing air from exiting therefrom. The air container 12 includes an open end 18 couplable to a dispensing head, head part, brush head, or dispensing member 20 through which the fluid is delivered to hair to be treated. In a particular embodiment, the dispensing member 20 can be screwed onto the air container 12 or otherwise affixed thereto. A one-way fluid valve 22 is disposed between the open end 18 of the air container 12 and the dispensing member 20 for allowing egress of the fluid from the fluid container 14 while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container (see, for example, FIG. 47 of U. S. Patent 6,357, 449, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference).

FIG. 2 illustrates the dispensing member 20 that includes a body 26 that can include a bendable neck 19 disposed between a proximate end 21, which is attachable to the air container 12, and a tip or distal end 23. A plurality of fine bristles/teeth 24 are provided at the distal end 23, which is designed to allow the user to selectively apply fluid to hair to be treated, such as sideburns and moustaches.

The neck 19 can be designed to be bendable similar to the accordion-type configuration of a bendable straw. In other embodiments, the neck 19 can include a pivoting mechanism, such as a ball bearing, to effect the bending of the neck 19.

Other mechanisms can be used to allow the neck 19 to articulate. In a particular embodiment, the bristles 24 are soft and bendable.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distal end 23 can include a plurality of orifices 28 that fluidly connect to the fluid container 14 for delivering fluid to the hair to be treated. In other embodiments, orifices can be provided at the base and/or along the shaft of some or all of the bristles 24. FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment wherein bristles 30 can be provided that include orifices that are fluidly connectable to the fluid container 14. In further embodiments, a combination of the bristles 24,30 can be implemented.

An embodiment of the one-way air valve 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 and includes a duckbill-type valve 32 having a slit 34 through which air is allowed to flow into the air container 12, although other types of one-way valves can be implemented. The valve 16 can include raised members or bumpers 36 that support the fluid container 14 above the slit 34 so that air can flow into the air container 12.

The valve 16 can also include a flange 38 that snap-fits into the air container 12 and provides a seal.

An embodiment of a one-way fluid valve 22 (FIGS. 7 and 8) can include a flange 40 that forms a seal between the fluid container 14 and the dispensing member 20. The one-way valve 22 can also include a duckbill-type valve 42 that includes a slit 44 such that the fluid passes in a one-way direction through the valve 22. In other embodiments, other types of one-way fluid valves can be implemented.

In operation, when the air container 12 is compressed, the air pressure between the air container and the fluid container 14 increases since the air cannot escape. This increased pressure collapses the fluid container 14 that pumps fluid up through the one-way fluid valve 22 into the dispensing member 20 and out through the orifices 28 and/or bristles 30. When the compression on the air container 12 is relieved, the one-way fluid valve 22 does not allow the back flow of fluid to the fluid container 14. Due to the higher outside pressure, air outside rushes in through the

one-way air valve 16 and enters the space between the two containers 12,14 to equalize the pressure.

With no backflow, the fluid container 14 collapses and by repeating the steps, fluid continuously flows out of the dispensing member 20 with every compression until the desired amount of fluid is evacuated from the fluid container, regardless of the orientation of the applicator 10. The neck 19 can be bent to allow the user flexibility in applying the fluid to the hair to be treated.

In particular embodiments, the valves 16,22 can be formed from a flexible material, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, such as silicone. The one-way fluid valve 22 can be formed from a chemically-resistant material. In specific embodiments, the air container 12 can be formed from a low density polyethylene and the dispensing member 20 can be formed from polypropylene. In one embodiment, the fluid container 14 is formed from a low density polyethylene/PPO blend.

Any of the hair fluid applicators disclosed herein can be used on humans as well as animals, such as a dog.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.