EP3666116B1

EP3666116B1 - Bristle carrier of hairbrush

Info

Publication number: EP3666116B1
Application number: EP19215051.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peng-fei CHU
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-12-11
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2024-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-10
Also published as: CN111297028B; EP3666116A1; CN111297028A; CN211794812U

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to hairbrushes and more particularly to a bristle carrier of a hairbrush having improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

Hairbrush is a stick brush with rigid or soft spokes used in hair care for smoothing, styling, and detangling human hair. Hairbrushes have many types and bristles thereof can have different shapes and/or sizes.
However, conventional hairbrushes are disadvantageous because they cannot solve the problem of intertwined hair strands.
DE 20 2016 005 653 U1 discloses a hairbrush for detangling and grooming main hair, comprising a brush body and at least one bristle cushion, plastic bristles and rows of bristle tufts extending spatially separated from the bristle cushion.
WO 2013/113014 A1 discloses a hairbrush having a brush head with a working surface, a plurality of monofilament bristles protruding from the working surface of the brush head, and a microfiber material exposed on a portion of the working surface of the brush head. In one example, the hairbrush can also have a plurality of bristle tufts protruding from the working surface of the brush head. In one example, the hairbrush can also have a bristle carrier connected to the brush head. The plurality of monofilament bristles can be attached to the bristle carrier.
DE 10 2014 221 314 A1 discloses a brush configured for removing debris and hairs from the fur of an animal is provided. Included in the brush are at least one surfaced body having a pad, and a plurality of first bristles extending from the pad. One end of each first bristle is connected to the pad, and an opposite free end of each first bristle has a radially extending head portion. At least one additional head portion is disposed in a spaced relationship along a longitudinal axis of the first bristle.
US 6,773,076 B1 discloses that during processing of bristles, at least some bristles of a bristle stock are split, along at least part of their length, into several separate partial cross-sections or fingers under the action of mechanical forces. For simplified manufacture of bristles with defined fingers independent of their relative disposition, the mechanical forces are applied from different directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bristles preferably using a blunt, blade-free tool, e.g. a striking tool.
Patent specification US 6,575,174 B2 discloses A hair grooming brush with a plurality or rows of curved wavy bristles, rather than traditional straight bristles found on brushes and combs. The curvature of the bristles produces a springiness to the bristles when pressure is applied during the combing action. The springiness of the numerous rows of bristles, translates into a massaging effect upon the hair and scalp. Rows of curved bristles are more effective at untangling the hair. The three different sections of the bristle, the lower, middle and tip sections, can be either straight or curved. Additionally, the rows can alternate between various formations of bristles.
Thus, there is a need of providing a novel hairbrush capable of detangling, smoothing, styling, combing, and curling hair strands in an effective way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a hairbrush having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments are subject-matter of the dependent claims.
The hairbrush according to the invention comprises a bristle carrier including a surface and a plurality of first and second bristles. The first and second bristles are formed integrally with the surface of the bristle carrier, wherein the first bristles and the second bristles are arranged to have a plurality of different configurations.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hairbrush further comprises a plurality of bristle turfs fastened on the surface, wherein the bristle turfs are disposed externally of the first bristles and the second bristles on the surface.
The invention has the following advantages and benefits in comparison with the conventional art: a hairbrush incorporating the bristle carrier is effective in hair care for smoothing, styling, and detangling human or animal hair.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bristle carrier of a hairbrush according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the bristle carrier;
FIG. 2A is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the bristle carrier showing a first configuration of the first bristles;
FIG. 2B is a longitudinal sectional view of the portion of the bristle carrier showing a second configuration of the first bristles;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bristle carrier shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is a side elevation, sectional view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the bristle carrier shown in FIG. 1 showing the second bristles;
FIG. 5 is another enlarged perspective view of a portion of the bristle carrier shown in FIG. 1 showing the second bristles;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a bristle carrier of a hairbrush according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6A is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the bristle carrier shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a bristle carrier of a hairbrush according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the bristle carrier shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bristle carrier according to any of the preferred embodiments with a base formed therebelow;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a hairbrush incorporating the bristle carrier of the invention;
FIG. 9A is a detailed view of the area in a rectangle A of FIG. 9;
FIG. 9B is a top plan view of FIG. 9A; and
FIG. 9C is a top plan view showing another configuration of the bristles of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a bristle carrier 10 of a hairbrush in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a surface 101 and a plurality of first and second bristles 11, 12 fastened thereon. The first bristles 11 and the second bristles 12 are arranged in rows and have different configurations. For example, a top end of the first bristle 11 is shaped as a half-sphere. Alternatively, the top end of the first bristle 11 is shaped a sphere (see FIG. 3).
As shown in FIG. 2, the first bristles 11 extend upward from the surface 101. Height of the first bristle 11 can be increased to form a first long bristle 111 or shortened to form a first short bristle 112. That is, a distance from a top of the first long bristle 111 to the surface 101 is different from that from a top of the first short bristle 112 to the surface 101. Alternatively, heights of the first bristles 11 are the same. That is, distances from tops of the first bristles 11 to the surface 101 are the same.
The first bristles 11 are arranged on the surface 101 in tight rows in which three first long bristles 111 are arranged as a cluster (see FIG. 2A). Alternatively, the first bristles 11 are arranged in a plurality of clusters consisting of a first long bristle 111 and two first short bristles 112 (see FIG. 2B).
The first bristles 11 and the surface 101 are formed integrally in a mold by injection molding. Thus, the first bristles 11 are secured to the surface 101. Alternatively, the first bristles 11 and the surface 101 are formed in two different molds by injection mold prior to implanting the first bristles 11 perpendicular to the surface 101.
Similarly, the second bristles 12 extend upward from the surface 101. In comparison with the first bristle 11, the second bristle 12 further comprises a hook shaped bent member 120 on a top. Height of the second bristle 12 can be increased to form a second long bristle 121 or shortened to form a second short bristle 122. That is, a distance from the bent member 120 of the second long bristle 121 to the surface 101 is different from that from the top end 120 of the second short bristle 122 to the surface 101. Alternatively, heights of the second bristles 12 are the same. That is, distances from the bent members 120 of the second bristles 12 to the surface 101 are the same.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, each second bristle 12A has two bent members 120 which are oriented in two opposite directions. As shown in FIG. 4, each second bristle 12B has three bent members 120 equally spaced apart. As shown in FIG. 5, each second bristle 12C has four bent members 120 equally spaced apart.
Likewise, the second bristles 12 and the surface 101 are formed integrally in a mold by injection molding. Thus, the second bristles 12 are secured to the surface 101. Alternatively, the second bristles 12 and the surface 101 are formed in two different molds by injection mold prior to implanting the second bristles 12 in the surface 101.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, a bristle carrier 10A of a hairbrush in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a surface 101. The bristle carrier 10A further comprises a plurality of first bristles 11 (including the first long bristles 111 and the first short bristles 112) fastened on the surface 101, a plurality of second bristles 12A fastened on the surface 101, and a plurality of bristle turfs 13A are disposed externally of the first bristles 11 and the second bristles 12 fastened on the surface 101.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 7A, a bristle carrier 10B of a hairbrush in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a surface 101. The bristle carrier 10B further comprises a plurality of first bristles 11 (including the first long bristles 111 and the first short bristles 112), a plurality of bristle turfs 113B surrounded the first long bristles 111, all the first long bristles 111, the bristle turfs 113B and the first short bristles 112 fastened on the surface 101, and a plurality of second bristles 12A fastened on the surface 101. As shown, each first long bristle 111 is disposed in the bristle turf 113B.
Referring to FIG. 8, a base 20 is further formed on a bottom of the surface 101 of any of the bristle carriers 10, 10A and 10B. A user may hold the base 20 and use the hairbrush to smooth, style, and detangle hair strands. Shapes of the base 20 is not limited to the shown one as long as the base 20 can be secured to the bristle carrier 10, 10A or 10B.
Referring to FIG. 9, a handle 30 is formed and extended from one end of the base 20. A user may hold the handle 30 and use the hairbrush to smooth, style, and detangle hair strands. Referring to FIG. 9A, the first long bristles 111 are equally spaced apart and the second long bristles 121 are also equally spaced apart.
Referring to FIG. 9B, it is a top plan view of FIG. 9A. As shown, the first long bristles 111 and the second long bristles 121 are formed on the surface 101. Referring to FIG. 9C, it is a top plan view and shows another configuration of the bristles of FIG. 9. The configuration includes the plurality of the first bristles 11 (including the first long bristles 111 and the first short bristles 112) and the plurality of the second bristles 12 (including the second long bristles 121 and the second short bristles 122) all formed on the surface 101.
The bristle carrier, the surface and the handle can be formed integrally by flexible materials suitable for injection molding for simplifying both the manufacturing process and the assembly.
The invention is applicable to hairbrushes for human or animal. For example, the hairbrushes are circular hairbrushes, cylindrical hairbrushes, ventilation hairbrushes, buffer hairbrushes, peddle hairbrushes, palm hairbrushes, hair irons, hair straighteners, hair curlers, or any of other hairbrushes or electrical devices. A hairbrush incorporating the bristle carrier of the invention is effective in hair care for smoothing, styling, and detangling human or animal hair.

Claims

A hairbrush, comprising a bristle carrier (10, 10A, 10B) including a surface (101) and a plurality of first and second bristles (11, 12),
characterized in that
the first and second bristles (11, 12) are formed integrally with the surface (101) of the bristle carrier (10), wherein the first bristles (11) and the second bristles (12) are arranged to have a plurality of different configurations (111, 112, 121, 122), wherein the first bristles (11) extend upward from the surface (101) and are perpendicular to the surface (101) of the bristle carrier (10) and the distance from tops of the first bristles (111, 112) to the surface (101) are different,

wherein the second bristles ( 12A, 12B, 12C) extend upward from the surface (101) and each second bristle ( 12A, 12B, 12C) includes a plurality of bent members (120) on a top which are oriented in different directions.
The hairbrush of claim 1, wherein distances from the bent members (120) to the surface (101) are the same or different.
The hairbrush of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bristle turfs (13A, 13B) fastened on the surface, wherein the bristle turfs (13A, 113B) are disposed externally of the first bristles (111, 112) and the second bristles (12A) on the surface (101).
The hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristle carrier (10, 10A, 10B) is applicable to one of circular hairbrushes, cylindrical hairbrushes, ventilation hairbrushes, buffer hairbrushes, peddle hairbrushes, palm hairbrushes, hair irons, hair straighteners, and hair curlers.