Introduction This invention relates to a hair styling brush, in particular for use by someone dyeing their own hair.

Background of the Invention Many people dye their hair. Hair dyeing needs to be carried out on a regular basis to maintain the hair colour in optimum condition. Usually, the hair dyeing is carried out in a hair salon by a hairdresser or hair stylist. However, in present times access to a hair salon is often not possible. Even in more normal times access to a hair stylist is not always possible or convenient to arrange at a particular time,

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a hair styling brush comprising a body, a hair dye applicator brush mounted on the body, and a mirror mounted on the body for viewing application of hair dye by the hair dye applicator brush in use. Advantageously, the hair styling brush of this invention allows a person to dye their own hair in a controlled and accurate manner.

In one embodiment of the invention the hair dye applicator brush projects outwardly from an inner end of the body and the mirror is mounted on a face of the body;

In another embodiment two mirrors are provided, the mirrors being mounted on opposite faces of the body .

In another embodiment the mirror is adjustably mounted on the body.

In another embodiment the mirror is pivotally mounted on the body. In another embodiment the body has a tail pin.

In another embodiment the tail pin extends outwardly from the body.

In another embodiment the tail pin is located at an opposite side of the body to the hair dye applicator brush.

In another embodiment the tail pin is tapered, narrowing as it extends outwardly of the body.

In another embodiment the hair dye applicator brush is mounted at an inner end edge of the body.

In another embodiment the hair dye applicator brush is a tint hair dye brush.

In another embodiment the hair dye applicator brush comprises a set of flexible bristles extending outwardly from the body and having inner ends attached to the body.

In another embodiment the bristles comprise flexible plastics material.

In another embodiment the bristles comprise nylon material.

In another embodiment the body has a hand grip. Preferably the hand grip has an ergonomic shape to enhance a user’s comfort and grip.

In another embodiment the hand grip comprises shaped opposite side edges of the body.

In another embodiment the shaped side edges have curved or wavy serrations.

In another embodiment the hand grip is formed by opposite side edges on the body which have a grip enhancing surface.

In another embodiment each grip enhancing surface is formed by surface projections on the side edge. ln another embodiment the surface projections form a ribbed, pimpled, stippled or knurled surface along the side edge.

In another embodiment the grip enhancing surface is provided by a rubber strip or the like extending along each of the grip side edges.

In another embodiment the body comprises plastics material.

In another embodiment the hair dye applicator brush extends outwardly of a face of the mirror

In another embodiment the hair dye applicator brush is mounted on a brush head, the brush head being detachably engagable with the body.

In another embodiment the brush head is detachably engagable with the body by means of complementary interengagable formations on the brush head and on the body.

In another embodiment the complementary interengagable formations comprise one or more male connectors on one of the body and the brush head, each male connector being engagable with an associated receiver on the other of the body and the brush head.

In another embodiment the brush head is slidably engagable with the body.

In another embodiment the hair dye applicator brush is mounted on a brush head, the brush head being movable on the body to adjust the orientation of the hair dye applicator brush relative to the mirror on the body.

In another embodiment the brush head is movable on the body between a first position in which the hair dye applicator brush is in alignment with the mirror and a second position in which the hair dye applicator brush extends outwardly of a face of the mirror.

In another embodiment the brush head is pivotally mounted on the body. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a hair styling brush according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the hair styling brush;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged underneath plan view of the hair styling brush;

Fig. 4 is a partially cut-away elevational view of another hair styling brush according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a hair styling brush according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the hair styling brush of Fig, 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the hair styling brush in another position of use;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the hair styling brush in a position of use corresponding to that shown in Fig, 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a hair styling brush according to a fourth embodiment the invention;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the hair styling brush shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the hair styling brush in another position of use; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing the hair styling brush in a position of use corresponding to that shown in Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a hair styling brush according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

Fig, 14 is an exploded elevational view of the hair styling brush shown in Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of another hair styling brush according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig, 1 to Fig. 3 thereof, there is illustrated a hair styling brush according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The hair styling brush 1 has a body 2. A hair dye applicator brush 3 is mounted on the body 2. A mirror 4 is also mounted on the body 2. A tail pin 6 extends outwardly from the body 2 at an opposite end of the body 2 to the hair dye applicator brush 3,

The body 2 has a generally rectangular shape with a front face 7 and a rearface 8. The body 2 has opposite side edges 9, 10 which form a hand grip, an inner end edge 11 extending between the side edges 9, 10 on which the hair dye applicator brush 3 is mounted and an outer end edge 12 from which the tail pin 6 projects outwardly, the outer end edge 12 extending between the side edges 9, 10 at an opposite end of the body 2 to the inner end edge 11.

In this case the side edges 9, 10 have curved or wavy serrations 14 for enhanced grip by a user. In alternative embodiments various other grip enhancing surfacearrangements, such as surface projections or rubber strips, could be provided along the side edges 9, 10 either as an alternative to the wavy serrations 14 or in combination with the wavy serrations 14.

The mirror 4 is mounted on the front face 7 of the body 2. In this case a single mirror 4 is provided. However, it is preferable that a second mirror (not shown) is provided on the rear face 8 of the body 2 also. The mirror 4, or one of the mirrors 4 may be a magnifying mirror. The hair dye applicator brush 3 comprises a set of flexible nylon bristles forming a tint hair dye brush. The bristles extend outwardly from the inner end edge 11 of the body 2. Inner ends 16 of the bristles are attached to the body 2 at the inner end edge 11 of the body 2. The hair dye applicator brush is essentially parallel to a face of the mirror 4.

The tail pin 6 projects outwardly from a centre of the outer end edge 12 of the body 2 at an opposite end of the body 2 to the hair dye applicator brush 3. The tail pin 6 has an elongate shaft 17 with tapered side edges 18, 19, narrowing as it extends outwardly from the body 2 to a pointed tip 20. A flat front face 21 and a flat rear face 22 of the shaft 17 form extensions of the front face 7 and the rear face 8 of the body 2.

In use, a person can use the hair styling brush 1 when applying dye to their own hair. To hold the hair styling brash 1 the user grips the side edges 9, 10, the grip enhancing wavy serrations 14 ensuring a firm grip can be achieved. The tail pin 6 is used for sectioning the hair and preparing the hair for colouring with hair dye. The hair dye applicator brush 3 is used to apply hair dye to their own hair by the user. By using the mirror 4 when applying the hair dye by means of the hair dye applicator brush 3 the user can see where they are placing the hair dye, thus enabling them to dye their own hair in a proficient manner.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown another hair styling brush according to a second embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the mirror 4 is pivotally mounted within an associated opening 31 in the body 2. Pivot pins 32 project laterally outwardly in a central position at each side of the mirror 4 and rotatably engage complementary receiver sockets 33 in the body 2 at opposite sides of the opening 31. The engagement between the pivot pins 32 and the associated sockets 33 is such as to firmly hold the mirror 4 in any set position. This allows adjustment of the mirror 4 if required.

Referring now to Fig. 5 to Fig. 8, there is shown another hair styling brush according to a third embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the hair dye applicator brush 3 is mounted on a brush head 41. The brush head 41 is movable on the body 2 to adjust the orientation of the hair dye applicator brush 3 relative to the mirror 4 on the body 2. Preferably mirrors 4 are provided on opposite faces 7, 8 of the body 2. A central pivot connector 42 between the brush head 41 and the body 2 pivotally mounts the brush head 41 on the body 2 for pivotal movement about a central longitudinal axis AA of the body 2. Thus, the brush head 41 is movable on the body 2 between a first position, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, in which the hair dye applicator brush 3 is in alignment with each mirror 4 and a second position, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, in which the hair dye applicator brush 3 extends outwardly of each face 7, 8 of the mirror 4. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show the hair dye applicator brush 3 extending outwardly perpendicular to the faces 7, 8 of the body 2 (and face of the mirror 4), however it will be appreciated that the hair dye applicator brush 3 can be swivelled into and held in any intermediate position between the positions shown in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 7 to facilitate dye application using the hair styling brush 40. Referring to Fig. 9 to Fig. 12, there is shown another hair styling brush according to another embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the hair dye applicator brush 3 also pivots on the body 2, being able to swivel or hinge to either side of the body 2 by means of a hinged pivot connector 52. In this case a hinge or pivot axis BB is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AA of the body

2 or in other words parallel to the side faces 7, 8 of the body and hence parallel to a face of each mirror 4. Thus, the brush head 41 can pivot through 180 degrees and be held in any desired position or angle relative to the mirror 4 adjacent or forming an extension of either face 7, 8 of the body 2 to facilitate dye application.

Referring now to Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, there is shown another hair styling brush according to another embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 60, Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the brush head 41 is detachably engagable with the body 2. Male connectors 62 on the brush head 41 snap engage with and release from complementary female receiver slots 63 on the body 2. Thus, the brush head 41 can be detached from the body 2 and held in one hand for dye application by means of the hair dye applicator brush 3 whilst the mirror 4 is held in the other hand. Instead of snap engaging connectors 62, 63 in an alternative arrangement slidably engaging connectors may be provided on the body 2 and on the brush head 41. Referring now to Fig. 15, there is shown another hair styling brush according to another embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerate. In this case, instead of, or in addition to, the wavy serrations 14 described previously, the hair styling brush 70 has a grip enhancing surface 71 on each side edge 9, 10 of the body 2. The grip enhancing surface 71 can be formed by a grip enhancing rubber strip or by surface projections on each side edge 9, 10 forming a ribbed, pimpled, stippled or knurled surface along the side edge 9, 10.

In this specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.