E-Z clean brush

United States Patent Application 20070028937

A hairbrush comprising a set of bristles that are capable of being retracted into the outer wall to allow for the cleaning of debris from the brush. The handle and the head of the hairbrush rotate in opposite directions to allow the bristles of the hairbrush to be retracted into the outer wall to the point that the beaded ends are mated with the outer wall. Once the debris is removed, the handle and the head are rotated to the point where the bristles are in an extended position and then the handle and head are locked in this position by a locking mechanism.

Holmes, Lindsey A. (Lutz, FL, US)
Holmes, Adam (Lutz, FL, US)

11/197043

02/08/2007

08/04/2005

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132/123

A45D24/10

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DOAN, ROBYN KIEU

Galasso & Associates, LP (Austin, TX, US)

What is claimed:

1. A hairbrush comprising: a set of bristles attached to a rotating device; wherein the rotating device is coupled to an outer wall; an inner chamber between the rotating device and the outer wall; a handle attached to the rotating device; and a locking device coupled to the handle and the rotating device.

2. A hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the outer wall comprises holes that allow the bristles to extend through the outer wall.

3. A hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristles contain a beaded end.

4. A hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle operates to cause the bristles to rotate into the inner chamber.

5. A hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the locking device operates to hold the handle in place when the bristles are rotated to an extended position.

6. A hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the locking device operates to release the handle allowing the bristles to be rotated into a retracted position.

7. A hairbrush of claim 6, wherein the beaded ends operate to seal the outer wall when in the retracted position.

8. A hairbrush comprising: a set of bristles having beaded ends; wherein the bristles are attached to a rotating device; a head comprised of an inner chamber and an outer wall containing holes that allow the bristles to movably extend through; said rotating device operable to cause the bristles to be retracted into an inner chamber of said head; a handle attached to the rotating device wherein the handle cooperates with said rotating device to retract the bristles into the inner chamber wherein said beaded ends prevent the complete retraction of the bristles through the outer wall and into the inner chamber; and a locking device coupled to the handle and the rotating device, wherein the locking device operates to allow the handle and rotating device to release or lock the bristles into an extended or retracted position such that hair and debris trapped on said bristles of said hairbrush can be removed from said bristles in said retracted position.

9. A method for cleaning a hairbrush having a handle and a set of bristles attached to a rotating device, a head comprised of an inner chamber and an outer wall containing holes that allow the bristles to movably extend therethrough and wherein the handle cooperates with the rotating device comprising: rotating the handle in a first direction to rotate the rotating device until the bristles retract into the inner chamber; removing hair and debris from end portions of the bristles while the remaining portions of the bristles are retracted into the inner chamber; rotating the handle in a second direction opposite the first direction to rotate the rotating device until the bristles return to an extended position.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein the bristles comprise beaded ends to prevent the bristles from being fully retracted into said inner chamber.

11. A method of claim 9, further comprising a locking device coupled to the handle and the rotating device wherein said locking device operates to allow the handle and rotating device to release or lock the bristles into the extended or retracted position.

12. A method of claim 9, wherein said handle is comprised of a hard plastic.

13. A method of claim 9, wherein the head is comprised of a rubber material.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a method of removing excess hair and debris from a hairbrush and cleaning the actual hairbrush.

BACKGROUND

Trying to remove excess and unwanted hair from a brush has always been a problem. Anytime you brush your hair some amount of hair is going to remain in the brush. Over time, the hair builds up and must be removed. Alternative methods for removing the hair vary widely. One method of removing the hair is simply by taking your hand and grabbing as much as possible and pulling it loose. Another alternative would be to take a comb and run it through the bristles to try to remove the hair. The problem with the comb method is that the beaded ends of the bristles have a tendency to cause the comb to not pull through the bristles. The smaller the bristles the harder it is to get the hair removed.

Round brushes present an even bigger challenge for the removal of hair. Often times you must take a pair of scissors to cut through the hair. By cutting the hair it releases at least one side and allows the hair to be pulled from the bristles. Another problem with a round brush is that the hair tends to get wrapped around the handle at the connection point of the handle to the head of the brush. Again, some manner of releasing the twisted hair must be used.

The cleaning and removal of hair from brushes is a problem that has been addressed previously. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,475 has created an alternative method of removing hair from a brush by including a sliding cleaning element wherein when the brush becomes fouled with foreign matter, the cleaning element is slid down the length of the brush to free the foreign materials. This method would be very similar to using a comb to run through the bristles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,362 also describes a method for the removal of hair and foreign matter from a brush. This method provides for the placement of a re-useable netting material over the bristles to the base of the bristles. Once the bristles become contaminated with hair and debris the netting is pulled up thereby removing the contaminates. The problem with this method is that the netting material over time will cause the bristles to become disarrayed. Further, the ability to get the netting over the bristles would be time cumbersome and time consuming. One additional method that has been presented is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,542 wherein the brush is equipped with one or more apertured cleaning sheets. When the bristles require cleaning the upper most cleaning sheet is pulled outwardly from the base of the bristles taking the excess debris with it. The problem with this method is that the sheets can tear and once the sheets run out you must insert a new pad of sheets which requires that the bristles be inserted through the apertures or buy a new brush equipped with cleaning sheets.

It is obvious that the ability to clean hair and debris from a brush is a problem, a clear and easy solution does not exist.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment the hairbrush comprises a set of bristles.

In another embodiment the hairbrush comprises a handle.

In still another embodiment the hairbrush comprises a head.

In yet another embodiment the hairbrush comprises a rotating device operable to rotate in the opposite direction of the handle.

In still another embodiment the hairbrush comprises an inner chamber wherein the bristles are connected.

In another embodiment the hairbrush comprises an outer wall containing holes that allow the bristles to extend through.

In yet another embodiment the hairbrush comprises inner chamber wherein the bristles are retracted.

In still another embodiment the bristles comprise a beaded end.

In another embodiment the hairbrush comprises a locking mechanism located on the handle that operates to lock or release the handle and the head.

Still other advantages of various embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention simply for the purposes of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different aspects and embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the advantages, drawings, and descriptions are illustrative in nature and not restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a round hairbrush showing the bristles in an extended position and further illustrating the locking mechanism which locks the head of the hairbrush to the handle.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a round hairbrush showing the bristles in a retracted state inside the outer wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a hairbrush 10 which comprises bristles 20, a handle 30, a head 40, an outer wall 50, an inner chamber 90, a locking mechanism 60 and beaded ends 70. The hairbrush 10 operates just like a normal brush only with the hairbrush 10, the cleaning of hair and debris from the hairbrush 10 is much easier. The head 40 and the handle 30 are connected on a rotating device wherein the handle 30 operates to rotate in the opposite direction of the head 40. When the rotation takes place the bristles 20 are twisted down through the outer wall 50 into the inner chamber 90 of the head 40. However, the bristles 20 are not entirely rotated through the outer wall 50 because of the beaded ends 70. The beaded ends 70 mate with the outer wall 60 when in a retracted position. The locking mechanism 60 operates to release the handle 30 from the head 40 when moved to the unlock position. Only when the locking mechanism 60 is in the release position with the handle 30 be able to rotate from the head 40. Once the bristles 20 are rotated into the retracted position cleaning of the process can take place. Since the bristles 20 are not completely rotated through the outer wall 50 into the inner chamber 55, the debris will accumulate on the outside of the outer wall 50 and can be gently removed by the hand or some other avenue. After the debris is removed, the bristles 20 are rotated back to the extended position and the hairbrush is ready to be used again once the locking mechanism 60 is placed in the locked position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the inner chamber 90 of the hairbrush 10 along with the rotating device 80, wherein the bristles 20 are attached. During the cleaning process, the rotating device 80 operates to retract the bristles 20 through the outer wall 50 to an inner chamber 90. The bristles 20 will only retract to the point where the beaded ends 70 are mated with the outer wall 50. After debris is removed from the head 40, the rotating device 80 then operates to move the bristles 20 from the retracted position to an extended position on the outside of the outer wall 50.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.