System and method for hair loss reduction and re-growth

• US 6,267,720 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Smith, Jo Rodney Knox
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Smith, Jo Rodney Knox
• Inventors: Smith, Edward W., Knox, Jo Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/553,131
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 600/9-15
• US Class Current: 600/15
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/008 with means for heating or cooling ventilating arrangements for head coverings A42C5/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/06 using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Removable headwear is provided for therapeutically applying a permanent magnetic field to hair follicles located in the scalp to retard hair loss and promote hair re-growth. A flexible sheet of magnetic material having a plurality of alternating north-south poles is placed with a head covering that is in turn placed upon the head of a subject. Such head covering, while suitable for nighttime wear, may not be deemed socially acceptable for wear during the day. To enable the subject to maximize the exposure of the scalp to the magnetic fields, the head covering is configured to permit an item of conventional headwear to be placed over and cover the inner head covering.

Claims

1. A removable headwear assembly of an inner applicator cap and an outer cosmetic cap for therapeutic use by application of static magnetic fields to a human scalp of a subject comprising:

permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp;

an inner applicator receiving said magnetic means in a manner forming a treatment surface therein, said applicator having a peripheral edge that defines a headband, said headband and said applicator together forming a head-receiving cavity;

attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the applicator;

means for adjusting the fit of the applicator to the head; and

means for attaching the outer cap to the applicator to form a cosmetic assembly suitable for daytime wear.

2. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is a flexible sheet of magnetic material, magnetized to create a pattern of alternating magnetic polarities that extend substantially across the surface of said flexible sheet.

3. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 2 comprising only the head-worn inner cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for nighttime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the inner cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the inner cap to the head.

4. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 1 comprising only the outer cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for cosmetic daytime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the outer cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the outer cap to the head.

5. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is a flexible sheet of magnetic material, magnetized to create a uniform magnetic polarity that extends substantially across the surface of said flexible sheet.

6. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 5 comprising only the head-worn inner cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for nighttime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the inner cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the inner cap to the head.

7. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 5 comprising only the outer cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for cosmetic daytime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the outer cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the outer cap to the head.

8. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is a flexible sheet of substantially non-magnetic material which secure a pattern of individual magnets, with each magnet adjacent to a magnet of opposite polarity, with said pattern extending substantially across the surface of said flexible sheet.

9. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 8 comprising only the head-worn inner cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for nighttime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to inner cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the inner cap to the head.

10. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 8 comprising only the outer cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for cosmetic daytime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the outer cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the outer cap to the head.

11. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is a flexible sheet of substantially non-magnetic material which secure a pattern of individual magnets, with each magnet adjacent to a magnet of like polarity, with said pattern extending substantially across the surface of said flexible sheet.

12. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 11 comprising only the head-worn inner cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for nighttime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the inner cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the inner cap to the head.

13. A removable headwear assembly according to claim 11 comprising only the outer cap having permanent magnetic means for stimulation of the scalp, suitable for cosmetic daytime wear, attachment means for securing the magnetic means to the outer cap, and means for adjusting the fit of the outer cap to the head.

14. A removable headwear for therapeutic use by application of a magnetic field to a human scalp of a subject comprising:

a flexible sheet of a permanent magnetic material having a plurality of north and south poles formed thereon; and

an applicator receiving said flexible magnetic sheet in a manner forming a treatment surface therein.

15. A removable headwear according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of north and south poles on said flexible sheet comprise an array of alternating magnetic polarities.

16. A removable headwear according to claim 15, wherein said array of alternating magnetic polarities extends substantially across an entire surface of said flexible sheet.

17. A removable headwear according to claim 15, wherein an inner surface of said applicator forms a receiving pocket with an outer surface of said receiving pocket defining said treatment surface.

18. A removable headwear according to claim 17, wherein a peripheral edge of said applicator defines a headband, said headband and said applicator together defining a head-receiving cavity.

19. A removable headwear according to claim 18, and further comprising an in-line fastener attached to said headband enabling a selective linear adjustment therein.

20. A removable headwear according to claim 19, wherein said in-line fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

21. A removable headwear according to claim 18, and further comprising an outer cap of suitable dimension to be received by and overlie said applicator.

22. A removable headwear according to claim 21, wherein said outer cap is a baseball-type cap.

23. A method of stimulating hair follicles about the head of a subject comprising the steps of:

enwrapping a flexible sheet having permanent magnetic elements within a covering for a head;

placing said covering for a head with said enwrapped magnetic sheet upon the head of said subject;

wearing said covering for a head upon the head of said subject over an extended period of time after placement thereon; and

removing said covering for a head from the head of said subject upon the elapse of said extended period of time.

24. A method of stimulating hair follicles according to claim 23, and further comprising the step of:

placing an additional cover for a head upon the head of said subject in a manner to overlie the initial covering for a head with said enwrapped flexible sheet having permanent magnetic elements, said additional cover for a head embodying design characteristics deemed of greater social acceptability by said subject.