Comb for Lifting Hair Upwardly

• US 20080283075A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg Vance
• Original Assignee: Greg Vance
• Inventors: Vance, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/200
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 24/04 Multi-part combs

Abstract

A comb is described having two sets of opposing tines that are connected together by way a biasing hinge. The comb is utilized in styling hair and, in particular, to lift short hair vertically upwardly.

Claims

1. A comb for styling human hair, the comb comprising:

a first set of tines;

a second set of tines;

a first handle rail extending at least along a proximal end of each tine of the first set of tines, the first set of tines being integral with the first handle rail, the first handle rail forming a first handle rail longitudinal axis;

a second handle rail extending at least along a proximal end of each tine of the second set of tines, the second set of tines being integral with the second handle rail, the second handle rail forming a second handle rail longitudinal axis; and

a biasing hinge, the biasing hinge coupled to proximal ends of both the first and second handle rails and adapted to hold each handle rail and each respective set of tines in a spaced apart relationship from the other handle rail and other set of tines;

wherein (i) the tines of the first set of tines are coincident with each other relative to the first handle rail longitudinal axis, (ii) the tines of the second set of tines are aligned with each other relative to the second handle rail longitudinal axis, and (iii) the first and second set of tines have a similar tine density along their respective handle rail longitudinal axis of 3.5-20 tines per inch.

2. The comb of claim 1, wherein:

(i) each tine of the first set of tines is substantially coplanar with each other tine in the first set forming a first plane;

(ii) each tine of the second set of tines is substantially coplanar with each other tine in the second set forming a second plane.

3. The comb of claim 2, wherein the tines of the first set and the tines of the second set are substantially parallel to each other.

4. The comb of claim 2, wherein the tines of the first set are canted inwardly towards the times of the second set and the tines of the second set are canted inwardly towards the first set, the angle formed between the intersection of the first and second planes being between 5-45 degrees.

5. The comb of claim 1, wherein the tines of the first set are curved inwardly towards the times of the second set and the tines of the second set are curved inwardly towards the first set.

6. The comb of claim 1 wherein a substantial majority of the tines of the respective first and second sets having similar widthwise dimensions and are each spaced part from neighboring tines in its respective set a distance equal to or greater than the tines widthwise dimension.

7. The comb of claim 1, wherein the tines of the respective first and second sets have widthwise dimensions of about 0.10″

to 0.25″

.

8. The comb of claim 1, wherein the tines from the first set are adapted to interleave with the tines of the second set when the handle rails are compressed towards one another.

9. The comb of claim 1 wherein the respective sets of tines, the respective handle rails, and the biasing hinge are comprised of a single unitary piece of material.

10. The comb of claim 1, wherein the unitary material comprises a polymeric material.

11. The comb of claim 1 wherein the biasing hinge comprises an integrally molded living hinge.

12. The comb of claim 1 wherein the biasing hinge comprises a metallic spring.

13. The comb of claim 1 wherein the tine density is about 8-16 tines per inch.

15. A method of styling hair using the comb of claim 1, the method comprising:

holding the comb in a hand by the handle rails;

lowering the sets of tines towards a scalp of a user beneath the top of the hair with the sets of tines spaced apart from one another and being generally vertically orientated;

compressing the handle rails bringing the opposing sets of tines into contact with each other with a section of the hair caught therebetween; and

raising the comb with the sets of tines compressed against each other thereby lifting the section of hair upwardly.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying one of a styling gel and hair spray to the hair.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising repeating said lowering, compressing and raising on a plurality of sections of hair.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the sets of tines are spaced apart from each other 0.5-1.5″

during said lowering.

14. The comb of claim wherein the spacing between the first set of tines and the second set of tines with the biasing hinge in a normal resting position is about 0.50″

to 1.5″

.

19. A comb for styling human hair, a unitary one piece comb comprising:

a first portion comprising a first set of tines;

a second portion comprising a second set of tines, the second set of tines opposing and being spaced from the first set of tines;

a third portion comprising a first handle rail extending at least along a proximal end of each tine of the first set of tines, the first set of tines, the first handle rail forming a first handle rail longitudinal axis;

a fourth portion comprising a second handle rail extending at least along a proximal end of each tine of the second set of tines, the second handle rail forming a second handle rail longitudinal axis; and

a fifth portion comprising a biasing living hinge, the biasing living hinge integrated with proximal ends of both the first and second handle rails and adapted to hold each handle rail and each respective set of tines in a spaced apart relationship from the other handle rail and other set of tines;

wherein (i) the tines of the first set of tines are coincident with each other relative to the first handle rail longitudinal axis, (ii) the tines of the second set of tines are coincident with each other relative to the second handle rail longitudinal axis, (iii) the first and second set of tines have a similar tine density along their respective handle rail longitudinal axis of 8-16 tines per inch, and (iv) the comb comprises a plastic material.

20. A comb for styling human hair, the comb comprising:

a first set of tines, the tines of the first set being coplanar with each other on a first plane;

a second set of tines the tines of the second set being coplanar with each other on a second plane;

a first handle rail including (i) a first tine section extending at least along a proximal end of each tine of the first set of tines and (ii) a first handle section, the first set of tines and the first handle rail being unitarily fabricated;

a second handle rail including (i) a second tine section extending at least along a proximal end of each tine of the second set of tines and (ii) a second handle section, the second set of tines and the second handle rail being unitarily fabricated;

a biasing hinge, the biasing hinge coupled to proximal ends of both the first and second handle rails and adapted to hold each handle rail and each respective set of tines in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship from the other handle rail and other set of tines, a distance between the first and second set of tines being between about 0.5-1.5″

.