Fluid dispensing hairbrush

• US 20070144549A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Inventors: Enriquez, Ruben
• Application Number:
  US11/601,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/116
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 24/28 with piston pump or other types of pumps

Abstract

A fluid dispensing hairbrush with a regulation valve is disclosed for dispensing hair products onto a user'"'"'s hair and/or scalp, particularly viscous fluids, such as gel, mousse, or thick conditioners, in a drizzling manner. The valve is adjustable for use with various fluids depending upon viscosity levels, as well as amounts of fluid to dispense. Use of the hairbrush prevents a user from unwanted contact on a user'"'"'s hands with fluids. Many hair products can be sticky or cause dry skin on a user'"'"'s hands, and in some cases, a user'"'"'s skin may become irritated by a hair product that may not irritate the user'"'"'s scalp. Further, use of a fluid dispensing hairbrush can expedite one'"'"'s hair preparation routine substantially.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing hairbrush, comprising:

a handle attached to a head having bristles, wherein the handle has a removable base;

a plurality of openings on a face of the head;

a fluid reservoir within the handle;

a fluid regulation valve knob on the hairbrush configured to regulate variable release of fluid within a range of rotation of the knob from a slightly open position to a fully open position; and

a trigger on the handle configured to activate loading of fluid from the fluid reservoir to a fluid loading chamber in the handle,

wherein activation of the trigger pushes fluid from the fluid loading chamber through the openings on the head when activated with a loaded fluid loading chamber.

2. The hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the valve knob is rotatable through a plurality of degrees to adjust an inlet area of a fluid passage.

3. The hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the trigger is activated in a sliding movement.

4. The hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the trigger is activated in a direction parallel with the handle.

5. The hairbrush of claim 3, further comprising a ring at the base of the handle configured to hang the hairbrush.

6. The hairbrush of claim 3, wherein the valve knob is configured to allow variable release of fluids having a consistency similar to hair gel.

7. The hairbrush of claim 3, wherein the valve knob is configured to allow variable release of fluids having a consistency similar to hair mouse.

8. The hairbrush of claim 3, wherein the valve knob is configured to allow variable release of fluids having a consistency similar to hair conditioner.

9. The hairbrush of claim 3, wherein the valve knob is configured to allow variable release of fluids having a consistency similar to hair spray.

10. The hairbrush of claim 3, wherein the removable base has threading configured for screwing and unscrewing the removable base.

11. The hairbrush of claim 10, wherein the fluid reservoir is held in place in the handle between the removable base and a gasket when the base is screwed on.

12. The hairbrush of claim 11, further comprising a first hose configured to pull fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid loading chamber when the trigger is activated.

13. The hairbrush of claim 12, further comprising a retaining cap to keep a plunger in place.

14. The hairbrush of claim 13, further comprising a second hose attached to the fluid regulation valve.

15. The hairbrush of claim 14, wherein the fluid regulation valve knob fluid is coupled to a fluid regulation valve which comprises a first flat unidirectional valve having a wishbone shaped cut out to house a regulation post.

16. The hairbrush of claim 15, further comprising a second flat unidirectional valve at an end of a spring opposite the handle end of the hairbrush, wherein the spring is compressed by the plunger when the trigger is pressed.

17. The hairbrush of claim 16, wherein the spring pushes the plunger to its original location to pull fluid through a first hose into the fluid loading chamber when the trigger is released, pushing air out of the fluid loading chamber through a port into a valve region and out of a second hose with branches leading to the openings in the head.

18. A fluid dispensing hairbrush, comprising:

a handle with a head having a face with bristles;

at least one opening on the face;

a fluid regulation valve system configured to variably regulate release of fluid from a slightly open position to a fully open position, having a valve housing;

an O-ring at a bottom of the valve housing connected to a first flat unidirectional valve with a wishbone shaped cut out for fitting a fluid regulation post;

a second flat unidirectional valve located at an end of a spring opposite the handle end of the hairbrush;

a fluid passage within the valve housing; and

a fluid regulation post attached to a fluid regulation valve knob extending upward from a fluid loading chamber through the first flat unidirectional valve in a fluid passage of the valve housing, the valve housing configured to turn as the valve knob is turned.

19. The hairbrush of claim 18, wherein the fluid regulation post remains stationary when the valve knob is rotated.

20. The hairbrush of claim 19, wherein the first flat unidirectional valve rotates when the valve knob is rotated decreasing or increasing an inlet area of a fluid passage of the valve housing.

21. A fluid dispensing hairbrush, comprising:

a handle attached to a head having bristles;

at least one opening on a face of the head;

a fluid regulation valve knob on the handle configured to regulate variable release of fluid within a range of rotation of the knob from a slightly open position to a fully open position; and

a trigger on the handle configured to manually activate loading of fluid;

wherein the trigger pushes loaded fluid through the at least one opening on the head when the trigger is activated.

22. The hairbrush of claim 21, wherein the handle has a removable base and a fluid reservoir.

23. The hairbrush of claim 22, wherein activating the trigger loads fluid from the fluid reservoir to a fluid loading chamber in the handle.

24. The hairbrush of claim 23, wherein activating the trigger with a loaded fluid loading chamber pushes loaded fluid through the at least one opening on the head.

25. The hairbrush of claim 24, wherein the fluid regulation valve knob is coupled to a fluid regulation valve system which comprises a first flat unidirectional valve having a wishbone shaped cut out to house a regulation post.

26. The hairbrush of claim 25, further comprising a second flat unidirectional valve at an end of a spring opposite the handle end of the hairbrush, wherein the spring is compressed by a plunger when the trigger is pressed.

27. The hairbrush of claim 26, wherein the spring pushes the plunger to its original location to pull fluid through a first hose into the fluid loading chamber when the trigger is released, pushing air out of the fluid loading chamber through a port into a valve region and out of a second hose.

28. The hairbrush of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of the openings, wherein the second hose has hose branches leading to the openings in the head.