A hairdresser's apparatus used to streak hair.

The present patent application for utility model relates to a hairdresser's apparatus used to streak hair.

The peculiarities and advantages of the present invention will become evident after a short description of the prior art.

First of all, it must be noted that streaks consist in hair locks that are selectively given a different color, either lighter or darker, with respect to the base color of hair.

According to the prior art, said streaks are made by applying the desired color on a hair lock and wrapping the lock inside a piece of tinfoil.

A piece of tinfoil is used to wrap the hair lock completely, assuming a substantially cylindrical shape.

The application of similar foiled pieces on selectively dyed hair locks prevents hair dye from accidentally getting dirty the hair locks that are meant to maintain the base color.

Said foiled pieces are removed when dye has definitely set on hair locks.

Currently, cutting-to-size and pre-folding operations of foiled pieces are made manually by the hairdresser before customers arrive, in order to have a suitable number of foiled pieces available for use.

In other words, said preparatory operations require some extra work from the hairdresser, in addition to hair styling.

Another inconvenience of this traditional technology consists in the fact that said foiled pieces do not allow for visual control of the progressive color change of the hair locks wrapped inside them.

For this reason, the hairdresser is forced to repeatedly open the foiled pieces in order to make sure that each hair lock has actually achieved the desired color requested by the user. In view of the aforementioned inconveniences, the holder of the present patent application has developed and patented a different technique to streak hair.

According to such an alternative solution, in particular, each hair lock that was selectively dyed was enclosed (and consequently protected) inside a sort of case made of semi-rigid transparent plastic material.

Such a technology is duly protected by the patent application No. MC2008A75 registered on 30.09.2008, with title: "A protection case for hair lock to be dyed".

More precisely, the case claimed in the aforementioned patent is formed of two rectangular sheets of transparent plastic material, having a narrow elongated shape and adapted to longitudinally enclose a hair lock after applying the desired dye.

Each of said cases is very easy to operate and is characterized by the additional advantage that transparency allows the hairdresser to check the coloring level of the hair lock in real time.

However, the mode used to obtain cooperation and mutual coupling of the two plastic sheets of each case, in overlapped position, is not satisfactory.

In order to obtain cooperation between said cases, one of the transversal borders of the upper transparent sheet is hinged to the corresponding transversal border of the lower sheet in such manner that the two sheets are configured as two semi-shells adapted to close and open as the valves of a shell.

In order to obtain the stable fixing of the two sheets, one against the other, one of the two sheets is provided on the internal side with a metal plate and the other one is provided in perfectly corresponding position with a small magnet adapted to firmly adhere onto said plate.

In such a specific situation, the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the structural and functional limitations of the cases for hair locks claimed in the aforementioned patent. More precisely, the purpose of the present invention is to provide cases made of transparent plastic material having a lean, inexpensive structure, and especially adapted to be brought and maintained in "closed" position without making use - unlike the cases of the prior art - of external connection and fixing means (reference is made to said magnetic plates).

Starting from such a solution, an apparatus composed of different models of case is provided, each of them being adapted to satisfy a specific purpose as specified hereinafter.

For explanatory reasons, the description of the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which only have an illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of the two semi-shells, before coupling, which form the first part of the apparatus of the invention;

- Fig. 2 is an axonometric view of the semi-shells of Fig. 1 , which are firmly coupled one inside the other one;

- Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of the second part of the apparatus of the invention in non-working position;

- Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the part of Fig. 3 in working position; - Fig. 5 is an axonometric view of an additional part of the apparatus of the invention;

- Figure 6 is an axonometric view of the operating modes of the part of Fig. 5;

- Fig. 7 is an axonometric view of a semi-shell to be used alternatively to one of the semi-shells shown in Fig. 1 .

Referring to Fig. 1 , the first part of the apparatus of the invention consists in a first case (A1 ), formed in turn of two identical semi-shells (10, 10') made of semi-rigid transparent plastic material, which are mutually coupled.

In particular, each of said semi-shells (10, 10') is provided with a central flat section, having a substantially rectangular shape, which is provided on the lateral borders with two identical tubular sections (1 1 , 12/1 1 ', 12') having a substantially C-shaped section and concavity facing towards the center of the corresponding semi-shell.

In view of the above, distance (x-x) between each opposite pair of said tubular sections (1 1 , 12/1 1 ', 12') measured in the maximum convexity point is significantly higher than distance (y-y) between the free longitudinal borders (1 10, 120/1 10', 120') of the same pair of tubular sections (1 1 , 12/1 1 ', 12')

Both semi-shells (10, 10') have intrinsic structural elasticity that allows them - when undergoing a suitable stress - to suffer significant deformation, and also automatically recover their "natural" shape as soon as said deforming stress has ceased.

From the functional viewpoint, said semi-shells are identified as first semi-shell (10), being the lower semi-shell, and second semi-shell

(10'), being the upper semi-shell.

The first semi-shell (10) is adapted to act as support for the hair lock (C) already treated with lighter dye, whereas the second semi-shell

(10') is adapted to be firmly contained inside the first semi-shell (10) in order to enclose said lock between the first (10) and second semi-shell

(10'), as expressly shown in Fig. 2.

In practical terms, the coupling of said semi-shells (10, 1 1 ) can be simply obtained by lowering the second semi-shell (10') above the first semi-shell (10).

Nevertheless, it must be considered that if the two semi-shells (10, 10') had a rigid shoulder, it would be impossible to insert the second semi-shell (10') inside the first semi-shell (10). This is because the inlet section of the first semi-shell (10), which is represented by said distance (y-y), is lower than said distance (z-z) coinciding with maximum width of the second semi-shell (10').

Such an insertion can be only obtained by means of said elastic deformation of the two semi-shells (10, 10') and only by exerting an energetic pressure of the second semi-shell (10') on the first semi-shell (10). These two conditions favor a basically "snap-fit" between said two semi-shells (10, 10').

In such a case, the external convex surfaces of said tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') of the second semi-shell (10') energetically interfere against said free longitudinal borders (1 10, 120) of the tubular sections

(1 1 , 12) of the first semi-shell (10), thus generating a progressive diverging movement of the latter from opposite sides.

Because of said diverging movement, the inlet section of the first semi-shell (10) is considerably widened, allowing the second semi-shell (10') to exactly penetrate inside it, in such a condition that its central flat section is brought against said central flat section of the first semi-shell

(10) and said tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') are inserted inside tubular sections (1 1 , 12) of the first semi-shell (10).

When such a condition is achieved, and interference between the tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') of the second semi-shell (10') and the tubular sections (1 1 , 12) of the first semi-shell (10) has ceased, said intrinsic elasticity of the first semi-shell (10) makes said tubular sections (1 1 , 12) spontaneously and instantaneously return to their natural position in view of a mutual rotation.

In view of the above, they are tightly positioned against the external convex profiles of the tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') of the second semi-shell (10'), thus generating the stable union of the two semi-shells

(10, 10').

It is worthless saying that in such a condition the detachment of the two semi-shells (10, 10') is obtained only after manually diverging at least one of said tubular sections (1 1 , 12) of the first semi-shell (10), thus creating a passage between the latter two tubular sections, which is crossed, from down upwards, by said second semi-shell (10').

In order to facilitate the manual diverging movement of said first semi-shell (10), a tooth or nail (not shown in the attached figures) is provided in external position on at least one of tubular sections (1 1 , 12). Within said first case (A1 ), the first semi-shell (10), being the lower one, is made of non-transparent plastic material, because the dyed hair lock can remain perfectly visible because of the transparency given to the second semi-shell (10').

Referring to Fig. 3, the apparatus of the invention also comprises a second case (A2) that is expressly adapted to contain hair locks with considerable length.

Also this second case (A2) is provided with the same pair of semi- shells (10, 10') that have been already described with reference to said first case (A1 ).

In such a case, however, the two semi-shells (10, 10') are connected by a thin strap of soft transparent plastic material (20), the ends of which are fixed on the concave side of the two semi-shells (10, 10') in intermediate position between the corresponding opposite pairs of said tubular sections (1 1 , 12 /1 1 ', 12').

The operation of this second case (A2) provides for simultaneously laying a long hair lock (C), which has been already dyed, on the first of the two semi-shells (10) and on said soft plastic strap (20).

Now the second semi-shell (10') is overturned towards the first semi-shell (10), taking advantage of the flexibility of said intermediate strap (20) and of the hair lock resting on it, as shown in Fig. 4.

Also in this case, the stable closing of said second case (A2) is obtained in view of snap-fitting between said two semi-shells (10, 10').

In this case, however, the two semi-shells (10, 10') are facing the corresponding concave sides, in such a condition that said tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') of the second semi-shell (10') embrace from outside the corresponding tubular sections (1 1 , 12) of the first semi-shell (10).

It can be easily understood that such an "embrace" is possible only on condition that the user energetically pushes the second semi- shell (10') towards the first semi-shell (10) in order to obtain the progressively diverging movement of tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') of the second semi-shell (10') in view of the usual interference against the external convex surface of the tubular sections (1 1 , 12) of the first semi- shell (10).

When such diverging interference has ceased, the tubular sections (1 1 ', 12') of the second semi-shell (10') will suffer the spontaneous elastic return as usual, towards the center of the second semi-shell (10'), which is useful to realize coupling from opposite sides of the tubular sections (1 1 , 12) of the first semi-shell (10).

Referring to Figs 5 and 6, the apparatus of the invention comprises an additional case (A3) adapted to contain hair locks with considerable length, and also adapted - unlike said second case (A2) - to allow the hairdresser to choose the length according to each specific hair lock.

For such purpose, said third case (A3) takes advantage of the cooperation of two different parts.

The first part consists in a specimen of said semi-shell (10) associated with said soft transparent plastic strap (20); it being provided, in particular, that one end of said strap (20) is fixed on the concave side of the first semi-shell (10).

The second part simply consists in an independent specimen of said second semi-shell (10'), which is not incorporated with said plastic strap (20).

Therefore, in order to operate said third case (A3), the hairdresser will lay the hair lock (C) on the plastic strap (20), directing said first semi- shell (10) towards the beginning of the hair lock, as shown in Fig. 5.

Then, the hairdresser will fold the soft plastic strap (20) towards the first semi-shell (10), thus practically overlapping the two ends of the strap (20).

The additional operation consists in fixing the two overlapped ends of said strap (20) inside the first semi-shell (10) by means of said independent specimen of the second semi-shell (10').

As shown in Fig. 6, which is a view of the operating condition of the third case (A3), coupling between first semi-shell (10) and second semi-shell (10') is preferably obtained according to the same modes illustrated in Fig. 2, by inserting and snap-fitting the second semi-shell (10') inside the first semi-shell (10).

In view of the above, it can be understood that, generally speaking, the third case (A3) provides for the same use and operation mode as the second semi-shell (A2).

As mentioned above, however, said third case (A3) is characterized by higher versatility since it allows the hairdresser to exactly adjust the length of said soft plastic strap (20) according to the length of the specific hair lock it will contain after folding.

Such a length adjustment can be easily obtained by the hairdresser by removing the excess section from the free end (L) of said soft plastic strap (20); said "free end" being the end of the strap (20) not fixed on said first semi-shell (10).

Finally, it must be noted that the apparatus of the invention is composed also of a third semi-shell (10") adapted to be used in the first case (A1 ) alternatively to said second semi-shell (10'), being the upper shell.

Referring to Fig. 7, said third semi-shell (10") is provided with a structure that is exactly identical to said first (10) and second (10') semi- shell, with the only peculiarity that it is provided with multiple longitudinal openings (30) obtained in the central flat section in intermediate position between said tubular sections (1 1 ", 12").

Said third semi-shell (10") is adapted to be used inside said first case (A1 ) to streak hair after enclosing a thick hair lock inside said case (A1 ).

In such a case, hair dye will be applied directly above said third semi-shell (10") in such manner to deposit dye only on hair locks that can be achieved through said openings (30), and not on hair locks protected by the "solid" surfaces of said third semi-shell (1 0").