Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the cleaning of hair and more particularly to the
devices used for the treatment of pediculosis, with the object of removing nits or
eggs from lice that cling to hair, and even more particularly the invention refers
to a new comb for the treatment of pediculosis with an arrangement and configuration
of the teeth or needles that allow the comb to be used even in those scalps that could
be damaged, injured, with bedsores, etc., wherein the configuration of the teeth makes
them more economical in their manufacture and, yet retain the efficiency that allows
removal of nits and lice from the hair more effectively than the known devices and
combs without damaging the hair.
Description of the prior art
[0002] Pediculosis is a problem that affects countless individuals in all kinds of communities
and represents an obstacle in the student population since school-age children acquire
it easily when they contact their peers in the educational institution they attend.
[0003] Head lice settle in the hair and lay down the well-known nits there, that is, the
eggs of
Pedeculus humanus,
Phtirius pubis and similar species, more commonly known as lice.
[0004] Many chemical compounds have been developed for the treatment of this infection,
as well as a number of combs intended to treat it by removing lice and nits, thus
causing no side effects, as is the case with the application of chemicals. There are
various comb designs comprising a handle to which multiple teeth or steel wires are
attached, the separation of which is studied to allow just a hair to pass tightly
between adjacent teeth, so that anything adhered on it, particularly a nit, is retained
between the teeth of the comb. Thus, passing the comb throughout the patient's hair
allows to achieve the removal of as many nits as possible.
[0005] One of the combs that has most effectively achieved the goal of removing nits more
successfully is the one disclosed in Argentine Patent
AR 03275 B1, and its American equivalent
U.S. No. 5.873.374, both owned by the present owners and which describe, as more specifically defined
in the claims, a cleaning comb with needles that have a ruggedness on its peripheral
surface, comprising a handle and a plurality of -preferably steel- teeth, wires or
needles, each needle having an end attaching to a handle, an attacking end and a peripheral
surface, and the attacking end of each needle having a sharp and rounded tip. According
to the concepts of these patents, the novelty of this comb as regards prior art is
that the peripheral surface of each needle is provided with a ruggedness designed
to catch and drag nits attached to the hair. The comb also has other features, such
as the distance between adjacent needles, which is between 50 µm and 100 pm, each
needle having a total length in the range of 40 to 80 mm and a useful length, outside
the handle, in the range of 20 to 60 mm.
[0006] The ruggedness feature referred to in Argentine Patent
AR 03275 B1, as well as in its U.S. counterpart, is preferably based on the provision of a helical
groove having, for instance, a way narrower than 4 mm. This ruggedness can be also
formed by circumferential grooves with a distance from each other between 0.5 and
3 mm, and these channels may be less than 0.2 mm deep.
[0007] Additionally, this known comb has other features, such as the fact that it is made
of steel, the number of needles is between 10 and 100, more precisely 33 needles,
and that the attacking edges of the needles form together a curved edge.
[0008] In addition, the teeth or needles have their proximal ends retained in the handle
and their distal ends, which all end up aligned on said leading edge, must be delicately
finished in a tapered, sharp and round shape , so as not to damage the hair and, at
the same time , allow hair to enter the space between the teeth or needles. This smooth
finish, which can be done through various techniques, always results in a significant
cost in the total cost of manufacturing the comb. As a consequence of this, these
combs are not always accessible to every community.
[0009] Known combs, which have their teeth or thin needles that end at tapered ends to facilitate
the entry of the hair into the space between teeth, have proven to be efficient in
some cases, however when the patient or user has a scalp hurt by some reason, for
example weakened, with bedsores, etc. these combs cannot be used because their tips
would further damage the scalp.
[0010] In view of the foregoing, the inventors of the present invention, set out to improve
this type of comb, whether combs with conventional needles or smooth teeth, as well
as those of the above patent, with roughened means to obtain a comb that can be used
even in damaged scalp and that is more economical to manufacture, without affecting
the efficiency and effectiveness of the removal of nits and lice, as well as the cleaning
of hair .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new comb for the
treatment of pediculosis comprising needles, teeth or wires capable of retaining,
catching and dragging nits, dirt and lice without causing damage to the hair or scalp,
wherein said needles or teeth comprise at least two types of needles or teeth of different
length.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new comb for the treatment
of pediculosis that guarantees an effective removal of nits and foreign matter adhered
to the hair which easily enters the spaces of separation between teeth by means of
a configuration of alternating lengths in the distal ends of the teeth.
[0013] It is also another object of the present invention to provide a comb for the treatment
of pediculosis of the type comprising a grip handle from which a plurality of teeth
are projected, wherein said teeth have a proximal end retained in said handle and
a free distal end, said teeth being differentiated into a first plurality of teeth
and a second plurality of teeth, where the teeth of the first plurality alternate
with the teeth of the second plurality and the teeth of said first plurality are longer
than the teeth of said second plurality so that the distal ends of the teeth of the
first plurality project beyond the distal ends of the teeth of said second plurality.
[0014] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a comb for the treatment
of pediculosis, which comprises a grip handle and a plurality of teeth of different
and alternate lengths, which may be provided with rough means such as successive grooves
or valleys intended for catch and drag the nits and lice present in the hair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] For the sake of clarity and understanding of the subject matter of this invention,
it has been illustrated in several figures, in which the invention has been shown
in one of the preferred forms of representation, just by way of example, wherein:
Figure 1 shows a front elevation view of a comb for the treatment of pediculosis in
accordance with Argentine Patent AR 03275 B1, and its US equivalent No. 5,873,374, both owned by the present applicants which are hereby incorporated by reference;
Figure 2 shows a detailed and enlarged view of the distal ends of the needles or teeth
of the comb of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a detailed and enlarged view of the needle teeth of a comb such as
that of Figure 1, but hypothetical, to which the tapered or tapered ends of the distal
ends have been removed in order to reduce their manufacturing cost in detriment of
its functional efficiency;
Figure 4 shows a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the comb of the
present invention, and
The Figure 5 shows an elevation front view of another preferred embodiment of the
comb of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring now to the figures it is seen that the invention consists of a comb for
the treatment of pediculosis, which may be of the type disclosed in the Argentine
Patent
AR 03275 B1 of the same inventors and applicants of the present invention, and that is shown
in Figure 1. This type of comb, indicated with the general reference 1, comprises
a grip handle 2 into which a plurality of teeth 3 are mounted extending from the handle
2 parallel to each other and , preferably and not in a limitative manner for this
invention, they retain a distance of for example 50 µm and 100 µm, distance which
has proven to be efficient already in the comb of the Argentine Patent. In the case
of the comb of the present invention the range of distances between the teeth has
been extended, finding that a separation between 50 µm and 200 µm has also been useful
both in the removal of lice and nits and in the cleaning of the hair, especially if
one takes into account the diversity of types of hair where this kind of combs can
be used. Also preferably, the teeth or needles may have a total length in the range
of 40 to 80 mm and a useful length, outside the handle, in the range of 20 to 60 mm.
In the mentioned patent the teeth or needles are provided with roughing means for
retaining and dragging of lice and nits present on the hair. These means, among other
alternatives, can be formed by a plurality of successive grooves or valleys that are
defined on the surface of at least one longitudinal section of each of said teeth.
In the cited Patent, and as better shown in Figure 2 the distal ends 4 of the needles
or teeth 3 are preferably terminated in a smooth conical way to avoid damage to the
scalp and to facilitate the entry of the hair to the spaces 5 between the teeth 3.
[0017] It should be noted that the concepts of the present invention can be applied to the
comb of the mentioned patent, with a pattern of grooves or valleys either helicoidal
or circumferential 6 along at least one longitudinal portion of each of the teeth,
or any type of pattern or design of grooves, gutters or valleys, provided that these
are intended to form a trap to catch and drag nits, foreign matter and lice attached
to the hair of the patient or user. However, the concepts of the invention can also
be applied to a comb such as that of Figure 1 or the like whose teeth or needles are
smooth. The teeth may be separated from each other by a distance of for example 50
µm and 200 µm, and, if teeth with rough means such as grooves are used, as indicated,
said circumferential grooves may be separated from each other by a distance of between
0.5 mm and 4 mm , and said helicoidal grooves may have an helicoidal space of between
0.5 mm and 4 mm. Preferably, in either cases, helicoidal or circumferential row spacing
should not be less than 0.2 mm.
[0018] As for the tapered ends 4 of the teeth 3 of the combs of the prior art, they impose
tasks and times, as well as the use of special machinery which, in the end, represents
an important cost. The teeth or needles 3 are cut from a roll wire, by means of a
machine, to the determined length and, once cut, the teeth are taken to another machine
that must finish one of the ends, the ends 4, so as to round them and make them conical,
as shown in Figure 2. As explained, conicity is essential to allow hair to enter the
space between teeth. If you want to avoid the times, tasks and costs of this finishing
of the ends 4, you should simply leave the ends 4 unfinished, a hypothetical situation
that would leave the teeth 3 with blunt endings, as shown in Figure 3 and indicated
with reference 7. Of course, if the finishing does not show cutting edges resulting
from the cutting of the wire, it could be used and expect no damage to the scalp.
However, what cannot be achieved is the entry of the hair to the reduced space, for
example between 50 µm and 200 µm or, worse, between 50 µm and 100 pm, left between
the teeth.
[0019] The present invention solves precisely the problem indicated above, leaving the ends
of the teeth blunt, without tapering or without making them conical, which significantly
reduces manufacturing costs but, nevertheless, managing to allow hair to enter the
space between teeth, according to one of the embodiments of the invention, and even
more, better protecting the scalp, according to another embodiment of the invention,
embodiments that will be referred to below in relation to Figures 4 and 5.
[0020] To identify the embodiments of the invention, reference numbers from 10 will be used
to avoid confusion with the references of the comb of Figures 1 to 3. In accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 4, the comb, indicated
by the general reference 10, comprises a grip handle 11 from which a plurality of
teeth or needles project 12 that have respective proximal ends hidden and retained
in said handle 11 and free distal ends , indicated by general reference 13 .
[0021] According to the concepts of the invention, the teeth 12 are differentiated in at
least two groups, or even more groups, thus forming a first plurality of teeth 14
and a second plurality of teeth 15 , wherein the teeth of the first plurality 14 alternate
with the teeth of the second plurality 15 and the teeth of said first plurality 14
are longer than the teeth of said second plurality 15 so that the distal ends 16 of
the teeth of the first plurality project beyond the distal ends 17 of the teeth of
said second plurality.
[0022] According to the embodiment of Figure 4, the teeth of the first 14 and of the second
15 plurality, have their distal ends blunt. In this way, the expensive work of machining
and finishing the conical ends is avoided, however, the fact that all the ends are
blunt do not affect the entry of hair to the space between teeth, as would happen,
as explained, in the teeth of Figure 3. Indeed, being the ends 16 and 17 at a different
distance a space is generated between them that facilitates the entry of the hair.
Even if the blunt ends of both pluralities of teeth 14, 15 could be left bare and
slightly finished with a low-cost polishing, preferably, the blunt ends 16 are coated
with an insert 18 of a material that by its constitution and shape does not damage
the scalp. The inserts 18 are preferably rounded and can be formed by various materials
such as plastics, polymer, resin, ceramics and countless low cost materials and of
easy application.
[0023] The comb can have a variable number of teeth or needles but in general, a number
of about 30 teeth is usual. In this case, the first and second plurality of teeth,
will comprise 15 teeth each. Longer teeth may be approximately 3 mm longer than short
teeth and will be arranged, as shown, alternately. The needles, teeth or spikes may
be made of 1.25 mm diameter steel and the spacing of approximately 0.1 mm or 0.2 mm.
[0024] As indicated, the invention can be applied to combs with completely smooth teeth
or combs that provide teeth with rough means for the retention and dragging of nits
and lice present in the hair. Said rough means may be formed by a plurality of successive
grooves or valleys that are defined on the surface of at least one longitudinal section
of each of said teeth. Said grooves may extend circumferentially around the teeth
and can be spaced apart with a distance of between 0.5 mm and 4 mm , or they can extend
in an helicoidal shape around the tooth and the pitch of said helix has a dimension
of between 0.5 mm and 4 mm
[0025] In the embodiment of Figure 5, the comb incorporates the same features of the invention
as shown in Figure 4 except that the inserts 18 of the first plurality of longer teeth
14 are not included. In this case, both the shorter and longer teeth, have blunt ends.
Thus, the shorter teeth have blunt ends 17 and the longer teeth 14 have blunt ends
16 or sufficiently rounded to avoid damaging the scalp. The blunt or rounded finishing,
of course, is cheaper than the conical finishing.
[0026] If it is still desired to further reduce manufacturing costs, the ends of the shorter
teeth may not be finished by any of the before mentioned techniques but left as they
remain after cutting because they do not come into contact with the scalp.
[0027] Compared with conventional combs, the cost benefit is always better because complete
finishing, blunt or with inserts, is only performed for the first plurality of teeth,
the longest, thus preserving the characteristics of the invention when defining a
large path for the hair between the longer teeth, path that leads to the spaces between
teeth that perform hair cleaning and removal of nits and lice. Whether blunt or with
inserts, the scalp is protected. Particularly in the latter case, the comb of the
present invention has a set of teeth or needles spaced apart to retain nits, or to
clean the hair and, even if the distance between needles can be as small as described,
the novel configuration of the needles allows the introduction of the hair between
them which are endowed with "friendly" ends with the scalp which makes them usable
in any scalp even when these are sick, with sores, damage, etc.
[0028] In this way, without damaging the efficiency and effectiveness of the comb, the invention
results in obtaining a comb with significant lower manufacturing costs.
1. A comb for the treatment of pediculosis of the type comprising a grip handle from
which a plurality of teeth is projected, said comb being characterized in that:
said teeth have a proximal end retained in said handle and a free distal end, said
teeth being differentiated into a first plurality of teeth and a second plurality
of teeth, where the teeth of the first plurality alternate with the teeth of the second
plurality and the teeth of said first plurality are longer than the teeth of said
second plurality so that the distal ends of the teeth of the first plurality project
beyond the distal ends of the teeth of the second plurality.
2. A comb according to claim 1, characterized in that said teeth, of the first and second plurality, have their distal ends blunt.
3. A comb according to claim 2, characterized in that said teeth of the first plurality have their distal ends finished in a rounded insert.
4. A comb according to claim 2, characterized in that said rounded insert is an insert of a material selected from plastic, polymer, resin
or ceramic.
5. A comb according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said teeth are provided with rough means for the retention and dragging of nits and
lice present in the hair.
6. A comb according to claim 5, characterized in that said rough means are formed by a plurality of successive grooves or valleys that
are defined on the surface of at least one longitudinal section of each of said teeth.
7. A comb according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said teeth are separated by a distance of between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm.
8. A comb according to claim 7, characterized in that said grooves circumferentially extend around the tooth and are separated from each
other a distance between 0.5 mm and 4 mm.
9. A comb according to claim 7, characterized in that said grooves extend helicoidally around the tooth and the passage of said helicoid
has a dimension between 0.5 mm and 4 mm.