EP3949803A1

EP3949803A1 - Hair brush with retractable bristles

Info

Publication number: EP3949803A1
Application number: EP21000203.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Péter Veres
Original assignee: VERES PETER
Current assignee: VERES PETER
Priority date: 2020-08-03
Filing date: 2021-07-26
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Also published as: HU231464B1; HUP2000252A1

Abstract

The patent application relates to a hair brush with retractable bristles (6), which allows the rapid and efficient removal of hair trapped between the bristles (6). The two main parts of the hair brush are the head portion (8) and the handle (11). The bristles (6) extending through the apertures of the drum (7) of the head portion (8) are fastened to a twisted round steel wire (10) forming a threaded stem. The handle (11) consists of two parts: the upper handle part (12) has a drum socket (9) and a rim (13), the lower handle part (14) has a blind hole (18), and there are spikes (24) having a neck (21) and a shoulder (22) around the mouth of the blind hole (18). The wall of the blind hole (18) is threaded, the threads match the threads of the twisted round steel wire (10). The lower end of the twisted round steel wire (10) fits exactly into the blind hole (18), and by rotating the lower handle part (14), the twisted round steel wire (10) can be moved upward or downward between the upper point of impact (4) and the lower point of impact (16).

Description

The patent application relates to a hair brush with retractable bristles, which allows the rapid and efficient removal of hair trapped between the bristles. The solution is characterized by that bristles are twisted between the strands of a twisted round steel wire, and by moving the twisted round steel wire vertically, upward or downward in the head portion and the handle, the bristles extend from or retract into the head portion. The twisted round steel wire is moved by rotating the lower part of the handle consisting of two parts.
From the different types of hair brushes, one of the most popular types is the round hair brush, available with different bristle head diameters and bristle lengths, and with bristles of animal origin or made of plastic. The handles of hair brushes are made of wood, metal or plastic in various designs. Regardless of the design of the hair brush, cleaning it, removing the hair trapped between the bristles is not an easy task, as is shown by the fact that many solutions have been developed for removing hair trapped between the bristles of hair brushes.
International Patent Publication No. WO/2010/117866 discloses a hair brush including a brush head and a bristle/handle assembly. The head includes a cylindrical barrel with a plurality of apertures in it, and the bristle/handle assembly includes a handle and a bristle tree assembly. The bristle tree assembly includes a central bristle rod, a plurality of bristles radially extending from the rod, and a connecting rod extending between the bristle rod and the handle. The bristle rod is positioned within the barrel, and the bristles extend through the barrel apertures in an extended position. The brush head and the bristle/handle assembly are not attached to each other, and instead they slide longitudinally relative to each other. When the handle and the barrel are slid apart from each other, the bristle rod travels with the handle to retract the bristles to a retracted position further within the barrel.
American Patent No. US6595219 relates to a hairbrush with retractable bristles to ease removal of hair from the brush. It comprises an internal wedge and wheel mechanism actuated by a sliding button and link to the wheel. Alignment channels assure movement of the bristles through the perforated panel without binding. In alternative embodiments, a full expandable linkage or a half expandable linkage extend and retract the bristles through the perforated panel of the hairbrush.
The invention disclosed in American Patent Publication No. US20080230082 is a hairbrush for allowing trapped hair to be easily removed therefrom. The hairbrush comprises a handle for grasping the hairbrush and a head joined to the handle. The head comprises an array of bristles that protrude through a layer having an array of corresponding apertures. In an initial position the bristles fully protrude through the apertures. In a final position the layer is shifted to the free ends of the bristles. By shifting said hairbrush from an initial position to a final position tangled hair is gathered along the layer and easily removed from the hairbrush.
American Patent No. US6631831 relates to a self-cleaning hairbrush system having a housing with a wall formed with apertures and with a hollow interior with an open end and a closed end. A core has an interior end positionable adjacent to the closed end and an exterior exposed end extending through the open end of the housing. A plurality of resilient bristles have fixed ends extending radially outward from the core and free ends extending through the apertures of the housing. A handle is operatively coupled to the closed end of the housing.
American Patent No. US5519912 discloses hairbrushes having an array of bristles for grooming either humans or animals, loose strands of hair that become trapped among the bristles during the brushing strokes are collected and relocated for quick and easy removal from the brush. The foregoing is achieved by either sliding a hair collecting plate axially along the bristles or by moving a bristle carrying plate to which the bristles are connected through a hollow brush head so that the bristles slide axially through holes formed in the top of the brush head.
American Patent Publication No. US4977909 discloses a retractable brush. A retractable brush includes a hollow casing combined with a lower cover drilled with bristles holes therein, and a bristle extender having a push button slidably held in the upper cover. When the push button is depressed, the bristles extend outwardly until being locked on the upper cover. A restoring spring is used to retract the bristles into the casing.
American Patent No. US7320148 relates to a hairbrush assembly including an elongated first cylinder having a first end and a second end. An elongated second cylinder is positioned on and is rotatable with respect to the first cylinder. The second cylinder has a distal end and a proximal end with respect to the second end of the first cylinder. The second end extends outwardly from the distal end of the second cylinder. The second cylinder has a plurality of rows of aligned apertures extending from the proximal end and toward the distal end. A plurality of bristle assemblies is provided and each is positioned between the first and second cylinders adjacent to the first end of the first cylinder. Each of the bristle assemblies is selectively positioned in an extended position extending outwardly of the apertures or in a retracted position positioned within an interior space defined between the first and second cylinders.
American Patent No. US8281449 discloses a brush wherein the bristles are retractable to facilitate the cleaning thereof in an efficient and effective manner. The bristles are disposed on a bristle-holding tree, wherein the bristles extend through apertures of a housing in an extended position. There is also provided a stem base engaged with the bristle-holding tree such that the stem base imparts longitudinal force upon the bristle-holding tree, causing the bristle-holding tree to move longitudinally relative to the housing, causing the bristles to move from an extended position. A retracted position facilitates easy cleaning of hair from the brush. The brush provides locking capabilities which allow a user to hold the brush in one hand and remove hair with the free hand.
The disadvantage of the above solutions is that they have a complicated design and can easily fail, that is why hair brushes from which trapped hair can be easily removed are not widely commercially available.
The aim of the invention is to provide a hair brush the bristles of which can be retracted in a simple manner, thereby the hair trapped between the bristles can be easily removed with a single movement. It should be easy to clean, simple to disinfect, and cost-effective to manufacture.
The idea of the invention is based on the recognition that if the bristles are fastened between the strands of a twisted round steel wire, and the lower part of the twisted round steel wire is fixed firmly in the lower, rotatable part of the handle of the hair brush, then the twisted round steel wire can be moved vertically, upward or downward in the head portion and handle of the hair brush, resulting in a change in the length of the bristles extending from the head "portion of the hair brush.
Thus the patent application relates to a hair brush with retractable bristles, comprising a head portion and a handle portion connected to it. The head portion comprises a cylindrical drum provided with perforations/apertures, the lower part of which is open and the upper part of which is covered with a closing cap.
In the centre of the hair brush, there is a vertically positioned twisted round steel wire consisting of at least two strands, and bristles are twisted between the strands of a section of the twisted round steel wire, the section located in the drum.
The handle portion connected to the head portion consists of an upper handle part and a lower handle part. The hollow upper handle part has a drum socket into which the lower end of the drum is secured, and an inner rim to which the lower handle part is connected. The lower handle part has a solid body with a threaded blind hole, and on the upper part of the body there are spikes having a curved neck and a protruding shoulder. The spikes are arranged around the mouth of the blind hole.
After leaving the head portion, the twisted round steel wire runs along the upper handle part and ends in the lower handle part in such a way that is passes between the spikes, and ends in the blind hole. The twisted round steel wire forms a threaded stem, the lower part of which is connected to the lower handle part, where it is held firmly by the spikes held firmly by the rim of the upper handle part, and the blind hole. The inner wall of the blind hole is threaded, the threads match the threads of the twisted round steel wire. This design provides a firm connection for the twisted round steel wire in the lower handle part, and allows a vertical, upward or downward movement along the axis line between an upper point of impact in the middle of the closing cap, and a lower point of impact at the bottom of the blind hole. The movement of the twisted round steel wire entails the displacement of the bristles, as a result, normally, when the hair brush is in use, the bristles extend from the surface of the drum, perpendicularly to it, then the upper end of the twisted round steel wire touches the upper point of impact. When cleaning the hair brush, the bristles are in a retracted position, then the lower end of the twisted round steel wire touches the lower point of impact.
In a preferred embodiment the bristles are fastened between the strands of a twisted round steel wire consisting of two strands, and the lower handle part has four spikes. This design is advantageous for a head portion of a smaller diameter.
In another preferred embodiment the bristles are fastened between the strands of a twisted

round steel wire consisting of three strands, and the lower handle part has three spikes. This design is advantageous for a head portion of a larger diameter.

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the round hair brush according to the invention with extended bristles;
Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the round hair brush according to the invention with retracted bristles;
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal cutaway view of the upper handle part;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the lower handle part;
Figures 5a-c show a longitudinal sectional view of the process of assembling the upper handle part and the lower handle part.

Figure 1 shows the round hair brush with extended bristles. The two main parts of the round hair brush are the handle 11 and the head portion 8. The head portion 8 comprises a cylindrical drum 7 provided with apertures, in the centre of which there is a twisted round steel wire 10 consisting of two strands along the axis line 5. Bristles 6 are fastened to the upper part of the twisted round steel wire 10 in such a way that the bristles 6 are twisted between the two strands of the twisted round steel wire 10. The twisted round steel wire 10 forms a threaded stem. The upper part of the drum 7 is closed firmly with a closing cap 2.
Figure 1 shows the hair brush according to the invention in its normal position, that is in a condition suitable for use, then the bristles 6 extending from the apertures of the drum 7 are perpendicular to the surface of the mantle of the drum 7, and to the axis line 5.
The handle 11 consists of two elements connected to each other, an upper handle part 12 and a lower handle part 14. The upper handle part 12 has a hollow design, its upper end widens, forming a drum socket 9, into which the lower part of the drum 7 fits exactly, and the lower end of the upper handle part 12 has an inner rim 13. The lower handle part 14 of the round hair brush consists of a solid body 26, with a blind hole 18 in the centre, which is threaded, and the mouth of the blind hole 18 is surrounded by stand-alone spikes 24. The threads of the lower end of the twisted round steel wire 10 fit exactly into the threads formed in the wall of the blind hole 18, since the threads match each other. As is shown in the figure, the end of the twisted round steel wire 10 does not reach the end of the blind hole 18 when the bristles 6 extend from the drum 7. The movement of the twisted round steel wire 10 is limited by an upper point of impact 4 on the lower part of the closing cap 2 and a lower point of impact 16 at the bottom of the blind hole 18.Figure 2 shows the round hair brush according to the invention with retracted bristles 6. The twisted round steel wire 10 reaches the point of impact 16 at the bottom of the blind hole 18. Then the bristles 6 are not perpendicular to the twisted round steel wire 10, and to the axis line 5, because of the forced movement the rigid bristles 6 hardly extend beyond the surface of the drum 7.
Figure 3 shows the internal design of the upper handle part 12, with a drum socket 9 at the upper end, and an inner rim 13 formed at the lower end. Because of the rim 13, the lower handle part 14 can be easily fixed to the upper handle part 12, and the lower handle part 14 can be rotated relative to the upper handle part 12, in the assembled state the lower handle part 14 can only be rotated and cannot be moved in any other direction.
Figure 4 showing the lower handle part 14 shows the body 26 and four curved spikes 24. The spikes 24 are arranged around the mouth of the blind hole 18, in a circle, symmetrically. A spike 24 consists of a neck 21 and a shoulder 22. The length of the neck 21 is equal to the length of the rim 13, and the width of the lower part of the shoulder 22 is equal to the width of the rim 13.
The diameter of the twisted round steel wire 10 is equal to the diameter of the blind hole 18 and the diameter of the circle defined by the spikes 24.
Figures 5a, 5b and 5c show the process of assembling the round hair brush according to the invention. Figure 5a shows the lower handle part 14 and a portion of the upper handle part 12 before assembling. In Figure 5b, the arrow shows the fitting of the lower handle part 14 into the upper handle part 12, and the moment when the spikes 24 are inside the rim 13. The spikes 24 made of plastic are flexible enough to allow the shoulders 22 to move towards each other at the rim 13 under pressure, and thus they can pass through the narrow section, then, after leaving the rim 13, the shoulders 22 regain their original shape. Figure 5c shows the already assembled upper handle part 12 and lower handle part 14, showing that the shoulders 22 and the necks 21 fit exactly on the rim 13, thus the spikes 24 hold firmly the lower end of the twisted round steel wire 10 inserted in the direction of the straight arrow, which can be moved to the proper position by rotating the lower handle part 14 in the direction shown by the rotation arrow underneath.
When the round hair brush is in use, the bristles 6 are perpendicular to the drum 7, as shown in Figure 1. Then the upper end of the twisted round steel wire 10 touches the upper point of impact 4. For removing the hair trapped between the bristles during use, the lower handle part 14 is rotated relative to the upper handle part 12. Due to the design according to the invention, there is a forced connection between the lower handle part 14, the twisted round steel wire 10 and the bristles 6, the twisted round steel wire 10 moves downwards during the rotation, leaving the upper point of impact 4, and can be rotated until it reaches the lower point of impact 16 at the bottom of the blind hole 18. By rotating the lower handle part 14, a tensile or compressive force is applied to the twisted round steel wire 10, because of the threads in the blind hole 18.
With the downward movement of the twisted round steel wire 10 the bristles 6 are gradually retracted, when the twisted round steel wire 10 reaches the lower point of impact 16, the ends of the bristles 6 barely extend through the apertures of the drum 7. Then the bristles 6 are in a retracted position, and the hair can be removed from the head portion 8 with a single movement. After removing the hair, by rotating the lower handle part 14 back, the twisted round steel wire 10 is pushed back, its upper end reaches the upper point of impact 4, the bristles 6 return to their position perpendicular to the drum 7, and the hair brush can be used again.
List of reference numbers:

2: closing cap
4: upper point of impact
5: axis line
6: bristle
7: drum
8: head portion
9: drum socket
10: twisted round steel wire
11: handle
12: upper handle part
13: rim
14: lower handle part
16: lower point of impact
18: blind hole
21: neck
22: shoulder
24: spike
26: body

Claims

A hair brush with retractable bristles comprising a head portion (8) and a handle (11), the head portion (8) consists of a hollow drum (7) provided with apertures, the upper part of which is covered with a closing cap (2), and the lower part of which is open; the handle (11) consists of a hollow upper handle part (12) and a lower handle part (14) formed from a solid body (26) with a blind hole (18), the upper handle part (12) and the lower handle part (14) are movably connected to each other, the drum (7) and the upper handle part (12) are firmly connected to each other,
in the head portion (8) and the handle (11), there is a vertically positioned twisted round steel wire (10) consisting of at least two strands, to which bristles (6) are fastened on the section located in the drum (7), the bristles (6) are normally perpendicular to the twisted round steel wire (10), and the bristles (6) extend through the apertures of the drum (7),

characterized in that

the upper handle part (12) has a drum socket (9) and a rim (13), there are spikes (24) having a neck (21) and a shoulder (22) around the mouth of the blind hole (18) of the lower handle part (14),

the length of the neck (21) is equal to the length of the rim (13), the width of the lower part of the shoulder (22) is equal to the width of the rim (13),

there is an upper point of impact (4) in the middle of the closing cap (2), and a lower point of impact (16) at the bottom of the blind hole (18),

the twisted round steel wire (10) forms a threaded stem, the diameter of the twisted round steel wire (10) is equal to the diameter of the blind hole (18) and the diameter of the circle-defined by the spikes (24),

the wall of the blind hole (18) is threaded, the threads match the threads of the twisted round steel wire (10), the lower end of the twisted round steel wire (10) fits exactly into the blind hole (18), and by rotating the lower handle part (14), the twisted round steel wire (10) can be moved upward or downward between the upper point of impact (4) and the lower point of impact (16).
The hair brush with retractable bristles according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower handle part (14) contains four spikes (24).
The hair brush with retractable bristles according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower handle part (14) contains three spikes (24).
The hair brush with retractable bristles according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the twisted round steel wire (10) is made of two strands.
The hair brush with retractable bristles according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the twisted round steel wire (10) is made of three strands.