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Hair pickRelated Patent Categories: Toilet, Hair Device, Comb, With Finger Hole Or RecessHair pick description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070151572, Hair pick. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates generally to apparatus for grooming hair. More particularly, the invention pertains to a handheld hair pick having a flexible base member with a plurality of teeth extending therefrom, for lifting, holding and combing a shock of hair. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Hair picks and hair lift combs of various designs are well known in the art. The purpose of these devices is to facilitate lifting and combing a long shock of hair smoothly and repeatedly, to eliminate tangling and matting. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,608 issued to Cavaioli et al., a hair lift comb having raised portions alternating on either side of adjacent comb teeth is shown. The '608 Patent also shows a conventional comb back 10 to be gripped by the hairdresser during use of the comb. [0005] A number of design patents have also issued for articles described as Hair Picks and Hair Lifts, including: U.S. Pat. Des. No. 368,981, issued to Bozak, for a Combined Hair Lift And Parting Out Tool; U.S. Pat. Des. No. 258,541, granted to Featherstone, for a Double Hair Pick; U.S. Pat. Des. No. 330,782, issued to Balster et al., for a Hair Pick; and, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 270,296, granted to Thomas, for a Hair Lifter. [0006] However, all of these devices generally require the use of the hairdresser's second hand to hold and guide the hair through the teeth of the pick during the grooming operation. This requirement provides a disadvantage during grooming, as the hairdresser cannot use his or her other hand to perform associated procedures such as cutting or tinting the hair. It is an objective of the present invention, therefore, to provide a hair pick which can be held in one hand of the hairdresser, and manipulated through movement of that single hand, selectively to grip and release a shock of hair as needed during a grooming or treatment process for the hair. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The hair pick of the present invention comprises an elongated base member provided with a plurality of teeth projecting from an upper side of the base member. The base member is made from a material which is both flexible and resilient. [0008] A finger ring is provided on the opposing lower side of the base member, approximately midway between first and second ends of the base member. The finger ring is sized and configured to accommodate the tip portion of the user's finger, typically the pointer finger. [0009] Finger grips are provided on each of the base ends. In a first embodiment, the finger grips comprise outwardly extending arcuate segments. In a second embodiment, the finger grips are integrally molded within opposing lateral teeth. The finger grips are oriented generally transverse to the axis of the base member. The finger grips have portions extending above and below the base member, and preferably include an arcuate surface for comfortable engagement with a finger. [0010] The hairdresser grasps the hair pick by passing his or her pointer finger into the finger ring, while the thumb and the middle finger engage a respective finger grip. By exerting inward or pushing pressure on the upper portions of the finger grip while pulling away from the base member using the finger ring, the base member is flexed into a first arcuate configuration and the axes of the teeth are reoriented inwardly to a closed position. In the closed position, the outer ends of the teeth may be touching, enabling the hairdresser to grip and hold a shock of hair. [0011] By exerting inward pressure on the lower portions of the finger grip while pushing against the base member using the finger ring, the base member is flexed into a second arcuate configuration and the axes of the teeth are thereby reoriented outwardly into an open position. In the open position, the outer ends of the teeth are in spaced relation, separated from each other a greater distance than when the hair pick is in a rested position. The open position allows the hairdresser either to release a shock of hair, or to apply a minimum amount of friction to the shock during combing to minimize discomfort to the customer. [0012] When the inward pressure on the finger grips is released, the resilient material used for the base member restores the hair pick to a rested or unflexed configuration, where the base member is lineal and axes of the teeth are generally in parallel relation. Through selective application and release of pressure on the finger grips, the hair pick can be manipulated with a single hand of the hairdresser to effect the desired combing, untangling, holding, and spraying of the hair shock. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the hair pick in an unflexed position, showing the centrally positioned finger ring and the laterally positioned finger grips; [0014] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hair pick; [0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the hair pick; [0016] FIG. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of an alternative hair pick tooth; [0017] FIG. 5 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of another alternative hair pick tooth; [0018] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the hair pick in an open position, the arrows indicating the location and direction of forces applied by the user's fingers; [0019] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the hair pick in a closed position, the arrows indicating the location and direction of forces applied by the user's fingers; [0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hair pick in an open position, lightly engaging a shock of hair; [0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hair pick in a closed position, tightly engaging a shock of hair; Continue reading about Hair pick... Full patent description for Hair pick Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hair pick patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Hair pick or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Cosmetics case Next Patent Application: Mascara brush and kit Industry Class: Toilet ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Hair pick patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.43273 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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