Ion emitting grooming brush

• US 6,152,146 A
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Charles E., Lau, Shek Fai
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US09/344,516
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 132/112, 132/116, 132/148, 132/152, 132/154, 132/271, 132/272, 607/79
• US Class Current: 132/116
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/50 and provision for an air stream
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/202 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0024 with means generating ions
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3053 Clothes brush, i.e. brushes specifically designed for cleaning clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/023 arranged like in hair brushes, e.g. hair treatment, dyeing, streaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/44 Applying ionised fluids ion generators H01J37/00

Abstract

A hair brush includes a self-contained ion generator that subjects the hair and scalp being brushed to an outflow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises at least one metal pin spaced coaxially-apart from a metal ring-like structure. Alternatively, the first array may comprise one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow "U"-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is directed between the brush bristles onto the hair and scalp being groomed.

Claims

1. A self-contained ion emitting brush, comprising:

a handholdable body defining at least one vent and having a region to which a grooming attachment may be affixed;

a self-contained ion generator disposed in said body and including;

a high voltage generator having first and second output ports, one of which ports may be at a same potential as ambient air, that outputs a signal whose duty cycle can be about 10% to about 100%; and

an electrode assembly, effectively coupled between said output ports, comprising a first electrode array that includes at least one electrode having a pointed tip aimed generally in a downstream direction, and a second electrode array that includes at least one electrically conductive member through which there is defined at least one substantially circular opening disposed generally coaxial with and in a downstream direction from said pointed tip of said first electrode, said electrically conductive member having a first surface facing said first electrode array and, transitioning smoothly and continuously from said first surface, a second surface surrounding a periphery of said substantially circular opening to form a skirt-like region having a single continuous interior surface, said skirt-like region extending in said downstream direction;

wherein said ion generator outputs an electrostatic flow in a downstream direction toward said second electrode array, said electrostatic flow including at least one of ionized air and ozone.

2. The brush of claim 1, wherein:

said second electrode array is a loop of conductive material.

3. The brush of claim 1, wherein:

said first electrode array includes at least two electrodes that each have a pointed tip aimed generally toward said opening; and

said second electrode array is a single ring of conductive material encircling said opening.

4. The brush of claim 1, wherein:

said first electrode array includes at least two electrodes that each have a pointed tip; and

said second electrode array includes at least two electrically conductive members that each define a substantially circular opening disposed generally coaxial with and in a downstream direction from a pointed tip of an electrode in said first electrode array, each of said electrically conductive members having a first surface facing said first electrode array and, transitioning smoothly and continuously from said first surface, a second surface surrounding a periphery of said substantially circular opening to form a skirt-like region having a single continuous interior surface, said skirt-like region extending in said downstream direction.

5. The brush of claim 1, wherein:

said first electrode array includes at least one electrode made from a material having a distal end that defines a plurality of projecting conductive fibers.

6. The brush of claim 1, wherein an edge of said electrically conductive member surrounding said opening is rounded on a member surface facing said first electrode array.

7. The brush of claim 1, wherein said high voltage generator provides a first potential measurable relative to ground to said first electrode array and provides a second potential measurable relative to ground to said second electrode array.

8. The brush of claim 7, wherein at least one of said first potential and said second potential has an absolute magnitude of at least about 1 kV.

9. The brush of claim 1, further including said grooming attachment.

10. The brush of claim 1, further including said grooming attachment, wherein said grooming attachment includes bristles.

11. The brush of claim 1, wherein said second electrode array has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said member defines in cross-section a tapered region terminating towards said circular opening, (b) said member defines in cross-section a rounded region terminating towards said circular opening, (c) said member defines in cross-section a rounded profile terminating in said circular opening, (d) a ratio of effective radius of a first electrode array-facing edge of said member surrounding said opening to effective radius of said pointed tip exceeds about 15:

1, and (e) said member includes stainless steel.

12. The brush of claim 1, wherein said electrode in said first electrode array has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said electrode includes tungesten, (b) said electrdoe includes stainless steel, and (c) said electrode includes projecting fibers of carbon.

13. A method of providing a self-contained ion emitting brush, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a handholdable body having a region to which a grooming attachment may be affixed;

(b) disposing within said body an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode array that includes at least one electrode having a pointed tip aimed generally in a downstream direction, and a second electrode array that includes at least one electrically conductive member through which there is defined at least one substantially circular opening disposed generally coaxial with and in a downstream direction from said pointed tip of said first electrode, said electrically conductive member formed with a first surface facing said first electrode array and, transitioning smoothly and continuously from said first surface, and formed with a second surface surrounding a periphery of said of said substantially circular opening to form a skirt-like region having a sinle continuous interior surface, said skirt-like region extending in said donwstream direction; and

(c) within said body, generating high voltage with a duty cycle that can be about 10% to about 100% and coupling said high voltage across said first electrode array and said second electrode array;

wherein an electrostatic flow in a downstream direction toward said second electrode array is created, said electrostatic flow including at least one of ionized air and ozone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) includes providing said second electrode array as a loop of conductive material.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) includes providing said first electrode array with at least two electrodes that each have a pointed tip aimed generally toward said opening;

and providing said second electrode array as a single ring of conductive material encircling said opening.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) includes:

providing said first electrode array with at least first and second electrodes that each have a pointed tip; and

providing said second electrode array with at least first and second electrically conductive members thateach define a substantially circular opening, and disposing said first and second electrically conductive members generally coaxial with and in a downstream direction from, respectively, said pointed tip said first and second electrodes in said first electrode array, each of said electrically conductive members formed with a first surface facing said first electrode array and, transitioning smoothly and continuously from said first surface, and formed with a second surface surrounding a periphery of said substantially circular opening to form a skirt-like region having a single continuous interior surface, said skirt-like region extending in said downstream direction.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) includes:

providing said first electrode array with at least one electrode made from a material having a distal end that includes a plurality of projecting conductive fibers.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) includes rounding an edge of said electrically conductive member surrounding said opening on a member surface facing said first electrode array.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) includes generating and coupling said high voltage to provide a first potential measurable relative to ground to said first electrode array and to provide a second potential measurable relative to ground to said second electrode array.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first potential and said second potential has an absolute magnitude of at least about 1 kV.

21. A self-contained ion emitting brush, comprising:

a handholdable body defining at least one vent and having a region to which a grooming attachment may be affixed;

a self-contained ion generator disposed in said body and including;

a high voltage generator having first and second output ports, one of which ports may be at a same potential as ambient air, that outputs a signal whose duty cycle can be about 10% to about 100%; and

an electrode assembly, effectively coupled between said output ports, comprising a first electrode array that includes at least one wire electrode, and a second electrode array that includes at least two electrically conductive members that are disposed parallel to said wire electrode and are equidistant thererfrom;

wherein said ion generator outputs an electrostatic flow in a downstream direction toward said second electrode array, said electrostatic flow including at least one of ionized air and ozone.

22. The brush of claim 21, wherein said electrically conductive members in said second electrode array include at least two electrically conductive electrodes that in cross-section define a "U"-shape having a bulbous nose region and first and second trailing edge regions and are disposed with said bulbous nose regions facing said wire electrode and being equidistant therefrom.

23. The brush of claim 21, wherein an electrode in said second electrode array has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) a portion of one trailing edge region is longer than a remaining trailing edge region on said electrode, (b) said trailing edge region defines at least one pointed projection facing downstream, and (c) a ratio of effective radius of an electrode in said second electrode array to effective radius of said wire electrode exceeds about 15:

1.

24. The brush of claim 21, wherein:

said second electrode array includes at least two electrically conductive electrodes that in cross-section definean "L"-shaped having a curved nose region;

the "L"-shaped electrodes being disposed such that said curved nose regions face said wire electrode and are equidistant therefrom.

25. The brush of claim 21, wherein:

said second electrode array includes at least first and second conductive electrodes disposed parallel to said wire electrode and equidistant therefrom, the first conductive electrode having a side surface parallel to a side surface of the second conductive electrode.

26. The brush of claim 25, wherein a ratio of said first conductive electrode to radius of said wire electrode exceeds about 15:

1.

27. The brush of claim 21, wherein a portion of electrodes in said second array include at least one pointed projection facing downstream.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein an edge portion of said electrically conductive members in said second electrode array include at least one pointed projection facing downstream.

28. A method of providing a self-contained ion emitting brush, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a handholdable body having a region to which a grooming attachment may be affixed;

(b) disposing within said body an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode array including a wire electrode, and a second electrode array including at least two electrically conductive members disposed parallel to said wire electrode and equidistant therefrom; and

(c) within said body, generating high voltage with a duty cycle that can be about 10% to about 100% and coupling said high voltage across said first electrode array and said second elecrode array;

wherein an electrostatic flow is created that flows downstream toward second electrode array, said electrostatic flow including at least one of ionized air and ozone.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein steo (b) includes providing said electrically conductive members in said second electrode array with at least two electrically conductive electrodes that in cross station define a "U"-shape having a bulbous nose region and first and second trailing edge regions and are disposed with said bulbous nose regions facing said wire electrode and being equidistant therefrom.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein step (b) includes providing said second electrode array with at least two electrically conductive electrodes that in a cross-section define "L"-shape having a curved nose region and are disposed such that said curved nose regions face said wire electrode and are equidistant therefrom.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein an edge portion of said electrically conductive members in said second electrode array include at least one pointed projection facing downstream.