[0001] This invention relates to hair rinsing devices, the term "rinsing" being used in
this specification to include hair washing and applying to hair a treatment agent
such as a solution of neutralising agent. The hair rinsing devices according to the
invention find particular, but not exclusive use, in the field of permanent waving.
[0002] Permanent waving is quite a complicated procedure which comprises the following steps:
1) Washing the hair
2) Rolling the hair in curlers
3) Applying chemical solution A
4) Allowing solution A to take effect
5) Rinsing the hair thoroughly
6) Applying chemical solution B
7) Allowing chemical solution B to take effect
8) Removing the curlers
9) Rinsing the hair
19) Drying the hair
[0003] The rinsing step 5) is critical as, if solution A is not completely rinsed away,
the waving will fail and the whole procedure have to be repeated. As complete rinsing
is so important a rinsing time of ten minutes is recommended and the hairdresser must
ensure that the most dense portions of hair receive most attention. Clearly the rinsing
step is tedious to perform, tending to lead to lapses of concentration on the part
of the hairdresser with the consequence that patches of hair may not be completely
rinsed and the waving fails.
[0004] Numerous devices have been proposed to reduce the labour involved in permanent waving
and in performing other hair treatments. These devices require the use of pumps, motors
or complicated mechanical movements in order to achieve the desired result; and in
most cases the use of guards or total enclosures for the head are necessary to prevent
splashing and fluid loss, in particular from fluid directed upwardly at the back of
the user's head.
[0005] According to the invention described in UK Patent Application No. 2 133 283 A these
problems were largely overcome by the provision of a hair rinsing device comprising
a basin for receiving the head of a person whose hair is to be rinsed, spray means
for forming a spray constituted by a plurality of individual streams of water and
comprising a number of ducts, each provided with a series of nozzles and each arranged
to be independently adjustable to a fixed position such that the whole area of hair
unobstructed by the floor of the basin is, in use, simultaneously exposed to said
spray.
[0006] Although this arrangement is generally satisfactory it has been found that with certain
head shapes and when using certain recent, very thick perm solutions, reliance could
not be placed on the hair itself to transmit rinsing water and thus rinse areas of
hair between the individual streams.
[0007] According to the present invention this drawback is overcome by the provision of
nozzles which are adjustable with respect to the ducts.
[0008] Preferably the ducts are constituted by rectangular-form hoops and are pivotally
mounted on the basin. Preferably again the nozzles are grouped in jet heads which
are linearly and/or rotationally adjustable with respect to the ducts.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment a weir extends across the bottom of the basin to form a
swirl-pool in which hair at the back of the head may lie for prolonged contact with
rinsing water.
[0010] With the use of the device according to the present invention all hair rinsing operations
may be performed within the basin and with the most efficient use of the available
water or solution.
[0011] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a plan of the basin of a hair rinsing device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II in Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is an elevation of a duct, on an enlarged scale and in partial section; and,
Figure 4 is a detail of a duct, being an enlarged fragmentary section on the line
IV-IV in Fig. 1.
[0012] The hair rinsing device shown in the drawings consists essentially of a basin 10
moulded from plastics material, and spray means (to be described later) mounted thereon.
[0013] The basin 10 is secured to a work surface 12 by bolts 14 and has an integral double
wall 16. At the projecting front end portion of the basin 10 the wall 16 is recessed
and lowered to provide a neck support 18. Across the central portion of the floor
two transverse ridges 20 extend inwardly to form at the front end portion of the basin
10 a swirl-pool area 22 from which water may flow through the run-away 24 defined
by the inner ends of the ridges 20 to an outlet 26 projecting through the work surface
12 and connected to a drain tube 28.
[0014] A water supply inlet connection 30 is mounted in the outer rear wall 16 and connected
by a branched primary duct 32 to four fixed hollow spigots 34 projecting through the
inner side wall of the basin 10, each of which rotatably receives a boss 36. Each
boss 36 has an radial bore for receiving one end of a rectangular form hoop duct 38
spanning the basin 10 and an axial bore to allow fluid communication between the spigot
34 and the radial bore. The other end of each hoop duct 38 is blanked off by being
located in a similar, but solid, boss 40 and spigot 42 mounted on the opposite inner
wall 16 of the basin 10.
[0015] On each of the radially-extending side portions 44 of each hoop duct 38 is slidably
and rotatably received a generally square-section jet head 46 having a hollow rubber
body 48 which is in fluid communication with the interior of the duct 38 through a
flow window 50. Inset into one face of the body 48 is a jet panel 52 having three
convexly-disposed longitudinal faces, each of which is apertured to form a line of
nozzles 54 therealong; the panels 52 are detachable for descaling. A similar, but
longer, jet head 56 is mounted on the intermediate portion 58 of each hoop duct 38
bridging-the two side portions 44.
[0016] For use the inlet connector 30 of the hair-rinsing device is connected to an adjustable-temperature
supply of water. The head of the user whose hair is to be washed is then placed face
upwards in the basin 10 with the neck resting on the neck support 18 and with the
hoop ducts 38 all positioned horizontally. After the water supply has been turned
on the hoop ducts 38 are pivoted upwardly roughly to the positions shown in Fig. 2
and the jet heads 46 are slid along the respective portions of the hoop ducts 38 and
rotated until the spray formed by the streams of water issuing through the nozzles
54 gives complete coverage of the exposed hair, depending on the head shape and hair
style. The saddle- form thickening 48a of each jet head body 48 facilitates the positioning
of the jet head by providing a finger grip and also a positive indication of the orientation
of the jets before the water is turned on. The head is allowed to remain in position
for the recommended rinse time, at the end of which the hair will be completely rinsed
and free of any previously applied chemical solution.
[0017] Rinsing water accumulating in the swirlpool area 22 provides a pool in which hair
at the back of the head can lie for continuous immersion: it will be appreciated that
the run-away 24 controls the flow of water through the swirlpool area 22 and promotes
a positive rinsing flow therethrough. The height of the wall 16 effectively confines
the water within the basin 10 and obviates the need for enclosing the head within
a hood.
[0018] The device may be modified by fitting process timers and/or an indicator to indicate
the state of neutralisation or cleanliness of the water draining from the hair. Provision
may also be made for the introduction of a neutralising agent into the water inlet.
1. A hair rinsing device comprising a basin for receiving the head of a person whose
hair is to be rinsed, spray means for forming a spray constituted by a plurality of
individual streams of water and comprising a number of ducts, each provided with a
series of nozzles and each arranged to be independently adjustable to a fixed position,
characterised in that the nozzles are adjustable with respect to the ducts.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the nozzles are grouped in jet heads which
are linearly adjustable with respect to the ducts.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the nozzles are grouped in jet heads
which are rotationally adjustable with respect to the ducts.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which each jet head comprises a jet panel
having three convexly-disposed longitudinal faces.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each duct is constituted by
a hoop having two rectilinear side arms, each pivotally mounted at one end on the
basin, the radially outer ends being bridged by a rectilinear intermediate portion.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bottom of the basin is
provided with a weir forming, in use, a swirl-pool.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the weir is formed with a gap to provide
positively controlled out-flow of water.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a portion of the wall of the
basin is formed with a U-shaped profile for receiving the neck of the user, the remaining
wall portion being of sufficient height effectively to confine water within the basin.