FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hair-coloring applicator device
and to a related method for the coloring of hair.
[0002] Particular embodiments may be useful for the temporary coloring of graying hair,
for example, at or near the hair roots.
[0003] Hair dyes are commonly used to hide the gray and white hairs typically caused by
aging, as well as to alter other hair colors to suit personal taste. Hair colorants
may be broadly classified into several types, although colorants of different types
may be combined, and some colorants may not clearly belong to any one type [
Anderson, J. Soc. Dyers Colourists, 116:193-196 (2000); Zviak and Millequant, [
Zviak, Charles; Millequant, Jean. Editor(s): Bouillon, Claude; Wilkinson, John. Science
of Hair Care (2nd Edition) (2005), 251-275. Publisher: CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton,
Fla].
[0004] Permanent colorants are usually formed by mixing small aromatic precursors with an
oxidizing agent, typically hydrogen peroxide. Following oxidation, the precursors
covalently react with each other to form a dye. The small precursor molecules can
diffuse into the hair more effectively than the larger dye molecule can diffuse out.
An alkalizing agent, typically ammonia, is also added in order to cause swelling of
the hairs, which allows maximum penetration of the precursors into the hair. In addition,
the peroxide bleaches the original hair color, thereby allowing the color of the dye
to completely replace the original hair color. Permanent colorants are quite popular,
but they suffer the drawbacks of the complexity of correctly mixing and applying the
precursors, and the use of potentially harmful reagents. Thus, permanent colorants
are normally applied by professional hair stylists. In addition, even permanent coloring
cannot hide the original hair color that inevitably reappears with the new growth
of hair.
[0005] Demi-permanent colorants are similar to permanent colorants, but use lower concentrations
of peroxide, and an alkalizing agent that is less effective than ammonia, but has
a less unpleasant odor. Demi-permanent colorants are therefore less effective at penetrating
the hair and bleaching the original hair color, and cannot be used to effectively
color predominantly gray or white hair. However, the relative gentleness of such colorants
makes them desirable when less effective coloring is sufficient, such as when gray
or white hairs constitute a minority of hairs.
[0006] Semi-permanent colorants typically comprise molecules, such as nitrophenylenediamines
and nitroaminophenols, which are small enough to diffuse into the hairs. Such colorants
do not require additional reagents and are therefore easy to use, but they are less
effective than permanent dyes, fade relatively quickly following several shampooings,
and cannot bleach the original hair color.
[0007] Temporary colorants typically do not penetrate the hairs, and therefore are capable
of only moderate changes in hair color. They are also removed by the first shampooing,
and are therefore appropriate for individual occasions, and to make slight alterations
to hair color, such as hiding gray or white new growth, until a more permanent colorant
is applied. Because temporary colorants need not comprise small molecules capable
of penetrating the hair, a wide variety of compounds may be used, which facilitates
convenience. For instance, one may select dyes that have no risk of inducing an allergic
reaction, which is not possible with more permanent colorants. There is also a large
number of shades to choose from.
[0008] The ideal characteristics of a temporary hair colorant depend on the exact use of
the colorant. Typically, however, it is important that the colorant be easily removable
by shampoo, but not by rain, perspiration or friction from clothing or pillowcases.
It is also desirable that the colorant have a sufficiently high affinity to hair,
and to color hair evenly.
[0009] Temporary hair colorants have been used as ingredients in shampoos and conditioners,
shading strengtheners, colored hair sprays and mascaras, aimed to be applied to the
entire head of hair or as hair streaks. To provide even and stable coloring there
are often several families of dyes used within a single formula. The charge of the
dyes can be negative or positive to provide low or high affinity to the hair shaft,
as dyes with positive charge (basic dyes) have a higher affinity to the hair.
[0010] Common temporary hair colorants include azo derivatives, basic triphenylmethane dyes
such as methyl violet, azine derivatives such as safranine, and indoamines and indophenols
[Zviak and Millequant,
supra (2005)]. Colored polymers have been used, as well as artificial melanin.
[0011] Polymer colorants with a strong affinity to hair are often semi-permanent or permanent
colorants. Examples of polymers with a strong affinity to hair which are semi-permanent
colorants are disclosed in
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,182,612,
5,702,712 and
5,827,330.
[0012] A polymeric temporary colorant thereafter must have at most a moderate affinity to
hair, and more desirable, a low affinity to hair. Examples of polymers suitable for
temporary coloring of hair are disclosed, for example in
U.S. Patents Nos. 5,737,907 and
5,891,199.
[0013] Tannic acid, or gallic acid produced by hydrolysis of tannic acid, has for centuries
been combined with ferrous ions to produce iron gall ink. After writing with the pale
ink, the ferrous ions are oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to ferric ions, which react
with the tannic acid to produce a dark violet-black organometallic polymer that can
permanently bind to proteins, such as those in parchment. Iron gall ink is rarely
used today, because paper does not comprise protein, and excess iron atoms are highly
corrosive, damaging both paper and pens.
[0014] A similar process has been used to permanently or semi-permanently dye hair with
a dye that binds the protein of hair. For example,
EP Patent No. 327,345 discloses a kit which comprises a shampoo comprising ferrous ion for washing hair,
and a solution comprising tannic acid which is applied to the hair after shampooing
in order to create a semi-permanent black dye. Such a kit is inadequate for use as
a temporary colorant because the colorant is semi-permanent, and because the use of
two solutions (a tannic acid solution and a ferrous ion solution) is too lengthy and
complex to appeal to consumers. Moreover, the kit disclosed therein must be used more
than once in order to achieve full coloration.
[0015] Japanese Patent No.
2,014,324 and
U.S. Patent No. 4,946,472 disclose hair colorants comprising ferric ion and tannic acid in a single formulation.
The colorants used in the taught formulations, however, are not temporary.
[0016] Chinese Patent Application No.
1990-104,017, Japanese Patent Nos.
3,014,160 and
48,031,902 and Japanese Patent Application Nos.
2002-47,287,
1993-312,065,
1988-292,113 and
1984-65,068 disclose permanent or semi-permanent hair colorants comprising ferrous iron and tannic
acid in a single formulation. Based on the art of iron-tannic acid colorants, it is
believed that ferrous ion undergoes oxidation to ferric ion (e.g. by exposure to air)
before reacting with tannic acid to produce a colored polymeric iron tannate. Oxidation
of ferrous ions in a hair colorant that has been applied to the hair results in the
formation of an iron tannate polymer strongly bound to the hair, making the colorant
non-temporary. These patents and patent applications are silent with respect to compositions
that comprise tannic acid and ferric iron ions, let alone compositions that are devoid
of unbound ferric ions.
[0017] Japanese Patent Nos.
61,055,483,
130,823,
94,800 and
93,052 and Japanese Patent Application Nos.
2005-206,160,
2000-85,556,
1990-336,606,
1987-245,287,
1984-177,514 and
1972-81,137 disclose permanent or semi-permanent hair colorants comprising two formulations,
one of which comprises iron ions, and the other comprising tannic acid. Mixture of
the two solutions in hair allows the production of iron tannates in the hair, the
iron tannates thereby becoming bound to the hair.
[0018] In addition to the inability of such formulations to serve as temporary colorants,
iron-tannic acid hair colorants suffer from several general deficiencies. The dark
black color does not appeal to many consumers. In addition, all of the abovementioned
formulations comprise unbound iron ions. Unbound iron is corrosive, and ferrous ion
in particular produces highly oxidizing free radicals by the Fenton reaction. Excess
iron can damage hair and cause unsightly skin hyper-pigmentation [
Landsown, Int. J. Cosmetic Sci., 23:129-137 (2001)].
[0019] Melanoidins are a family of brownish, colored compounds that result from the interaction
between sugars and amino acids under moderate heat. Melanoidins are responsible for
much of the browning and flavor of cooked foods, and hence are recognized as highly
safe agents. However, melanoidins have not been disclosed as hair colorants heretofore.
[0020] It is advantageous for temporary hair colorants to comprise a formulation suitable
for applying the colored compound(s) included therein to the hair with the desired
ease and convenience. For example, the formulation may include solvents and/or surface
active agents which allow the solubilization of the colored compound, and yet are
fast drying formulation. It is also desirable in many cases for the formulation to
include ingredients that prevent the temporary hair coloring from fading and/or rubbing
off prematurely.
[0021] PCT Patent Application No. WO 94/10968 teaches an aqueous hair dye composition comprising solubilized melanin and a cationic
material which binds the solubilized melanin to the hair via electrostatic interactions.
The melanin is preferably solubilized by being oxidized with hydrogen peroxide, which
is taught therein as imparting an ionic character to the melanin. The cationic material,
such as a quaternium or polyquaternium compound, is taught therein as complexing the
anionic melanin in a manner that increases the affinity of the melanin to the hair.
[0022] U.S. Patent No. 6,506,374 teaches a hair coloring composition comprising alcohols to allow quick drying, and
a polymer which prevents the color from rubbing off.
[0023] U.S. Patent No. 5,821,240 teaches an aqueous hair coloring composition which includes a quaternary ammonium
functional silane to prevent rubbing off.
[0024] Japanese Patent Application No.
1993-312,065 teaches a hair coloring composition comprising tannic acid, ferrous salts, and a
silicone oil such as a silicone-polyether copolymer. Such silicone oils are non-volatile
surface active agents useful in forming smooth films on hair.
[0025] As temporary hair colorants are desired for the potential ease and convenience of
their use, it is particularly advantageous to have a quick and convenient technique
for applying such colorants. Colorants in the form of pencils or wick-type applicators
(e.g.,
U.S. Patent No. 5,964,222) are frequently used to touch-up the hair along the hair line. Another technique
involves combing into the hair a temporary hair colorant gel. In a further technique,
hair colorant powder is applied by squeezing a bottle or by an aerosol container to
dispense the powder, which is then worked into the hair line with the fingers.
[0026] Another device for coloring hair is known from
WO2009/078017.
SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The invention is defined by the features of the appended claims.
[0028] The present disclosure describes a hair-coloring applicator device comprising (i)
a shield device including an upper surface and a lower surface and (ii) an aerosol
assembly for delivering a hair coloring composition or agent onto the upper surface
of the shield.
[0029] At any given time, the hair-coloring applicator device may be useful for coloring
hair in a specific 'local treatment region' - for example, at or near the hair line
which delineates the border between the user's forehead and a 'hair mass' higher on
the user's head. For example, rather than using the device to color an entirety or
most of his/her hair, the device is especially useful for 'touching up' hair roots
of visible regions of hair where the hair.
[0030] In one use-scenario, a user colors or dyes a majority of his/her hair from a 'natural
color' to a 'target hair color' using any technique known in the art. At a later time
(for example, a few days or few weeks later), the user's hair has grown so that the
roots of his/her hair revert back to the 'natural' color. In many of these use cases,
rather than rectifying this situation by coloring the entire hair mass (or even a
significant fraction), the user is mainly interested in 'touching up' embarrassingly
visible regions (for example, near the hair line bordering the forehead) where the
hair-roots have reverted to their natural color. According to this an other use scenarios,
the user may be interested in a 'quick, low effort' solution where the local regions
of hair are treated quickly without requiring significant effort on the part of the
user.
[0031] In some embodiments, the shield portion of the presently disclosed hair-coloring
applicator may include a plurality of narrow elongated slots (e.g. substantially parallel
to each other) via which strands of hair may pass. During usage, (i) the hair coloring
composition is sprayed, from the aerosol assembly, into a region of space 'above'
the hair shield; (ii) the shield is oriented to be substantially parallel to the local
plane of the user's scalp so that user's scalp in the 'treatment region' is below
the shield and protected by the shield from the hair coloring composition which may
stain the scalp; and (iii) the user's hair at the 'treatment region' traverses (i.e.
in an 'upward' direction) the thickness of the shield via the elongated slots so that
at least a portion (preferably, including hair roots) of hair strands are located
'above' the shield (in contrast, to the scalp which is 'bellow' the shield and protected
from the hair composition).
[0032] When the user sprays the hair coloring composition in a region of space 'above' the
shield, the hair coloring composition makes contact with the 'traversing' hair strands
to color at least a portion of the hair strands (for example, by coating the hair),
preferably to color the roots of the hair strands. Furthermore, because the elongated
slots are generally 'narrow' (though wide enough to accommodate the traversing hair
strands), the shield can substantially prevent the sprayed hair coloring composition
which may 'land' on the upper surface of the shield from traversing (i.e. in a 'downward'
direction) below the shield to make contact with the scalp itself. Such contact may,
in many use scenarios, be detrimental - for example, it may stain the scalp.
[0033] As noted before, in many use scenarios, the user only wants to color embarrassing
grey (or another undesirable color) hair roots in specific localized regions. In this
scenario, the user may generally be interested in a 'quick and easy low-effort solution'
that does not require much effort expending any significant effort.
[0034] In some embodiments, instead of coloring hair with a hair-coloring cream or gel or
a mousse as is known in the art (typically, the user needs to expend effort manually
'working in' or 'combing in' cream or gel or mousse), it may be advantageous to employ
a quick-drying and/or non-viscous hair coloring composition that is configured to
coat strands of hair without causing hair strands to stick together and without any
need to manually 'work' the hair-coloring composition into the hair.
[0035] While a `quick-drying' and/or 'non-viscous' hair coloring composition may be easy
to work with (i.e. there is no requirement to 'work it into the hair' and/or it generally
dries quickly), one salient feature of non-viscous liquids is that they tend to run
or flow, which could increase the likelihood of exposure of the scalp to the hair-coloring
agent. For example, the hair-coloring composition may be delivered over the top surface
of the shield as a mist or even as a fine mist.
[0036] In some embodiments, it may be challenging to shield the scalp beneath the shield
from droplets of hair-coloring mist (for example, accelerated by delivery from the
aerosol assembly) and/or a hair-coloring agent provided as a non-viscous liquids.
[0037] Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus which (allow
the hair to upwardly penetrate above the shield so that the roots may be colored by
the hair-coloring composition delivered (for example, as a spray) over the top surface
of the shield; while nevertheless protecting the scalp below the shield from even
non-viscous hair-coloring agents and/or hair-coloring agent delivered as a stream
of droplets.
[0038] Experiments conducted by the present inventor have indicated that one or more of
the following geometric properties may be useful for the shield:
- (A) the narrow elongated slots are wide enough to accommodate the upwardly-traversing
hair strands but narrow enough so that substantial quantities of hair-coloring composition
do not downwardly penetrate below the shield onto the scalp;
- (B) the narrow elongated slots may have some sort of length feature - i.e. they may
be long enough to allow 'significant quantities' of hair to upwardly traverse the
slots above the shield where the hair composition is delivered from the aerosol assembly.
Elongated but narrow slots would thus have some sort of elevated 'slot aspect ratio'
relating slot length (i.e. either the entire length of the slot or the 'aspect ratio'
within a section of the slot having some sort of length) with some measure of the
slot width - in some embodiments, the 'slot aspect ratio' may be at least 30 or at
least 40 or at least 60 or at least 70 or at least 80 or at least 90 or at least 100);
- (C) the shield portion of the device may include a plurality of generally aligned
and/or substantially parallel teeth that are `closely spaced' to each other - for
example, slots or voids between laterally neighboring teeth may have any 'narrow slot'
or 'narrow gap' property to block hair-coloring composition from 'downwardly' penetrating
the shield to the scalp;
- (D) although the teeth would not be 'extremely narrow,' in some embodiments, the teeth
are not be 'too wide' (for example, teeth that are too wide may reduce the number
of slots than can be fit in a device that is not `too wide'). In some embodiments,
the upper limit (e.g. averaged over a majority or significant majority or very significant
majority of the teeth and/or averaged over the entire length of teeth or averaged
over some lengthwise section of the tooth or shield) for tooth width (or the upper
limit for average distances between slots) may be 4 mm, or 3 mm, or 2.5 mm, or 2 mm).
Because 'longer teeth' may provide a more efficient device (i.e. longer slots to accommodate
more hair strands), and because the teeth may have some sort of narrowness property,
in some embodiments, the 'tooth aspect ratio' may be relatively large for example,
at least 20 or at least 30 or at least 40 or at least 50 or any range or value disclosed
herein. The tooth aspect ratio, discussed below, relates tooth length to tooth width
or thickness or cross section averaged over the entirety of the tooth or over some
'section of tooth/length of tooth' along the tooth axis)
- (E) the shape of the cross section of the teeth (or the cross section of the void
between laterally-neighboring teeth) may also play a role in shielding the scalp below
the shield while facilitating the upward traversal of hair strands so that the hair
roots are 'exposed' to the aerosol-delivered hair-coloring composition. Thus, in one
example, the present inventors have discovered that upwardly-pointing substantially
triangularly-shaped teeth (i.e. teeth having a substantial triangular cross-section
- see, for example, FIGS. 15, 21-22) may provide excellent results. These teeth (i.e.
the cross section of the tooth in a majority or significant majority or very significant
majority of locations along the tooth axis) may be are configured so that the narrowest
'gap' between laterally-neighboring teeth is near the tooth bottom. Not wishing to
be bound by theory, it is noted that by locating the 'narrowest gap' between teeth
near the bottom of the tooth, this may facilitate a situation where the root (and
not only a 'higher' section of a strand of hair) upwardly penetrates above the 'nearest
gap' between teeth into a region that is more exposed to the delivery of the aerosol
hair-coloring composition. Furthermore, because the teeth are more narrow near the
top, the void between teeth is wider at 'higher' locations near the top of the void
or the top of the laterally neighboring teeth. This void geometry provided by the
tooth geometry means that the roots of the hair strands in locations above the 'narrowest
gap between teeth' are less likely to be shielded by the teeth in this 'higher' location
above the 'narrowest gap between teeth';
- (F) It is disclosed that there is no requirement for triangularly-shaped tooth cross
sections, and in some embodiments, one or more features associated with for triangularly-shaped
tooth cross sections for any tooth cross section shape. Thus, in some embodiments,
the cross section of the tooth and/or the void between laterally-neighboring teeth
may have an asymmetric width profile so that the tooth is wider at the bottom (i.e.
on average, in most locations) and narrower at the top (or conversely, so that the
void is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom so that the 'narrowest gap' is
located near the bottom of the neighboring teeth).
- (G) In some embodiments, the topography of the top surface of the shield and bottom
surface of the shield may different so that the top of the shield feels relatively
rough (e.g. due to an undulating surface that undulates in the lateral direction)
and the bottom of the shield feels relatively smooth. The 'length scale' for the roughness
and the smoothness would typically be around 1 mm (i.e. 0.5 mm or 0.75 mm or 1.25
mm or 1.5 mm or 2 mm).
[0039] This may be observed by observing the trajectory of a cylinder whose radius is 0.5
mm or 0.75 mm or 1 mm or 1.25 mm or 1.5 mm or 2 mm and who length is at least 0.5
cm or at least 1 cm or at least 2 cm or at least 3 cm or at least 4 cm) over the top
and the bottom surfaces. The top surface which is 'rough' would cause the cylinder
to undulate or oscillate when moved in a lateral direction over the top surface of
the shield at a larger or much large magnitude than when in an identical experiment,
the same cylinder is moved in a lateral direction over the bottom surface of the shield
(where the vertical oscillations or undulations may be non-existent or much smaller).
[0040] In one example, for a majority of voids between teeth of a tooth array (of any number
disclosed herein), when the cylinder is `rolled' or moved laterally over the top surface
of the shield in a lateral direction, the cylinder would undulate or oscillate at
a first magnitude where the magnitude of vertical oscillations or undulations would
be at least 0.5 mm or at least 1 mm or measure that is equal to the radius or 1.5
times the radius of cylinder. When the same cylinder, in the same location, is moved
over the bottom surface of the shield, the magnitude of vertical oscillations or undulations
for the bottom surface (i.e. a second magnitude) would be less (i.e. having a value
that is at most 50% or at most 30% or at most 20% or at most 10% of the first magnitude
observable for the top surface - for example, compare FIG. 25 to FIG. 27
[0041] In some embodiments, the ratio of (i) the magnitude of the undulations/vertical oscillations
for the top surface (i.e. measured for the given cylinder) to (ii) the magnitude of
the undulations/vertical oscillations for the top surface (i.e. measured for the same
given cylinder) may be at least 1.5 or at least 2 or least 3 or least 5.
[0042] In one example, for the top surface the magnitude of oscillations or undulations
of the cylinder may match (i.e. within a tolerance of 70% or 50% or 30%) the cylinder
radius.
[0043] As used herein the term "about" refers to ± 10 %.
[0044] The term "comprising" means that other steps and ingredients that do not affect the
final result can be added. This term encompasses the terms "consisting of" and "consisting
essentially of".
[0045] As used herein, the singular form "a", "an", and "the" include plural references
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a compound"
or "at least one compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures
thereof.
[0046] Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of this invention can be presented in
a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely
for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation
on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered
to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical
values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6
should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3,
from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual
numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless
of the breadth of the range.
[0047] Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited
numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges
between" a first indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges
from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably
and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional
and integral numerals therebetween.
[0048] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the
same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described
herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods
and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification,
including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples
are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative
discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented
in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood
description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard,
no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than
is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken
with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms
of the invention may be embodied in practice.
[0050] In the drawings:
FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various views of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance
with some embodiments.
FIGS. 5-6 illustrate an array of teeth.
FIG. 7-8 illustrate a side view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with
some embodiments.
FIGS. 9-10 illustrate an exploded view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance
with some embodiments.
FIGS. 11-12 illustrate usage of an apparatus for coloring hair to color hair in accordance
with some embodiment.
FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate spraying a hair-coloring mist composition over a top surface
of a shield.
FIGS. 13D-13E illustrate a view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with
some embodiments including an array of teeth whose width profile is asymmetric (e.g.
triangular).
FIG. 14, 16 illustrates other views of a shield useful for coloring hair in accordance
with some embodiments.
FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate application of spray to hair roots in accordance with some
embodiments.
FIGS. 17-19 illustrate various views of a tooth array of a shield useful for coloring
hair in accordance with some embodiments.
FIGS. 20-24, 26 relate to cross section views of a tooth array of a shield useful
for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 25 relates to a trajectory of a movement of a hypothetical cylinder.
FIGS. 28-29 relate to methods for coloring hair in accordance with some embodiments.
FIGS. 30A-30B relate to spray apparatus in accordance with some embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0051] Some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus that were
disclosed in
PCT/IL2008/001630 which (i) was filed on December 17, 2008; (ii) was published on
June 25, 2009 as WO/2009/078017; and (iii) is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments,
any feature or combination of features described in the present document may be combined
with any feature of combination of features described in application
PCT/IL2008/001630.
[0052] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, is of a hair coloring applicator,
and of hair coloring agents and compositions which can be used to color hair.
[0053] Specifically, the present invention can be used to color ("touch-up") hair along
a hair line in a quick and convenient manner, particularly with a temporary hair coloring
composition which is based on hair coloring agents that are substantially natural
(e.g., derived from naturally-occurring substances), environmentally-friendly, and
which exhibit natural hair shades, and/or a suitable volatile carrier devoid of alcohol.
[0054] The principles and operation of a hair coloring applicator according to the present
invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying
descriptions.
[0055] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description
or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of
being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0056] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various views of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0057] FIGS. 5-6 illustrate an array of teeth.
[0058] FIG. 7-8 illustrate a side view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance with
some embodiments.
[0059] FIGS. 9-10 illustrate an exploded view of an apparatus for coloring hair in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0060] FIG. 11A-11C illustrates one use scenario where a user employs a hair coloring device
200 to color roots of her hair - for example, in the 'peripheral' region
490 bordering the forehead. FIG. 12 illustrates another use case. FIGS. 13A-13C are side
views of the device
200 employed in the use cases of FIGS. 11-12. As will be discussed below, in one non-limiting
usage scenario, device
200 including shield
220 may be useful for coloring the user's hair (more specifically, the roots of the user's
hair) with an aerosol spray (for example, a mist or a stream of droplets including
a hair-coloring agent and an alcoholic solvent) while simultaneously protecting the
user's scalp from being subjected to the hair coloring agent.
[0061] In some embodiments, the hair color provided in the spray form is 'quick-drying'
and/or non-viscous. In these embodiments, despite the ability of the hair coloring
solution to 'run' upon landing on a surface of the shield
220 (i.e. due to the non-viscous nature of the hair-coloring spray in these embodiments),
shield
220 nevertheless may provide geometric properties that facilitate the protection of the
user's scalp from the hair coloring agent.
[0062] As will be discussed below, in order to provide this protection and/or other features,
shield
220 may, in some embodiments, provide one or more of the following features: (i) 'thin
elongated' slots having a high 'slot aspect ratio'; (ii) an array of closely-spaced
teeth where the teeth or the voids between the teeth have a 'high aspect ratio'; (iii)
teeth with a specific cross-section shape (for example, triangular); and/or one or
more additional features discussed herein
[0063] The device
200 comprises (i) a relatively flat hair-penetrating shield
220 and (ii) an aerosol assembly
400. Hair-coloring aerosol spray is dispensed from aerosol opening/outlet
210 over the 'front' surface
280 of shield
220 - the path taken by the aerosol onto the top/front surface
280 is illustrated by the block arrow labeled "spray" in FIGS. 13A-13C, and is also labeled
as element
430 in FIG. 11B.
[0064] While not a limitation, in some embodiments, the spray is a 'fan spray' configured
to angularly distribute aerosol spray substantially uniformly over an angle that is
at least 20 degrees or at least 30 degrees or at least 40 degrees and/or at most 180
degrees and/or at most 120 degrees and/or at most 90 degrees and/or at most 70 degrees
and/or at most 50 degrees and/or at most 40 degrees. In some embodiments, the fan
spray produced by the aerosol assembly has a substantially planar shape (i.e. in a
plane that is substantially parallel to the relatively flat surfaced of shield
220 and/or intersects this surface at an angle of less than 30 degrees or less than 20
degrees or less than 10 degrees). A discussion about the spray assembly including
the orifice and the 'spray insert' is provided below with reference to FIG. 30.
[0065] In some embodiments, (i) this aerosol spray is directed to the front surface
280 of shield
220; and (ii) the mechanical structure of shield
220 blocks this aerosol from reaching space
450 beneath shield
220 - i.e. space on the side of shield
220 defined by bottom/back surface
290 of shield
220. In the example of FIGS. 11-12, shield
220 may be oriented so that back surface
290 is held against the user's scalp which is 'below' back surface
290 - see FIGS. 11-12 where the front surface
280 'faces away from the user's scalp, while the back surface
290 (not visible in FIGS. 11-12) is pressed again the user's scalp. In this example,
shield
220 is oriented to that the relatively flat structure of shield
220 is pressed against and substantially parallel to the 'local relatively flat surface'
of the user's scalp.
[0066] For the present disclosure, the terms 'above' and 'below' shield
220 refer to 'above' and 'below' shield
220 along the 'shield thickness axis'
270 defined in FIGS. 13A-13C irrespective of shield
220 or device
200 orientation. In FIGS. 13B-13C, the region 'above' shield
220 is labeled as
702, while the region 'below' shield
220 is labeled as
704. Because the term 'above' and `below' are defined irrespective of shield
220 or device
200 orientation, in the example of FIG 11, even though shield
220 is substantially vertical, the region into which the hair-coloring aerosol is spray
is 'above' shield
220, while the scalp to which back surface
290 of shield is pressed is 'below' shield
220.
[0067] As noted above, one function of device
200 is to protect or shield the scalp 'below' the shield from being directly subjected
to the hair-coloring agent delivered as an aerosol. Another function of device
200 is to facilitate the deliver of the hair-coloring agent to the hair strands - for
example, to the roots of the hair. Thus, shield
220 may include a plurality of relatively narrow slots
480 (see FIG. 11C) that are wide enough to accommodate strands of hair but not much wider.
As illustrated in FIG. 11C, these slots may be generally aligned with each other and/or
generally aligned with longitudinal axis
250 of the shield.
[0068] For the present disclosure, a slot at a given location (e.g at a 'longitudinal location'
having a value along the slot axis or tooth axis or longitudinal axis
250) may have a 'shield-thickness-spanning' property at a location if it is possible
to traverse the slot, at the given location, in the 'thickness/height' direction -
i.e. along shield thickness axis
270. Thus, with reference to FIGS. 13B-13C, it would be possible to 'travel' via the slot
at the given location has a 'shield-thickness-spanning' property from the region
704 upward to region
702 (or vise-versa).
[0069] The strands of hair
310 rooted in the user's scalp traverse the narrow slots (i.e. along the 'shield thickness
axis'
270 defined in FIGS. 13A-13C from back surface
290 to front surface
280) to emerge 'above the shield' into region of space 'above' the shield
702. As shown in FIG. 11C, these hair strands
310 (or a portion thereof) then may be 'co-located' with the sprayed hair-coloring aerosol
in the region above shield
702 and subjected to the sprayed hair-coloring agent to facilitate the coloring of hair
roots.
[0070] In some embodiment, (i) the narrow slots
480 are indeed narrow (for example, having a narrowest width in the range of 0.2 mm to
1 mm -for example, at least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3 mm - for example, at most 1 mm
or at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm), and (ii)
the shield
220 is geometrically structured to substantially lack other features (i.e. holes, orifices,
openings, etc) that would allow aerosol to traverse shield
220 in a 'downwards' direction along axis
270 from region
702 to region
704. Thus, it is possible to provide a device and method which will substantially localize
the aerosol-delivered hair-coloring agent to the front surface
280 (and hence, localize the aerosol-delivered hair-coloring agent to the hair strands
310 or in some preferable embodiments to roots of hair strands
310) of shield
220 while protecting the scalp which is located 'below shield
220' in region
704.
[0071] In addition, in some embodiments, due to the narrowness of slots
480 and/or to the 'denseness' of material in space defined by shield
220, shield
220 is not really a comb. Instead, shield
220 may be used to penetrate (to a certain degree) into the hair region substantially
at the 'border' region
490 between the mass of hair and the user's forehead (see FIG. 11) and/or in regions
of hair parts (see FIG. 12) - in some embodiments, it may be difficult for the hair-penetrating
shield to penetrate much deeper into the user's hair mass.
[0072] Nevertheless, in many use-scenarios, a user colors or dyes a majority of his/her
hair from a 'natural color' to a 'target hair color' using any technique known in
the art. At a later time (for example, a few days or few weeks later), the user's
hair has grown so that the roots of his/her hair revert back to the 'natural' color.
In many of these use cases, rather than rectifying this situation by coloring the
entire hair mass (or even a significant fraction), the user is mainly interested in
'touching up' embarrassingly visible regions (for example, near border region
490 and/or in a hair part
510) where the hair-roots have reverted to their natural color. Towards this end, in
some embodiments, the shield may be useful for this purpose even if the shield
220 may lack 'combing functionality' (i.e. in some embodiments) and usage may be substantially
confined to these 'border' visible regions of the hair.
[0073] In order to protect the scalp and/or provide 'opportunities' for hair-strands to
upwardly traverse shield
220 to be exposed to the aerosol-provided hair coloring agent, shield
220 may, in some embodiments, provide one or more of the following features: (i) 'thin
elongated' slots having a high 'slot aspect ratio'; (ii) an array of closely-spaced
teeth where the teeth or the voids between the teeth have a 'high aspect ratio'; (iii)
teeth with a specific cross-section shape (for example, triangular) and/or one or
more additional features discussed herein. As will be discussed below, the 'thinness'
of slots or voids or gaps may be useful for hindering downward motion of even a non-viscous
substance- since certain slots or voids or gaps may still be wide enough to accommodate
hair strands (i.e. whose width may be on the order of magnitude of a hundred or hundreds
of microns), the 'long slot' or 'long void' feature may be useful for providing an
extended area where hair strands can 'upwardly' traverse the shield into a space above
the shield, where hair-coloring agent (for example, droplets of spray) may coat the
hair strands.
[0074] In another example (see FIG.15), individual teeth may have some sort of asymmetric
width profile where the teeth are wider (or conversely, the 'slot' or 'gap' between
teeth is narrower) 'closer' to the bottom
290 surface while the teeth are narrower (or conversely, the 'slot' or 'gap' between
teeth is wider) near the top
280 surface. As will be discussed below, locating the 'minimum gap location' near the
bottom may be useful for facilitating where the hair roots, in particular, are subjected
to the hair-coloring agent - for example, including black hair color and/or hair coloring
agent capable of 'coating' the hair.
[0075] Another feature that may be provide by device
200 whose use is illustrated in FIGS. 11-12 is the ability to 'penetrate' into the user's
hair at a 'border location' when the shield is oriented substantially parallel to
the local plane of the user's head.
[0076] In order to facilitate the penetration (for example, the 'shallow penetration' into
full hair (e.g. thick hair of an Indo-European or an African or an Asian) of shield
220 into a mass of hair, it may be useful to provide hair-penetrating elements
240 (for example, see FIGS. 11C, 16-17). Nevertheless, in some embodiments, due to the
narrowness of slots
480 (also note the narrowness of 'intertooth gaps'
370 which may define the narrowest location of slots
480 - see FIGS. 17, 19, 21), the shield may provide diminished or no 'combing functionality.'
In one example, the 'shallow penetration' is limited to up to 3 cm or up to 5 cm or
up to 7 cm into the 'full hair.'
[0077] Other features illustrated in FIGS. 11-12 include aerosol control
410, aerosol container
420 where the hair coloring aerosol may be stored before deliver via opening/outlet
210, and device substrate or housing
230 which may provide mechanical connectivity or mechanical coupling between shield
220 and aerosol assembly
400. In one non-limiting example, aerosol assembly
400 may be directly or indirectly fastened to shield
220 via any fastener known in the art, including but not limited to a clip, a screw apparatus,
a magnetic fastener or any other fastener known in the art. For example, aerosol assembly
400 may be detachably attachable to shield
220. In another embodiment, aerosol assembly
400 (or a portion thereof) and shield
220 may be glued together or welded together, or integrally formed with each other.
[0078] Reference is now made to FIGS. 13A-13C which are side views of the device
200 (or portions thereof). FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate the proximal
228 and distal
224 ends of shield
220 which define a general 'proximal-distal' direction
226. The distance between proximal
228 and distal
224 ends is referred to as the 'proximal-distal distance.' In the example of FIGS. 11-13,
the spray (or some sort of 'spray vector' defining a central tendency of the directions
that aerosol spray delivered from opening/outlet
210 takes) may be along proximal-distal direction
226, and/or generally aligned with longitudinal axis
250.
[0079] In the non-limiting example of FIG. 13B, the outlet/opening
210 via which the hair-coloring aerosol is (i) delivered is 'elevated' above the substantially
flat surface/substantially planar surface of shield
220 by a distance labeled as
440 (in FIG. 13B the 'extension' of the substantially flat surface of shield
220 is labeled as
470) and (ii) displaced in a proximal direction behind proximal end
228 by a distance labeled as
442. In some embodiments, the 'height' indicated by
440 may be at least 1 mm or at least 3 mm or at least 5 mm or at least 1 cm or at least
1.5 cm or at least 2 cm or at least 5% AND/OR at least 10% or at least 20% or at least
30% of the 'proximal-distal' distance AND/OR at least 1.5 times or at least 2 times
or at least 3 times or at least 5 times or at least 7 times an average thickness of
shield
220. In some embodiments where shield
220 comprises a tooth array comprising a plurality of substantially aligned teeth (see,
for example, FIGS.15-21) , the 'height' indicated by
440 may be at least 1.5 times or at least 2 times or at least 3 times or at least 5 times
or at least 7 times an average tooth thickness averaged over teeth of the tooth array.
[0080] In some embodiments, the 'backward displacement distance' indicated by
470 may be at least 5 mm or at least 1 cm or at least 1.5 cm or at least 2 cm AND/OR
at least 10% or at least 20% or at least 30% or at least 50% a proximal-distal distance'
between proximal
228 and distal
224 ends of shield
220.
[0081] In some embodiments, elevating and/or displacing aerosol outlet
210 in a distal direction may be useful for 'creating some distance' between the aerosol
outlet
210 and shield
220. In some embodiments, if aerosol outlet
210 is too close to shield
220, then the risk of aerosol-delivered hair coloring agent (for example, delivered as
a stream of droplets) penetrating in a downwards direction from region
702 and top surface
280 via the shield to below bottom surface
290 to regions
704 (where the scalp is), may increase.
[0082] As indicated in FIG. 13C, although the spray (e.g. a stream of droplets) may initially
leave outlet/opening
210 in a direction that may be along proximal-distal direction
226, the path of the aerosol may curve towards shield
220 onto upper/top surface
280 to contact and color hair
310 which upwardly extended via shield the spray (or some sort of 'spray vector' defining
a central tendency of the direction that hair-coloring aerosol spray delivered from
opening/outlet
210 takes) may be along proximal-distal direction
220 into region
702 above shield
220. In some embodiments, this hair coloring spray may include a fast-drying hair coloring
agent and/or may include a 'temporary' hair coloring agent which 'wears off' after
one or a few hair washings and/or within a short period of time that is at most a
few weeks or a few days.
[0083] As noted above, the shield
220 may be useful for hindering 'downward' motion (i.e. from region
702 above the shield to region
704 below the shield) of even non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0084] In one non-limiting example, the non-viscous hair-coloring agent may include a dye
(for example, a basic hair dye) mixed with a non-viscous carrier such as an alcohol-based
carrier. In non-limiting examples, the droplets are at least 5% or at least 10% or
at least 15% by weight alcohol. In non-limiting example, the stream of droplets have
a particle size that is less than 200 microns or less than 100 microns or less than
80 microns or less than 60 microns and/or at least 5 microns or at least 10 microns
or at least 20 microns or at least 30 microns.
[0085] A 'non-viscous' substance (for example, fluid) is a substance that 'runs' or `flows',
may have a viscosity that is less than 100 cps (and/or less than 100 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 75 cps (and/or less than 75 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 50 cps(and/or less than 50 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 30 cps (and/or less than 30 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 20 cps(and/or less than 20 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 10(and/or less than 10 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C), or less than 5 cps (and/or less than 5 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C)or less than 3 cps (and/or less than 3 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C)or less than 2 cps (and/or less than 2 times the viscosity
of water at 20 degrees C)or less than 1 cps (and/or less than the viscosity of water
at 20 degrees C) (cps is centipoises).
[0086] In some embodiments, having a 'low-viscosity' hair-coloring substance (for example
delivered as a mist) may obviate the need for a user to 'comb in' or 'work in' the
hair coloring agent into the hair (as would be the case of a mist). In user would
merely spray the hair color into the hair, and the droplets (for example, that arrive
directly from the aerosol spraying opening and/or droplets the ricochet from other
strands of hair) serve to coat the user's hair. In one example, this may take place
without causing multiple strands of hair to stick to each other.
[0087] In some embodiments, presence of a 'high concentration' of a propellant (for example,
an ether propellant) - for example, at least 15% or at least 20% or at least 25% or
at least 30% or at least 35% and/or use of an alcoholic solvent facilitates the fast
drying of the coated hair strands - for example, within a few minutes.
[0088] FIG. 13C-13D illustrate another view of device
220 - for example, a cross section of area spanned by the vectors of shield thickness
axis
270 and lateral axis
260 (the lateral direction of lateral axis
260 is also illustrated in FIG. 14). There is no requirement for shield
220 to be flat or generally flat. In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 13C-13D, generally
flat shield is 'gently concave down' to provide some sort of gentle shallow and wide
cavity into which a portion of the user's scalp may be placed.
[0089] In some embodiments, shield
220 may comprise a plurality of teeth, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In the example of FIGS.14-29,
each tooth includes a respective main portion
330 and a respective distal portion
240. In some embodiments, a gap between the teeth (for example, a narrowest gap or minimum
gap distance
370 at a location between the top
246 and bottom
248 of a pair of teeth) may relate to slots
480 discussed above.
[0090] In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 15-29, shield
220 comprises a tooth array comprising exactly 22 teeth. This is not a limitation. In
some embodiments, shield
220 may include at least 5, or at least 8, or at least 10, or at least 12, or at least
20, or exactly 22 generally aligned teeth. In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 15-21,
the teeth are all exactly parallel to each other - this is not a limitation. In some
embodiments, the 'generally aligned' teeth may be substantially parallel, or may diverge
from each other closer to distal end
224 or converge.
[0091] One salient feature that may be provided by the teeth of the non-limiting example
of FIG. 15 is that these teeth are relatively long/tall and narrow and/or relatively
long/tall and thin.
[0092] For the present disclosure, the 'width' of a tooth (i.e. at any location along the
tooth axis) refers to the dimension of the tooth along the lateral axis
260. As will be discussed below (see FIG. 21) this width, for any particular tooth, may
vary at different locations along the shield thickness axis
270 (or along the tooth axis or along the longitudinal axis
250). In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 17, 19 and 21, the 'width' at the 'bottom' of
each tooth
248 is labeled as
360, while the width near the 'top' of each tooth is labeled as
350.
[0093] For the present disclosure, the 'thickness' or 'height' of a tooth is the dimension
of the tooth along the shield thickness axis
270. As is evident from the figures, the height or thickness may vary along lateral axis
260 or along the tooth axis or along the longitudinal axis
250.
[0094] As was noted above, one salient feature that may be provided by the teeth of the
non-limiting example of FIG. 14 is that these teeth are relatively long/tall and narrow
and/or relatively long/tall and thin - i.e. they may have a 'large aspect ratio'.
In some embodiments, for every tooth of a tooth array of shield
220, or for a majority of teeth of tooth array (or for at least 30% or at least 70% of
teeth of the tooth array - possible numbers of teeth of the tooth array are listed
above), at least one of TOOTH_RATIO_1, TOOTH_RATIO_2 and TOOTH_RATIO_3 may be at least
10, or at least 15, or at least 20, or at least 25, or at least 30, or at least 40..
[0095] TOOTH_RATIO_1 is defined as the ratio between the tooth length and the average tooth
width (i.e. averaged for all locations in the tooth along the shield thickness axis
270 and along the length of the tooth - either including or excluding distal tapered
section
240 (hair-penetrating probe section
240)). TOOTH_RATIO_2 is defined as the ratio between the tooth length and the average
tooth thickness (i.e. averaged for all locations in the tooth along the lateral axis
260 and along the length of the tooth - either including or excluding distal tapered
section
240 (hair-penetrating probe section)). TOOTH_RATIO_3 is the ratio between the tooth length
and the average cross-sectional tooth area (FIG. 21 illustrates 'slices' or cross-sections
of teeth) - TOOTH_RATIO_3 is averaged along the length of the tooth - either including
or excluding distal tapered section
240 (hair-penetrating probe section)).
[0096] Another salient feature that may facilitate the temporary coloring of hair roots
while the scalp is protected is the feature where the 'tooth is relatively wide the
bottom of the tooth' while 'relatively narrow' near the top of the tooth.
[0097] In some embodiments, in order to provide this functionality, the tooth cross section
may be triangularly-shaped - for example, with a wider base and a narrower top. This
is illustrated in FIG. 15..
[0098] Also illustrated in FIG. 15 is the process whereby hair with grey roots may be treated
to coat the hair strand (for example, at the root) with black hair-color. Thus, FIG.
15A illustrates 'before' treatment, FIG. 15B illustrates one example of the spray
process, and FIG. 15C illustrates the hair strands 'after' treatment according to
one non-limiting example.
[0099] In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 14-21, all of the teeth have identical shapes
and cross sections (not necessarily identical length) - this is clearly not a limitation
and in some embodiments, there may be variation among tooth dimensions and/or dimensions
describing the geometrical relationships of multiple (e.g. laterally-adjacent or laterally-neighboring
teeth) teeth (e.g. tooth gap distances).
[0100] Furthermore, the tooth cross section may longitudinally vary along the 'tooth axis'
(not shown in the figures).
[0101] Furthermore, in the non-limiting examples of FIGS. 15-29, the teeth are exactly straight
- i.e. some sort of internal 'tooth axis' (i.e. the elongate or central axis of the
tooth) always corresponds to longitudinal axis
250. This is not a limitation, and even if the 'local tooth axis' over 'very short' distance
is a straight line, it is appreciated that when a tooth is not perfectly straight,
the central/elongate tooth axis (not illustrated) may provide curvature or sharp angles
- instead of being a 'straight line' it is possible to think of the tooth axis as
a one-dimensional manifold in space that will, in many embodiments, be generally aligned
with longitudinal axis
250 and approximate a straight line.
[0102] One salient feature that may be provided by the device of FIGS. 14-29 is that (i)
the width of the tooth may vary over different 'heights' in the tooth (e.g. over shield
thickness axis
270) and (ii) this width function may provide an 'asymmetric width profile' (i.e. referring
to the width of the tooth at one or more locations along the tooth length - for example,
at a majority of locations over the length of the tooth, or at a majority of locations
over a 'given section' of the tooth whose length is at least 2 cm).
[0103] Some features described herein may relate to a 'given section 'or 'control section'
of the main portion
330 of a tooth or teeth (i.e. a 'lengthwise section' or a 'longitudinal section') that
is at least 2 cm or at least 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm or at least 3.5 cm or at least
4 cm. This 'longitudinal' section may be located at any location on the tooth. In
some embodiments, this 'given section' may be located near the distal end of shield
220 - for example, lengthwise adjacent to (i.e. bordering or less than 5 mm or 1 cm from)
to the tapered distal section
240 (e.g. 'probe-shaped - for example, including a rounded end).
[0104] In the non-limiting example of FIG. 21, the tooth cross section has a triangular
cross section (for example, a rounded isosceles triangle). Other cross sections shapes
are possible including but not limited to other examples of 'substantially triangular
cross-section shapes.'
[0105] In the example of FIG. 21, the tooth has a relatively wide width at the bottom of
the tooth
248 (e.g.
360) and a relatively narrow width at or near the top
246 of the tooth). Another salient feature of FIG. 21 is that the minimum gap width for
the cross-section (i.e. between laterally adjacent pairs of teeth - for example, the
gap
370I between teeth
330I and
330J) is located near or at the bottom of the tooth
248.
[0106] By locating this 'minimum gap' near the bottom of the tooth, it is possible for the
root of the hair strand
310 to be located within void region
390 between laterally-adjacent teeth above the location of the minimum gap distance
370. In some embodiments, it may be useful or important to allow the root of hair strand
310 (rather than only a more distal location within the hair strand past the root) to
traverse the location of the minimum gap distance
370 and emerge above this location into void region
390 between teeth above the 'undulating' upper surface
280 of the shield defined by the upper surfaces of the teeth. Because the root of the
hair strand (and not just an upper location of the hair strand) is located in the
'aerosol-exposed' region
702 above upper surface
280, rather than the 'aerosol shielded' region
704 below a location of the minimum gap distance
370 (and below the lower/bottom surface
290 of shield
220), this 'minimum-gap-traversing' hair root can be subjected to the hair-coloring agent
provided by the hair-coloring aerosol spray.
[0107] In some embodiments, the average or individual void cross section (i.e. for a longitudinal
section that is at least 2 cm or at last 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm at least 4 cm or
at least 5 cm or longer) may be (i.e. either for a single tooth or single slot or
for an array of any number of teeth or slots or voids - i.e. either on average for
the array or individually for any number within an array of slots or teeth or voids)
at most 6 mm^2 or at most 5 mm^2 or at most 4 mm^2 or at most 3 mm^2 or at most 2
mm^2 - in some embodiments, the average or individual void cross section may be at
least 0.5 mm^2 or at least 1 mm^2. This 'void cross-section' may prevail on average
over the section, or may prevail for at least a significant minority of locations,
for at least majority of locations (synonymously 'for most locations), or at least
a significant or very significant majority of locations of the section. This may be
true on average for any number of teeth of a tooth array (or voids formed therefrom)
or any number of slots or voids of a slot/void array and/or be true individually for
a significant minority or majority or significant majority or very significant majority
of teeth (i.e. the resulting voids formed therefrom) of the tooth array.
[0108] In some embodiments, the average or individual tooth cross section (i.e. for a longitudinal
section that is at least 2 cm or at last 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm at least 4 cm or
at least 5 cm or longer) may be (i.e. either for a single tooth or for any number
of teeth - i.e. either on average or individually for an array of any number within
an array of teeth) at most 6 mm^2 or at most 5 mm^2 or at most 4 mm^2 or at most 3
mm^2 or at most 2 mm^2 - in some embodiments, the average or individual void cross
section may be at least 0.5 mm^2 or at least 1 mm^2. This 'tooth cross-section' may
prevail on average over the section, or may prevail for at least a significant minority
of locations, for at least majority of locations (synonymously 'for most locations),
or at least a significant or very significant majority of locations of the section.
This may be true on average for any number of teeth of a tooth array (or voids formed
therefrom) and/or be true individually for a significant minority or majority or significant
majority or very significant majority of teeth (i.e. the resulting voids formed therefrom)
of the tooth array.
[0109] As may be observed from the figures, the 'upper surface of the void regions 390'
and/or 'the upper surface defined by connecting top locations
246 of the teeth' (this is marked by
340) may deviate from the 'upper/top' surface
280 of the shield or of the teeth (e.g. above the 'minimum gap location' of the `minimum
gap distance'
370)
[0110] One salient feature observable in FIG. 21 is that the upper surface
280 is relatively rough with oscillating heights (along the lateral axis) while the lower
surface
290 is relatively smooth
290 (and a local level, it may be substantially planar). In some embodiments, the geometry
where (i) the lower surface
290 is relatively smooth and where (ii) the minimum gap location of minimum gap distance
370 is closer to or at the bottom
248 of the teeth is useful for helping the hair strand
310 traverse the minimum gap location
370 at the hair root. On the other hand, if the minimum gap distance
370 were to be higher and/or if the lower/bottom surfaced were to have large 'height/vertical'
variations, this might, at least somewhat (without leaving the scope of the invention),
somewhat reduce the effectiveness of the device because hair coloring might tend to
be concentrate at a higher location on the hair strand
310 rather than at the root.
[0111] The previous paragraph (and any other feature or figure described herein) refers
to some features that may be provided by some embodiments - this is not intended as
limiting.
[0112] In some embodiments, because the upper surface
280 may tend to undulate or oscillate along the lateral axis while the lower surface
may lack such undulations/oscillations (or they may only be present to a slight extent),
the 'upper
280 surface' may be a rough surface (i.e. have a rough topography), while the lower
290 surface may be a 'smooth' surface. Thus may also be observed by comparing FIG. 15
and FIG. 16 to FIG. 18 - while the width of the teeth in the front surface may vary
significantly between the bottom and top of the teeth (compare
350 and
360) on the front side (looking 'down), in FIG. 18, it may observed that the back surface
290 is significantly smoother. In FIG. 18, back surface
290 includes wider teeth (i.e. at or near the bottom
248 - as opposed to the front surface when looking down the width may vary significantly)
punctuated by relatively narrow gaps
370..
[0113] In a non-limiting example, the `minimum gap
width' 370 of the narrow gaps is at least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3 mm or at least 0.4 mm. In a
non-limiting example, the 'minimum gap width'
370 of the narrow gaps is at most .1.2 mm or at most 1 mm or at most 0.8 mm or at most
0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm. This may be for any number of teeth of a tooth array (i.e.
significant minority, majority, significant majority, very significant majority) and/or
averaged over any length of tooth or slot (i.e. for a 'section' at least significant
minority of locations, at least majority of locations or synonymously 'most locations,
or at least significant or very significant majority of locations)
[0114] In FIG. 21D, the 'highest location' or 'top' of various teeth are labeled as
246. The 'bottom' or lowest point on the shield thickness axis
270 is labeled as
248. The 'halfway' point (this may be a locus of points if the top of bottom of the teeth
are a locus of points)
249 are also illustrated in FIG. 21D. Nevertheless, all points of the 'locus of points
for
249' (or the top-point midpoint) would have the same 'height'
923 above the bottom
248 - see also FIG. 23C.
[0115] In some embodiments, for a majority (or a significant majority - i.e. at least 70%
or 80%) of locations within 2 cm lengthwise 'control section' or 'given section' of
the tooth, the ratio between the 'maximum width
360 of the tooth' (in some embodiments, the maximum width
360 may be located in the lower half or lower 30% or lower 20% or lower 10% of the tooth
- where the upper sections and lower sections of the tooth are defined along thickness
axis
270 and relative to the top
246 and bottom
248 of the teeth) and the 'minimum gap distance'
370 may be at least 1.3 or at least 1.5 or at least 1.7 or least 2. The skilled artisan
is directed, for example to FIGS. 19A and 18. This 'ratio feature' may be provided
over a 'tooth set' of at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least
7 or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 15 consecutive teeth. In some embodiments,
this feature may be provided such that for the majority of 'adjacent gap pairs'
370 (in FIG. 17A,
370I and
370J are 'adjacent gap pairs -
370I and
370K are not 'adjacent gap pairs') the distance between adjacent 'gaps'
370 (or, in some embodiments, the average of the distances between the adjacent gap pairs)
is at most 2 cm or at most 1.7 cm or at most 1.5 cm
[0116] It is possible to define a 'fill factor' of a 2D surface or of a 3D volume of space
(i.e.. a `control area' or 'control volume') that includes both (i) 'matter of shield
220' or 'matter of teeth
330' (for example, plastic or any other appropriate material) as well as (ii) void or
empty space (for example,
390 or
702 or
704). The 'fill factor' refers to the ratio of: (i) the total area (or volume) within the
'control area' (or `control volume') that is occupied by matter DIVIDED BY; (ii) the
total size (i.e. area or volume) of the control volume.
[0117] One example of a `control' volume is illustrated in FIGS. 22A-22B (labeled as
810). The `measurement' or 'length' of the control volume in the longitudinal dimension
250 may be at least 1 cm or at least 2 cm or at least 3 cm. The 'measurement' of 'length'
of the control volume in the 'transverse direction'
260 may be at least 0.5 cm or at least 1 cm or at least 1.5 cm or at least 2 cm. In some
embodiments, the 'fill factor' may be at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 75%
or at least 80% or at least 85% or at least 90% or at least 95%.
[0118] The control area or the control volume may by substantially flat - e.g. in the lateral
direction, following the contour of a mid-line or mid-curve of the shield (i.e. connecting
'midpoints' of adjacent teeth where the midpoint is defined by the 'average location'
of the top
246 and bottom
248 of the tooth) following the contour of the bottom/lower surface
290.
[0119] In some embodiments, in the direction along the 'lateral direction' along the lateral
direction, the control area or the control volume includes a plurality of elongated
slots (i.e. these slots are 'voids' and may correspond with the 'minimum gap
370' or a location slightly above or below), each slot being at least 0.5 cm or 1 cm or
1.5 cm or 2 cm in length, where either (i) the average 'lateral distance between laterally-adjacent
slots' is at most 4 mm or at most 3 mm or at most 2.5 mm or at most 2 mm; and/or (ii)
a majority of slots (or a significant majority of slots - e.g. at least 70% or 80%
of the slots) have a longitudinal-average width that is least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3
mm and at most 1.2 mm or at most 1 mm or at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most
0.6 mm; (iii) a ratio between an average slot-slot lateral distance .and an average
slot width is at most 4 or at most 3 (if this ratio is 'too high' and/or the slots
are laterally spaced 'far from each other' this may 'reduce the opportunities for
hair strands to upwardly traverse shield
220.
[0120] FIG. 23 relates to a use case where the cross section of not all teeth is the same.
In FIG. 23A, the top of the tooth is
246, the bottom is
248, and the 'midpoint' or line is
249. This line may delineate two regions - a 'higher region' above
249 nearer to the top
246 of the tooth (this region will on average be narrower), and a 'lower region' below
249 nearer to the bottom
246 of the tooth (this region will on average be narrower).
[0121] In some embodiments, a ratio between (i) an average tooth cross width in this 'lower
region' below
249 and (ii) an average tooth cross width in this 'higher region' above
249 may be at least 1.1 or at least 1.2 or at least 1.3 or at least 1.4 or at least 1.5
or at least 1.6 or at least 1.7 or at least 1.8 or at least 1.9 or at least 2 or at
least 2.5
[0122] The 'average tooth cross section' width may be averaged according to any technique
disclosed herein - for example, longitudinally over the tooth axis in a certain region
of the entirety of the tooth and/or between any set of teeth (or sub-set) of the tooth
array.
[0123] In FIG. 24B, the 'upper region' is defined as above point
911 (3/4 of the way to the top) while the 'lower region' is defined as below point
909 (3/4 of the way to the bottom).
[0124] In some embodiments, a ratio between (i) an average tooth cross width in this 'lower
region' below
909 and (ii) an average tooth cross width in this 'higher region' above
911 may be at least 1.3 or at least 1.5 or at least 1.7 or at least 2 or at least 2.5
or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10. The 'average
tooth cross section' width may be averaged according to any technique disclosed herein
- for example, longitudinally over the tooth axis in a certain region of the entirety
of the tooth and/or between any set of teeth (or sub-set) of the tooth array.
[0125] In FIG. 23C-23D, it is shown that the void or slot
390 may, in contrast to the teeth, be 'wider near at the top' ('near the top' is defined
as above mid-height level
923 in FIG.23C and above three-quarters height level
925 in FIG. 23D) and 'narrower near the bottom' ('near the top' is defined as below mid-height
level
923 in FIG.23C and below the one-quarter height level
927 in FIG. 23D)
[0126] The height ratio (i.e. average height in the wider region divided by average height
in the narrower region) for the void (i.e. the 'wider region is the top ' and the
'narrower region' is the bottom but the principle, for at least the example of FIG.
23, may be similar. Thus height ratio for the void may be for FIG. 23C (i.e any case
of the `mid-height level) at least 1.1 or at least 1.2 or at least 1.3 or at least
1.4 or at least 1.5 or at least 1.6 or at least 1.7 or at least 1.8 or at least 1.9
or at least 2 or at least 2.5 and for FIG. 23D (any case of the quarter or three quarter
level) at least 1.3 or at least 1.5 or at least 1.7 or at least 2 or at least 2.5
or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10.
[0127] As noted above, in some embodiments, the tooth may have an asymmetric width profile
where the region closer to the bottom
248 of the tooth
330 tends to have a wider/large width, while the region closer to the top
248 of the tooth
330 tends to have a narrower/smaller width. As noted above, this may lead to a situation
where the top/upper surface
280 of shield
220 has a relatively rough topography (for example, undulating) while the bottom/lower
surface
290 of shield
220 has a relatively 'smooth' topography.
[0128] In some embodiments, if one were to move a small cylinder
850 (e.g. having a length of 1 mm or 2 mm or 3 mm or 5 mm or 1 cm or 1.5 cm or 2 cm or
2.5 cm) in a lateral direction over upper surface
280 (e.g. for each tooth pair lower-bounded by the location of the minimum gap
370), because the upper surface of topographically rough, this cylinder would move up and
down as the small cylinder is moved over upper surface
280 - this is shown in the frames of FIG. 24A-24F.
[0129] Various numbers describing possible cylinder sizes may refer either to cylinder radius
or cylinder diameter. In one example, the cylinder
850 has a radius or diameter of 0.6 mm. In another example, the cylinder
850 has a radius or diameter of 0.8 mm. In one example, the cylinder
850 has a radius or diameter of 0.6 mm. In another example, the cylinder
850 has a radius or diameter of 1 mm. In one example, the cylinder has a radius o or
diameter f 0.6 mm. In another example, the cylinder
850 has a radius or diameter of 1.3 mm.
[0130] Possible minimum cylinder radii (or minimum diameters) are: 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm,
0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.8 mm and 2 mm. Possible maximum cylinder radii
(or maximum diameters) are: 2.5 mm, 2 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.2 mm, 1 mm, 0.8
mm and 0.4 mm - ranges may be formed by any mixing of any minimum and any maximum
(for this feature or any feature herein).
[0131] In FIGS. 25A-25B, the trajectory of the cylinder from the 'experiment' of FIG. 24
is illustrated - the magnitude/size (i.e. in the 'height direction) of the undulations
and/or oscillations is given by OSC1 and may be at least 0.4 mm or at least 0.6 mm
or at least 0.8 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1.2 mm or at least 1.4 mm or at or
at least 1.6 mm or at least 1.8 mm or at least 2 mm. This 'oscillation' or 'undulation'
magnitude (which ultimately describes surface
280) may be achieved on 'distinct' occasions (i.e. separated in the 'lateral direction'
by at least 1 mm or by at least 1.5 or by at least 1.8 mm or by at least 2 mm or by
at least 2.5 mm) along the lateral directions - for example, at least 3 times or at
least 5 times or least 7 times or at least 10 times or at least 13 times. In the non-limiting
example of FIG. 24A, the lateral separation distance between these 'distinct occasions'
corresponds to the substantially periodic form (i.e. in the lateral
260 direction) of surface
280. However, it is noted that the surface
280 is not required to be periodic.
[0132] In FIG. 26, the experiment of FIG. 24 is repeated, with the same cylinder, for the
'lower/bottom surface
290.' In FIG. 27, the trajectory is illustrated. the magnitude/size (i.e. in the 'height
direction) of the undulations and/or oscillations is given by OSC2 and may be at most
1 mm or at most 0.5 mm or at most 0.3 mm or at most 0.3 mm or at most 0.1 mm. In some
embodiments, in order for OSC2 to 'count,' it needs to occur only once. In some embodiments,
it needs to occur at least 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 7 times at 'distinct lateral locations'
separated by at least 1 mm or 1.5 mm or 2 mm.
[0133] In some embodiments, OSC1 is larger than OSC2 so that the ratio between OSC 1 and
OSC2 is at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 5 or at least 7 or at least 10. It is
understood that for the rounded triangles OSC1/OSC2 may be quite large - however,
for other shapes that are also substantially triangular (for example, if there is
some sort of structure 'below' the base, then OSC1/OSC2 may not be as large.
[0134] Various embodiments of the present invention may relate to: methods for coloring
hair (for example, with an aerosol hair-coloring agent); devices for coloring hair
(for example, including shield
220 and aerosol assembly
400) kits for coloring hair (for example, including a shield
220 and aerosol assembly
400 or a portion of an aerosol assembly) and shields
220 configured to be useful for hair coloring. Thus, in some embodiments, shield
220 and aerosol assembly
400 may be sold separately or as a kit (for example, attachable to each other either
permanently attachable or detachably attachable.
[0135] Thus, any 'system or device including a shield and an aerosol assembly' may also
be provided as a 'kit including the shield and the aerosol assembly where the shield
and the aerosol assembly may be coupled to each other (for example, assembly by fastening
at least a portion of each to each other).
[0136] In one non-limiting example, a single kit includes an aerosol assembly and shields
220 of multiple lengths - for example, a 'short shield' of a longitudinal length (e.g.
from the tip to the base of the tooth) of less than 4 cm or less than 4.5 cm, and
a 'long shield' of a longitudinal length (e.g. from the tip to the base of the tooth)
of more than 5 cm or more than 5.5 cm or more than 6 cm or more than 6.5 cm (i.e.
any combination).
[0137] FIG. 28 describes a routine for assembling such a kit into any presently-disclosed
system.
[0138] FIG. 29 is a flow chart of using a hair coloring device (see FIGS. 11-12 also).
[0139] FIG. 30 describers an aerosol assembly -for example, the orifice has a width of 0.3
mm in FIG. 30A, the form relatively small droplets (e.g. less than 100 microns by
average, or less than 80 microns or less than 60 microns or less than 50 microns)
- thus, the width of the orifice may be less than 0.6 mm or less than 0.5 mm.
[0140] One salient feature of FIG. 30B, is a 'rectangular-shaped spray insert' (e.g. a ratio
between a length and a width is at least 1.2 or at least 1.4 so that the produced
spray (see the dotted line which shows a primarily horizontal spray form) is a fan
spray, for example, having a substantially rectangular cross section.
General Discussion of Features
[0141] As noted earlier, some embodiments of the present invention relate to a slot array
of elongated slots or a tooth array of elongated teeth. It is appreciated that various
tooth or slot properties (for example, relating to a width profile, an aspect ratio,
a cross-section shape, a gap distance near teeth) may not be required to prevail for
a majority of teeth and/or for a majority of locations along elongated tooth or slot
axis (i.e. within the entirety of the tooth or the slot or within a given elongated
'section').
[0142] For any feature or combination of features disclosed herein for a 'majority of teeth'
(i.e. of a plurality of teeth) or a majority of voids or slots (i,.e. for a plurality
of voids or slots) this feature may also apply (i.e. any feature or combination of
features ), in alternative embodiments, to a 'significant minority' (i.e. at least
30%) or to a 'significant majority' (i.e. at least 70%) or a 'very significant majority'
(i.e. at least 90%) of teeth or voids or slots.
[0143] Similarly, for any feature or combination of features disclosed herein for "most
locations' (i.e. for at least 50% of the locations) within a 'section' of a tooth
or slot or void or the shield (i.e. along a longitudinal or central axis) along a
longitudinal axis and/or along length of tooth and/or along a length of slots or a
length of voids between neighboring teeth, this feature of may also apply to 'significant
minority' (i.e. at least 30%) of locations within the section or to a 'significant
majority' (i.e. at least 70%) of locations in the section or a 'very significant majority'
(i.e. at least 90%) of teeth of locations in the section along a longitudinal axis.
[0144] Some features (or combinations of features) are disclosed for 'sections of teeth'
or `section of shield' having a given length. For any feature or combination of features,
this length may be at least 2 cm, or at least 2.5 cm or at least 3 cm or at least
3.5 cm or at least 4 cm.
[0145] When a feature (or feature combination) is disclosed for a majority or significant
minority or significant majority or a very significant majority of a number of slots
or voids or teeth , this number of teeth or slots or voids may be at least 8, at least
10, at least 12, at least 14, at least 16, at least 18, or at least 20 for any feature
(of combination) disclosed herein.
[0146] Any discussion of 'majority' may also apply to 'significant minority' (at least 30%)
or `significant majority' (i.e. at least 70%) or a 'very significant majority' (i.e.
at least 90%).
[0147] The skilled artisan will know how to choose appropriate materials from which the
shield or any other component should be constructed. In one non-limiting example,
the shield is constructed from plastic or any other material apparent to the skilled
artisan after reading the present disclosure.
[0148] In some embodiments, a kit for constructing any presently disclosed system is described.
The kit may include: (i) a hair penetrating shield and (ii) a aerosol assembly which
when coupled to each other may produce any presently disclosed hair-coloring device
(i.e. that include both the shield and the aerosol assembly).
[0149] In one example, a single kit may include multiple shields such a longer shield and
shorter shield. A length ratio (i.e. where length is along the longitudinal direction)
between the lengths of two shields may be at least 1.3 or at least 1.5 or at least
1.7 or at least 2.
[0150] In some embodiments, any kit may include instructions for combining and/or mating
the aerosol assembly and the hair shield (for example, according to FIG. 28).
[0151] In some embodiments, when the 'quick-drying' hair-coloring composition is delivered
to hair (for example, for coat the hair), it may dry on the surface of the hair in
less than 8 minutes or less than 6 minutes or less than 4 minutes or less than 2 minutes.
[0152] Generally speaking, a 'quick-drying' composition or agent dries faster than water.
In one example, when a drop (e.g. from an eye-dropper) the "quick-drying' composition
or agent is placed on a porcelain plate in room temperature conditions, it will dry
faster than the water (i.e. subjected to a similar porcelain plate experiment). In
some embodiments, the drying time of the "quick-drying' composition or agent may be
closer to the drying time of alcohol (i.e. subjected to an identical porcelain plate
experiment) than to the drying time of water.
[0153] One salient feature of FIG. 11 is that the shield is relatively long and narrow.
In some embodiments, the ratio of length to the width of the shield is at least 1.25
or at least 1.5 or at least 1.7 or at least 2. Use of a 'narrow shield' (i.e. whose
width is at most 5 cm or at most 4 cm or at most 3 cm or at most 2 cm). may be useful
for treating 'delicate areas' though this is not a requirement.
First Additional Discussion
[0154] It is now disclosed for the first time a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots,
the device comprising:
- a) a hair-penetrating shield 220 comprising a tooth array having top 280 and bottom 290 surfaces and having proximal 228 and distal 224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or
at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority
(or a 'significant' or 'very significant' majority) of teeth of the tooth array: i)
each tooth of the majority includes a main portion 330 and a tapered distal portion 240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main
portion 330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along
the tooth axis within the section:
- A) a cross section of the tooth has an asymmetric width profile along the shield thickness
axis 270 such that the tooth cross section, on average, is narrower near the top 248 of the tooth and the tooth cross section, on average, is wider near the bottom 246 of the tooth;
- B) the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2 (in some embodiments, less than 3 mm^2
or less than 2.5 mm^2 or less than 2 mm^2 - in some embodiments, at least 0.5 mm^2
or at least 0.75 mm^2 or at least 1 mm^2); and
- C) the tooth is separated from a laterally neighboring tooth to provide a minimum
gap distance 370 that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, and
- b) an aerosol assembly 400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface 280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense or 'spray out' a non-viscous
hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array
of teeth onto the top 280 surface of the shield 220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0155] In some embodiments, each tooth has a top-bottom midpoint
249 that is midway between the tooth's top
352 and bottom
362, and wherein for the majority of teeth of the tooth array, for most locations along
the tooth axis within the section, a width ratio between: i) a first average tooth
width describing the average tooth width below the top-bottom midpoint; and ii) a
second average tooth width describing the average tooth width above the top-bottom
midpoint is at least 1.2 (or at least 1.3 or at least 1.7 or at least 2).
[0156] In one example, for the majority of teeth, for most locations along the tooth axis,
the width ratio is at least 1.6.
[0157] In some embodiments, for the majority of teeth, for most locations along the tooth
axis, the tooth cross section is less than 5 mm^2 or less than than 3 mm^2.
[0158] In some embodiments , for the majority of teeth, for most locations along the tooth
axis: i) each pair of laterally neighboring teeth
T1 and
T2 are positioned to form a respective intertooth lateral void
390 that is in between the laterally neighboring teeth within a height range having upper
and lower bounds,: A) the upper bound being the lower height of the top
246 of tooth
T1 and the top
246 of tooth
T2, and B) the lower bound being the greater height of the bottom
246 of tooth
T1 and the bottom
246 of tooth
T2, and ii) a cross section of the respective intertooth void has an asymmetric width
profile along the shield thickness axis
270 such that the void cross section, on average, is wider near the top of the intertooth
void
390 and the intertooth void
390, on average, is narrower near the bottom of the intertooth void
390.
[0159] In some embodiments, i) each void has a top-bottom void mid-height level
923 that is midway between upper and lower bounds of the height range; ii) for the majority
of teeth of the tooth array, for most locations along the tooth axis within the section,
a width ratio between: i) a first average void width describing the average void width
above the top-bottom void mid-height level; ii) a second average void width describing
the average void width below the top-bottom void mid-height level, is at least 1.1
or at least 1.2 or at least 1.4 or at least 1.5 or at least 1.6 or at least 1.8 or
at least 2.
[0160] It is now disclosed for the first time a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots,
the device comprising: a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces, comprising a slot array having at least eight (or at least 10 or at least
12 or at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) elongated shield-thickness-spanning
narrow slots
480 that are substantially aligned a proximal-distal direction, the hair-penetrating
shield
220 including a longitudinal section of at least 2.5 cm where: i) for a majority of slots
of the array, each slot provide a shield-thickness-spanning property throughout a
majority of the longitudinal section (reminder- as for any 'majority' feature this
may be a significant or very significant majority); ii) an array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot
width is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm and/or for the majority of slots of the array each
provide, throughout a majority of the longitudinal-subsection cross-section-minimum-slot
width that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm (or at most 0.8 mm); iii) for the majority of
slots of the slot array, a slot aspect ratio within the longitudinal section is at
least 30 (or at least 40 or at least 50 or at least 60 or at least 70 or at least
80 or at least 90 or at least 100) the slot aspect ratio being defined by a ratio
between the slot length within the section and an individual-slot longitudinal-averaged
cross-section-minimum-slot width averaged over the longitudinal section; iv) an array-wide
average slot-slot lateral distance within the longitudinal section is at most 3 mm
and/or at most a value equal to 3 times the array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot
width within the longitudinal section the hair-penetrating shield including a plurality
of elongated, tapered penetrating elements (for example, having a minimum length of
2 mm or 3 mm or 4 mm and a ratio between length and average width of at least 1.5
or at least 2) located at the distal end of the shield
220; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface
280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring
agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array of teeth onto
the top 280 surface of the shield 220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects
the space beneath the bottom surface from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0161] In some embodiments, the laterally-spaced distal penetrating elements may be spaced
in integral multiples of the slot-slot widths and/or configured to correspond to the
slots.
[0162] In some embodiments, for each slot of the majority of slots, for most longitudinal
locations within the longitudinal section, the slot exhibits an asymmetric width profile
along the shield thickness axis
270 such that the slot thickness is narrower near the bottom surface
290 of the shield than it is near the top surface
280 of the shield.
[0163] In some embodiments, for a majority of a region that is laterally bound by the first
and last slot of the slot array and within the longitudinal section, the top surface
280 is rough relative to the bottom surface
290 for a topographic length scale of 1 mm.
[0164] It is now disclosed hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or
at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority
of teeth of the tooth array (or a significant or very significant majority - like
for any feature) i) each tooth of the majority includes a main portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal
section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: A) the aspect ratio of the tooth
within the section is at least 20, the tooth aspect ratio between defined by a ratio
between the tooth length within the section and a square root of the longitudinally-averaged
tooth cross section within the section; B) for most locations within the tooth longitudinal
section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2 (or less than 3 mm^2); iii) for
most locations within the longitudinal section, the tooth is separated from a laterally
neighboring tooth to provide a minimum gap distance
370 that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured
to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction
defined by the array of teeth onto the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0165] It is now disclosed a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or
at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority
of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal
section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: i) for most locations within the
tooth longitudinal section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2 (or less than
3 mm^2 or less than 2.5 mm^2 or less than 2 mm^2); ii) the tooth is separated from
a laterally neighboring tooth to provide a minimum gap distance
370, a ratio between a length of the longitudinal section of the tooth and the longitudinally-averaged
minimum gap distance with the laterally neighboring tooth being at least 30 (or at
least 40 or at least 50 or at least 60), the minimum gap distance
370 being, for most locations within the longitudinal section, that is between 0.3 mm
and 1 mm; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured
to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction
defined by the array of teeth onto the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0166] It is now disclosed a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight (or at least 10 or at least 12 or
at least 14 or at least 16 or at least 20) closely-spaced teeth such that for a majority
of teeth of the tooth array (or a significant or very significant majority) i) each
tooth of the majority includes a main portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main
portion
330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along
the tooth axis within the section: A) a cross section of the tooth has an substantial
triangular shape, the substantial triangle pointing upwards along the shield thickness
axis
270; and B) the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface
280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense or spray out a non-viscous
hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array
of teeth onto the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
A Second Additional Discussion
[0167] Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1-5 illustrate a hair coloring applicator
constructed in accordance with the present embodiments and particularly useful for
touching-up hair along a hair line in a quick and convenient manner.
[0168] As shown particularly in the exploded view of Figure 5, the hair coloring applicator
comprises four main components: a container, generally designated
10, for containing a quantity of a hair coloring composition; an attachment
20 attachable to one end of container
10; a shield
30 carried by the attachment; and an outer housing
40 enclosing container
10 and serving as a handle for grasping and manipulating the applicator.
[0169] As clearly seen in Figure 5, container
10 is an aerosol container of cylindrical configuration and may be of any known construction.
It includes a quantity of the hair coloring composition to be dispensed, which may
be in powder or liquid form; preferably, it also includes a propellant gas for dispensing
the hair coloring composition in the form of a spray. One end of aerosol container
10 includes an outlet
12 in the form of a nozzle through which the composition is dispensed, and a valve indicated
at
14, which is normally closed, but which is opened upon tilting or depressing nozzle
12, to dispense the composition in the form of a spray via the nozzle.
[0170] Attachment
20 is removably attachable to the end of aerosol container
10 including the nozzle
12. Attachment
20 includes a shield
30, which, as will be more particularly described below, exposes the root regions of
the hairs to be touched-up, to the hair coloring composition spray dispensed via nozzle
12 when valve
14 is opened, while at the same time effectively blocking the individual's scalp from
exposure to the hair coloring composition spray. Shield
30 is fixedly attached to attachment
20, but may also be removably attachable thereto for replacement or cleaning purposes.
The shield and/or attachment may be constructed for one-time use, or for repeated
use.
[0171] The lower end
21 of attachment
20 is of a cylindrical configuration and has an inner diameter substantially equal to
the outer diameter of the aerosol container
10. One side of attachment
20 is formed with a slanted top wall
22 terminating in a top rim
23 formed with a projection
24 for receiving the shield
30 with a friction or snap fit. When attachment
20 is applied over the upper end of aerosol container
10, an opening
25 in slanted wall
22 is aligned with nozzle
12 of the aerosol container, whereas a push button
25 is aligned with valve
14 of the aerosol container. The construction is such that upon depression of the push
button, nozzle
12 of the container is tilted or depressed to open valve
14, thereby to produce a spray of the hair coloring composition over the outer surface
of shield
30 via opening
25 in the attachment.
[0172] As seen particularly in Figure 5, opening
25 of attachment
20 is located between push button
26 and the shield
30 attached to peripheral wall
23 of the attachment. Nozzle
12, and opening
25 in the attachment are oriented to produce a fan-shaped spray directed towards the
proximal (inner) end of the shield.
[0173] Shield
30 includes a plurality of spaced teeth
31 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of aerosol container
10 and integrally formed with a spline
32 extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis LA. As shown particularly
in Figure 3, the teeth
31 of shield
30 are arrayed in a substantially linear array, which array is offset from the longitudinal
axis LA of the aerosol container. Teeth
31 are of small width and thickness and are closely spaced. Preferably, they are less
than 2 mm in width, thickness and spacing, and are tapered to points at their outer
tips.
[0174] As will be described more particularly below, when the applicator is used for touching-up
hair along a hair line, the applicator is manipulated such that surface
30a of shield 30 serves an inner surface pressed against the individual's scalp, whereas
surface
30b serves as an outer surface which is exposed to the hair coloring composition spray
dispensed from nozzle
12 of the aerosol container
10 via opening
22 of the attachment
20.
[0175] As shown in Figure 5, the outer housing
40 of the applicator is also of cylindrical configuration corresponding to the cylindrical
configuration of the aerosol container
10. The inner diameter of housing
40 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of aerosol container
10 so as to snugly receive the aerosol container, and thereby to act as a handle for
gripping and manipulating the applicator. Preferably the upper surface
41 of outer housing
40, and the inner rim
27 of the attachment
20, are of complementary curved configurations so as to present a pleasing appearance
to the applicator when all the parts are assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 3, for
example.
[0176] The manner of using the applicator of Figures 1-5 will be apparent from the above
description. Thus, after all its parts have been assembled, as shown in Figures 1-3,
the user grasps the outer housing
40, orients the shield
30 such that surface 30a faces and presses against the individual's scalp, and manipulates
the applicator such that the root regions of the hairs along the hairline to be touched-up
are received in the spaces between teeth
31. The user then depresses push button
26, to produce a spray via nozzle
12 over the outer side
30b of the shield
30, while the shield is moved along the hair line to be touched-up. The so-produced spray
of hair coloring composition coats the root regions of the hairs exposed by teeth
31 at the proximal end of shield
30, whereas the remainder of the shield effectively blocks the passage of the hair coloring
composition spray to the individual's scalp.
[0177] After the hair coloring composition has been depleted from aerosol container
10, the holder
40, attachment
20 and shield
30 may be disassembled and applied to a fresh aerosol container
10.
[0178] The hair coloring applicator illustrated in Figures 6-10 is also constructed of basically
the same parts as the applicator of Figures 1-5, namely including an aerosol container
110 (Figure 10), an attachment
120 applied to one end of the aerosol container, a shield
130 carried by the attachment, and an outer housing
140 enclosing aerosol container
110 and serving as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator.
[0179] The main difference in the applicator illustrated in Figures 6-10 over that illustrated
in Figures 1-5 is that the outer housing
140, and the attachment
120, are not of a cylindrical configuration, but rather of a substantially square configuration
with rounded corners, so as to present a more comfortable gripping of the applicator
when manipulating it, as well as a more pleasing outer appearance to the applicator.
[0180] In all other respects, the applicator illustrated in Figures 6-10 is constructed
and used in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to Figures
1-5.
[0181] While the applicator has been described with respect to two preferred embodiments,
it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example, and
that many other variations and applications of the invention may be made. For example,
instead of using an aerosol container for dispensing the hair-dye in the form of a
spray, a pump-type container may be used wherein the push button 26 is effective to
pump out a spray of the hair-dye, rather than to open a valve permitting the propellant
fluid within the container to produce the hair-dye spray. Also, the push button may
be on a side wall of the container rather than on the attachment. Further, the teeth
of the shield may be non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, e.g.,
90° or less.
[0182] The applicators described herein may contain any hair coloring composition suitable
for coloring hair, preferably suitable for "touching-up" local areas of an individual's
hair, and more preferably suitable for touching-up hair along a hairline of a subject.
[0183] The hair coloring composition can include any hair coloring agent(s) (pigments),
formulated with a suitable carrier (e.g., designed for forming a hair coloring composition
in the form of a spray). Preferably, the hair coloring composition is for temporarily
coloring hair.
While the applicators described herein may contain any suitable hair coloring composition,
the present inventors have developed hair-coloring agents, formulations and compositions
that are particularly useful when used in the context of these and other embodiments
of the present invention.
A Third Additional Discussion
[0184] According to one aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided
a hair-coloring applicator comprising a container for containing a quantity of hair-coloring
composition including an outlet at one end of the container through which the hair-coloring
composition may be dispensed, and a shield projecting outwardly from one end of the
container. The shield includes a plurality of closely spaced teeth having inner surfaces
to be pressed against the subject's scalp with the root regions of the hairs passing
through the spaces between the teeth, and outer surfaces to be exposed to the hair-coloring
spray composition dispensed from the container such that the hair-coloring composition
coats the root regions of the hairs passing through the spaces between the teeth,
while the teeth substantially block the hair-coloring composition from reaching the
subject's scalp. The abovementioned applicator is particularly useful for touching-up
hair along a hairline of an individual.
[0185] As used herein, the phrase "touching-up" describes the coloring of hair in a quick
and simple manner. This phrase further describes the coloring of local areas of hair,
particularly local areas of gray or white hair such as the root region or parts thereof.
The phrase "root region" describes the part of a hair closest to the scalp.
[0186] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shield is carried by an
attachment to the end of the container, and the container is an aerosol container
for dispensing the hair-coloring composition in the form of a spray through a nozzle.
[0187] As used herein, the phrase "aerosol container" describes any container suitable for
releasing a composition contained therein in the form of a spray. For example, the
container should be capable of withstanding the internal pressure of a pressurized
composition, and the nozzle should be configured so as to allow escaping pressurized
composition to escape in the form of an aerosol.
[0188] In some embodiments, the abovementioned attachment includes an opening aligned with
the nozzle.
[0189] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the abovementioned attachment
further includes a push button controlling the dispensing of hair-coloring composition
via the nozzle. In some embodiments, the abovementioned opening in the attachment
that is aligned with the nozzle is located between the shield and the push button,
such that the push button can be reached through the opening.
[0190] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the push button and the opening
are located on an outer surface of the attachment, wherein the attachment slants towards
the shield.
[0191] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the spaced teeth of the shield
are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. Preferably, the teeth are
arrayed in a generally linear array that is laterally spaced from the longitudinal
axis of the container.
[0192] According an embodiment of the present invention, the teeth are less than 2 mm in
width, thickness, and spacing.
[0193] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the teeth are tapered to a point
at their outer tips.
[0194] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the applicator further comprises
an outer housing enclosing the abovementioned container, the outer housing serving
as a handle for gripping and manipulating the applicator. The outer housing may have
any shape that is suitable for being held by hand.
[0195] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outer housing and the container
are both cylindrical.
[0196] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the container is cylindrical,
and the outer housing is non-cylindrical.
[0197] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hair coloring
applicator comprising a container containing a quantity of hair coloring composition
and including an outlet at one end of the container through which the hair coloring
composition is dispensed and an attachment attached to the end of the container carrying
the outlet, the attachment including a shield. The shield has a plurality of spaced
teeth which pass between the subject's hairs to expose the root regions of the hairs
passing through the teeth, while the teeth substantially block the hair coloring composition
from passing through to the subject's scalp. Such an applicator is particularly useful
for touching-up hair along a hairline of a subject.
[0198] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each of the hair coloring
compositions described herein is identified for use in temporary hair coloring and/or
in coloring white or gray hair.
[0199] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each of the hair coloring
compositions described herein is identified for use in touching-up hair along a hairline
of an individual.
[0200] In one embodiment of the present invention, any of the hair coloring compositions
described herein is packaged in an applicator adapted for dispensing the composition
onto hair, and identified for use in hair coloring, as described hereinabove.
A Fourth Additional Discussion
[0201] It is now disclosed a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces, comprising a slot array having at least eight elongated shield-thickness-spanning
narrow slots
480 that are substantially aligned a proximal-distal direction, the hair-penetrating
shield
220 including a longitudinal section of at least 2.5 cm where: i) for a majority of slots
of the array, each slot provide a shield-thickness-spanning property throughout a
majority of the longitudinal section; ii) an array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot
width is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm and/or for the majority of slots of the array each
provide, throughout a majority of the longitudinal-subsection cross-section-minimum-slot
width that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm; iii) for the majority of slots of the slot
array, a slot aspect ratio within the longitudinal section is at least 30, the slot
aspect ratio being defined by a ratio between the slot length within the section and
an individual-slot longitudinal-averaged cross-section-minimum-slot width averaged
over the longitudinal section; iv) an array-wide average slot-slot lateral distance
within the longitudinal section is at most 3 mm and/or at most a value equal to 3
times the array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot width within the longitudinal
section the hair-penetrating shield including a plurality of elongated, tapered penetrating
elements located at the distal end of the shield
220; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface
280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring
agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array of teeth onto
the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0202] In some embodiments, each slot of the majority of slots, for most longitudinal locations
within the longitudinal section, the slot exhibits an asymmetric width profile along
the shield thickness axis
270 such that the slot thickness is narrower near the bottom surface
290 of the shield than it is near the top surface
280 of the shield.
[0203] In some embodiments, for a majority of a region that is laterally bound by the first
and last slot of the slot array and within the longitudinal section, the top surface
280 is rough relative to the bottom surface
290 for a topographic length scale of 1 mm.
[0204] In some embodiments, the slot array has at least 14 elongated shield-thickness-spanning
narrow slots
480.
[0205] It is now disclosed a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal
section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: A) the aspect ratio of the tooth
within the section is at least 20, the tooth aspect ratio between defined by a ratio
between the tooth length within the section and a square root of the longitudinally-averaged
tooth cross section within the section; B) for most locations within the tooth longitudinal
section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and C) for most locations within
the longitudinal section, the tooth is separated from a laterally neighboring tooth
to provide a minimum gap distance
370 that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured
to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction
defined by the array of teeth onto the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0206] In some embodiments, the tooth array includes at least 14 closely-spaced teeth.
[0207] It is now disclosed a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal
section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: A) for most locations within the
tooth longitudinal section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and B) the
tooth is separated from a laterally neighboring tooth to provide a minimum gap distance
370, a ratio between a length of the longitudinal section of the tooth and the longitudinally-averaged
minimum gap distance with the laterally neighboring tooth being at least 30, the minimum
gap distance
370 being, for most locations within the longitudinal section, that is between 0.3 mm
and 1 mm; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured
to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction
defined by the array of teeth onto the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0208] In some embodiments, the tooth array includes at least 14 closely-spaced teeth.
[0209] It is now disclosed a hair-coloring device for coloring hair roots, the device comprising:
a) a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main
portion
330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along
the tooth axis within the section: A) a cross section of the tooth has an substantial
triangular shape, the substantial triangle pointing upwards along the shield thickness
axis
270; and B) the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 coupled to the hair-penetrating shield, the aerosol assembly including an aerosol
outlet elevated above the top surface
280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense a non-viscous hair-coloring
agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array of teeth onto
the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.\
[0210] In some embodiments, for the majority of teeth, for most locations along the tooth
axis within the section, the topography of the top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces differ, the top surface being relatively bumpy and the bottom surface being
relatively smooth in the lateral direction.
[0211] In some embodiments, the top surface is undulating in a lateral direction and/or
a direction perpendicular to the tooth axis.
[0212] It is now disclosed a hair-penetrating shield useful for coloring hair roots, the
shield comprising: a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main
portion
330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along
the tooth axis within the section: A) a cross section of the tooth has an asymmetric
width profile along the shield thickness axis
270 such that the tooth cross section, on average, is narrower near the top
248 of the tooth and the tooth cross section, on average, is wider near the bottom
246 of the tooth; B) the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and C) the tooth is
separated from a laterally neighboring tooth to provide a minimum gap distance
370 that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm.
[0213] It is now disclosed a hair-penetrating shield useful for coloring hair roots, the
shield
220 having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces, the shield comprising a slot array having at least eight elongated shield-thickness-spanning
narrow slots
480 that are substantially aligned a proximal-distal direction, the hair-penetrating
shield
220 including a longitudinal section of at least 2.5 cm where: i) for a majority of slots
of the array, each slot provide a shield-thickness-spanning property throughout a
majority of the longitudinal section; ii) an array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot
width is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm and/or for the majority of slots of the array each
provide, throughout a majority of the longitudinal-subsection cross-section-minimum-slot
width that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm; iii) for the majority of slots of the slot
array, a slot aspect ratio within the longitudinal section is at least 30, the slot
aspect ratio being defined by a ratio between the slot length within the section and
an individual-slot longitudinal-averaged cross-section-minimum-slot width averaged
over the longitudinal section; iv) an array-wide average slot-slot lateral distance
within the longitudinal section is at most 3 mm and/or at most a value equal to 3
times the array-wide average cross-section-minimum-slot width within the longitudinal
section, the hair-penetrating shield including a plurality of elongated, tapered penetrating
elements located at the distal end of the shield
220.
[0214] It is now disclosed a hair-penetrating shield
220 useful for coloring hair roots, the shield comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration;ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal
section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: A) the aspect ratio of the tooth
within the section is at least 20, the tooth aspect ratio between defined by a ratio
between the tooth length within the section and a square root of the longitudinally-averaged
tooth cross section within the section; B) for most locations within the tooth longitudinal
section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and C) for most locations within
the longitudinal section, the tooth is separated from a laterally neighboring tooth
to provide a minimum gap distance
370 that is between 0.3 mm and 1 mm,
[0215] It is now disclosed a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; ii) each tooth of the majority includes a longitudinal
section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where: A) for most locations within the
tooth longitudinal section, the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2; and B) the
tooth is separated from a laterally neighboring tooth to provide a minimum gap distance
370, a ratio between a length of the longitudinal section of the tooth and the longitudinally-averaged
minimum gap distance with the laterally neighboring tooth being at least 30, the minimum
gap distance
370 being, for most locations within the longitudinal section, that is between 0.3 mm
and 1 mm.
[0216] It is now disclosed a hair-penetrating shield
220 comprising a tooth array having top
280 and bottom
290 surfaces and having proximal
228 and distal
224 ends, the tooth array including at least eight closely-spaced teeth such that for
a majority of teeth of the tooth array: i) each tooth of the majority includes a main
portion
330 and a tapered distal portion
240 for facilitating hair penetration; and ii) for each tooth of the majority , the main
portion
330 includes a section having a length of at least 2.5 cm where for most locations along
the tooth axis within the section: A) a cross section of the tooth has an substantial
triangular shape, the substantial triangle pointing upwards along the shield thickness
axis
270; and B) the tooth cross-section is less than 5 mm^2.
[0217] It is now disclosed a method of touching up hair roots of an individual, the method
comprising: a) engaging the hair-penetrating shield according to any teaching or combinations
of teachings disclosed herein to a user's head so that the bottom
290 surface of the shield faces that user's scalp and so that root regions of the user's
hair pass through spaces between the teeth of the shield; and b) dispensing a non-viscous
hair-coloring agent as a mist on the top
280 surface of the shield
220 so as to color the root regions of the user's hair such that the hair-penetrating
shield protects, from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent, the user's scalp that is
facing the bottom
290 surface of the shield.
[0218] It is now disclosed a kit comprising: a) the hair-penetrating shield according to
any teaching or combination of teachings disclosed herein; and b) an aerosol assembly
400 including an aerosol outlet elevated above the top surface
280 of the shield, the aerosol assembly configured to dispense a non-viscous hair coloring
agent as a mist in a proximal-distal direction defined by the array of teeth onto
the top
280 surface of the shield
220 such that the hair-penetrating shield protects the space beneath the bottom surface
from the non-viscous hair-coloring agent.
[0219] Any applicator suitable for applying a composition onto hair may be used. Exemplary
applicators include, but are not limited to, a wick-type applicator, a squeeze bottle,
an aerosol container, a comb-type applicator, a drop dispenser and a pump-type applicator.
[0220] As used herein, the phrase "wick-type applicator" encompasses any applicator comprising
a wick which absorbs a quantity of a liquid composition, wherein the composition may
be applied to a surface by contacting the wick with the absorbed composition to the
surface. The quantity of the composition absorbed in the wick may be replenished,
for example, by dipping the wick into a quantity of the composition stored in a container,
or by part of the wick being in continuous contact with the composition in a container,
the composition being drawn into the wick via absorption by the wick. The container
containing the composition may serve as a component of the applicator along with the
wick.
[0221] As used herein, the term "wick" describes an article-of-manufacturing capable of
absorbing a liquid and of allowing the liquid to escape from the surface of the article-of-manufacturing.
[0222] As used herein, the phrase "squeeze bottle" encompasses any applicator comprising
a container for storing a composition, the container having at least one flexible
wall, wherein the composition may be forced out of the container by applying force
(e.g. squeezing) to the flexible wall(s) of the container. Typically, the container
includes a valve that allows a composition to exit the container under a certain pressure
(such as the pressure generated by applying force to the flexible wall of the container),
but which prevents composition from leaving the container in the absence of such pressure.
[0223] As used herein, the phrase "comb-type applicator" encompasses any applicator comprising
a comb or a brush, the comb or brush having a quantity of composition adhered thereto,
wherein the composition may be applied to a surface by contacting the comb or brush
to the surface. The quantity of composition which is adhered to the comb or brush
may be replenished by contacting the comb or brush with a composition stored in a
container. The container may serve as a component of the applicator.
[0224] As used herein, the phrase "drop dispenser" encompasses any applicator comprising
a container containing therein a liquid composition, the container having a small
opening which allows the passage of a small quantity of the composition from the inside
of the container through the opening to the outer surface of the container, thereby
resulting in a small quantity of composition (i.e. a drop) on the outer surface of
the container. The drop of composition may be applied to a surface by contacting the
drop with the surface. The liquid composition in the container may be replenished
from a larger quantity of composition stored in a larger container, which may serve
as a component of the applicator.
[0225] As defined herein, the phrase "pump-type applicator" encompasses any applicator comprising
a container for storing a composition with a pump attached thereto, wherein the composition
may be forced out of the container by a pressure applied by the pump. The container
may include a valve that allows a composition to exit the container under a pressure
applied by the pump, but which prevents composition from leaving the container in
the absence of such pressure. The pressure applied by the pump may be generated by
any means, including, but not limited to, by hand (e.g. a syringe), by a spring, by
an electronic motor, or by a pressurized fluid.
[0226] As used herein, the phrase "aerosol container", when used to describe an applicator,
encompasses any applicator comprising an aerosol container, as this phrase has been
defined hereinabove. An applicator described as an aerosol container may include additional
components besides the aerosol container.
[0227] When the hair coloring composition is a composition useful for coloring white and/or
gray hair, the composition is preferably identified as such.
[0228] When the hair coloring composition is a composition useful for temporary hair coloring,
the composition is preferably identified as such.
[0229] When the hair coloring composition is a composition useful for touching-up hair along
a hairline of an individual, the composition is preferably identified as such.
[0230] The applicators, hair coloring agents and hair coloring compositions described hereinabove
are particularly advantageous when used in combination.
[0231] Hence, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
applicator as described hereinabove, wherein a hair coloring composition to be contained
therein comprises a suitable carrier and at least one hair coloring agent selected
from the group consisting of a first hair
coloring agent which comprises a purified polymer of tannic acid having iron ions
bound thereto, being substantially devoid of unbound iron ions, and a second hair
coloring agent which comprises a condensation polymer of a reducing carbohydrate and
an amino acid, as these hair coloring agents are described herein.
[0232] The features of the composition are as described hereinabove. Preferably, in embodiments
comprising an applicator which releases a composition in the form of a spray, the
composition to be contained therein is in the form of a spray, as described hereinabove.
[0233] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an applicator, as described
hereinabove, wherein the hair coloring composition to be contained therein comprises
at least one hair coloring agent and a carrier which comprises a hydrophobic volatile
solvent, water, a glycol and a surface active agent, as described hereinabove.
[0234] The features of the composition are as described hereinabove. Preferably, in embodiments
comprising an applicator which releases a composition in the form of a spray, the
composition to be contained therein is in the form of a spray, as described hereinabove.
[0235] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair coloring composition
comprising both a carrier described hereinabove and at least one hair coloring agent
described hereinabove.
[0236] The optional and preferable features of the composition are as described hereinabove.
[0237] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an applicator described hereinabove
is combined with a hair coloring composition comprising both a carrier described hereinabove
and at least one hair coloring agent described hereinabove.
[0238] Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will
become apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art upon examination of the following
examples, which are not intended to be limiting. Additionally, each of the various
embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as
claimed in the claims section below finds experimental support in the following examples.
[0239] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity,
described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination
in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are,
for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided
separately or in any suitable subcombination.
[0240] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope
of the appended claims. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned
in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into
the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or
patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated
herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this
application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available
as prior art to the present invention.