BRUSH WITH RETRACTABLE BRISTLES

Abstract

 Brush for the hair, which comprises an outer main body with a handle and a head, an inner plate with bristles, the plate having the capacity to move in the longitudinal direction of the bristles, along a path between a position of use in which the bristles protrude from the head and a storage position in which the bristles are inside the main body, the head comprising for this purpose a wall with holes which allow said bristles to pass through as they move between the storage position and the position of use, the brush further comprising retention means for the inner plate, wherein the retention means comprise at least one actuatable part which is placed in the path of the plate, in such a way that, when said actuatable part is placed in the path, it prevents the plate from going from the position of use to the storage position and vice versa.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a brush for the hair, or hairbrush. It relates more specifically to a brush with retractable bristles.

[0002] The hair is a very important aspect of a person's appearance. One of the best known products for caring for the hair is brushes. The number of designs, embodiments or variants of hairbrushes is vast. Despite this, most of them have similarities. Hairbrushes tend to comprise a main body with a handle or shaft for grasping and a head with bristles which protrude from said head. Unlike a comb, the protruding bristles do not form a row, but are distributed all over a surface, resulting in a larger brushing surface.

[0003] One of the disadvantages encountered with most hairbrushes is that, precisely because of this configuration with bristles distributed all over a surface, they take up a considerable amount of space. This makes them less suitable for storage in small spaces, such as a drawer or a toilet bag. Another disadvantage is that, since the bristles are exposed and protruding, they are much more easily broken upon coming into contact with other elements. Yet another disadvantage found with most hairbrushes is that the hair tends to get caught up in the bristles, making cleaning difficult.

[0004] A number of hairbrushes aiming to overcome some of these disadvantages have been designed in the prior art.

[0005] Document ES1205236U discloses a brush with concealable bristles, which has a body divided into two main parts connected together and a movable inner plate on which the bristles are located and which comprises a handle on the side of the plate opposite that on which the bristles are located. The handle is used to move the plate and thus conceal the bristles inside the body. Although the bristles of the brush in document ES1205236U may be concealed, its configuration is such that, when the bristles are concealed, the handle protrudes from the body on the side opposite to the bristles and therefore the design is not optimal from the viewpoint of facilitating storage of the brush.

[0006] Document ES1172858U discloses a brush with bristles that can be concealed for the most part. As stated and as disclosed in the document, the tips of the bristles still protrude, at least partially, from the main body. The brush of document ES1772858U has a button on the part opposite the bristles. As in document ES1205236U, this button may be positioned flush, or protrude, depending on the position in which the bristles are placed. The brushes of both of these documents have disadvantages, namely the fact that the brush looks different to conventional brushes without retractable bristles and the switch from the position of use to the storage position, in which the bristles are retracted, is difficult.

[0007] It is an aim of the present invention to disclose a hairbrush which does not have the disadvantages mentioned above.

[0008] More particularly, the present invention discloses a brush for the hair which comprises an outer main body which in turn comprises a handle and a head. Said brush further comprises an inner plate with bristles, with the capacity to move inside the outer body in the direction of the bristles, and elastic means for pushing out the plate. The inner plate may move along a path in the longitudinal direction of the bristles between a position of use in which the bristles protrude from the head and a storage position in which the bristles are inside the body. For this purpose, the head comprises a wall with holes which allow said bristles to pass through as they move between the storage position and the position of use. The brush further comprises retention means for the inner plate, which comprise at least one actuatable part which is placed in the path of the plate, in such a way that, when said actuatable part is placed in the path, it prevents the plate from going from the position of use to the storage position and vice versa. Preferably, said actuatable part may pivot with respect to a pin between a retention position in which a portion of the actuatable part is placed in the path of the plate, preventing said plate from moving along said path, and a plate release position in which the actuatable part is not placed in the path.

[0009] Having a movable inner plate with the bristles combined with holes for the passage of said bristles allows the bristles to be hidden or retracted completely inside the main body, which is preferable. This means that the brush is much more compact in its storage position, and therefore takes up less space when it is put away and is in turn more robust, with respect to impacts or any other forces, since the bristles, or any other moving part, do not protrude with respect to the body. Furthermore, the means for retention of the plate make it possible to retain the plate in its position of use and the brush may thus be used normally in said position of use. When placed in the path, the retention means make it possible to lock both the storage position and the position of use, without complicating the passage from one position to the other and, moreover, allow independent actuation which is easier for the user. Furthermore, having a part actuatable with respect to a pin between a retention position and a release position, means that this part has a very simple yet very effective retention action, being placed in and/or removed from the path of movement of the plate very easily.

[0010] Preferably, the actuatable part has elastic means which push the part into the retention position or into the release position. Thus, the actuatable part, automatically and without any action on the part of the user, tends to take up a default position. More preferably, the elastic means which act on the actuatable part push the part into the retention position. Thus, the actuatable part, automatically, takes up the retention position, locking the brush in the position - for use or storage - in which it already is, and therefore preventing it from going from one position to the other accidentally.

[0011] Preferably, the brush comprises elastic means which act on the plate so as to bring it from the storage position into the position of use or vice versa. The elastic means cause the brush to go automatically to the position of use or to the storage position, which in turn means that actuation of the retention means causes the brush to automatically change position to the position into which it is pushed by the elastic means of the plate. More preferably, the elastic means of the plate push the plate into the position of use.

[0012] Preferably, in the retention position, the actuatable part leaves a first space between the wall with holes of the head and said actuatable part, making it possible to house the plate in said space, without allowing the plate to move when it is in the position of use.

[0013] Also preferably, in the retention position, the actuatable part leaves a second space between the actuatable part and a wall of the head opposite the wall with holes such that it prevents the plate from moving in the storage position.

[0014] The fact that, when said at least one actuatable part is in the retention position, the gap between the wall with holes and said at least one actuatable part is just sufficient to house the plate means that said plate is retained in such a way that the brush may be used with the bristles extended entirely normally, without any undesired movement of the plate or the bristles which could prove annoying.

[0015] Furthermore, if the gap is just sufficient for the plate to also be retained between said at least one actuatable part and the wall opposite the wall with holes, in other words the wall at the back or rear of the head of the brush, the bristles may be fixedly hidden when the plate is retained in its storage position. This helps to prevent the plate from rattling or moving inside the main body even when the brush is moved.

[0016] In one preferred embodiment, said at least one actuatable part has an actuation surface which is exposed on the outside on a side of the main body, such that said surface forms a portion of the contour of the body in such a way that a user can actuate the part by pressing on a point of said actuation surface.

[0017] The fact that said actuatable part has an exposed surface means that the actuatable part which prevents or allows movement of the plate and the part actuated are one and the same. This avoids the use of unnecessary parts or components in the mechanism, making it more simple. Having a more simple mechanism makes it easier to assemble and may even help to reduce its cost. Furthermore, the fact that the actuation surface is on the side of the body makes the brush more ergonomic, as the actuation surface is within easy reach of the fingers of the user, including during use.

[0018] Preferably, the elastic means of the actuatable part are positioned in such a way that they exert an action contrary to the actuation action caused by pressing on the actuation surface.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one part comprises a hole for receiving a pin belonging to the main body on which said at least one part pivots.

[0020] The pin with respect to which the actuatable part may pivot may be a physical pin, which extends from a structure forming part of the main body. Furthermore, said part may include a hole in which said physical pin is inserted, so as to thus pivot with respect to said pin. As mentioned above, these two features help, separately and in combination, to facilitate the configuration and design of the mechanism.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one pivoting part comprises clipping means for retaining said at least one part both in the retention position and/or in the release position.

[0022] The provision of clipping means for retaining the part in either of its positions facilitates better operation of the invention, retaining the pivoting part in one of its positions, or in both, so that the part does not change position inadvertently. An inadvertent change of position of the part would result in accidental release or retention of the plate, which would hinder the user in deciding when to release or retain the plate, and therefore could be detrimental to their experience.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, it comprises stops which limit the pivoting of the actuatable part between the retention position and the release position.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the main body comprises guides internally for guiding said movement of the plate between the position of use and the storage position.

[0025] Especially preferably, the inner plate may comprise a push-button to enable the user to push the plate from the position of use into the storage position. More preferably, said push-button may be an area of the plate without bristles. Even more preferably, said area may be positioned centrally with respect to the plate. Even more preferably still, said central area may comprise a protrusion which protrudes from the body of the brush in the position of use. Said protrusion facilitates the action of pushing by the user. Advantageously, the head of the brush has a hole allowing the push-button to pass through. This allows the user to access the push-button.

[0026] For a clearer understanding of the present invention, drawings illustrating embodiments of the invention are attached by way of explanatory but non-limiting example.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a brush according to the present invention, with the bristles in the position of use.

Figure 2 shows the brush of Figure 1, with the bristles in the storage position.

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view depicting the various components of the brush.

Figure 4 shows the components of Figure 3, from another point of view.

Figure 5 shows a view in side elevation, in cross section through the longitudinal median plane of the brush, depicting the internal components, with the bristles of the brush in the position of use.

Figure 6 shows a plan view from below, in cross section, with the brush in the position of use and the actuatable part in the retention position.

Figure 7 shows a view in front elevation, in cross section, with the brush in the position of use and the actuatable part in the retention position.

Figure 8 shows a view in side elevation, in cross section, with the brush in the storage position.

Figure 9 shows a view in front elevation, in cross section through the median plane of the head of the brush, with the bristles in the storage position and the actuatable part in the release position.

Figure 10 is a detail view of the elastic means of the actuatable parts of the brush shown in the examples, and a system for clipping said actuatable parts.

[0027] The figures illustrate an embodiment of a brush 1 according to the present invention.

[0028] As can be seen in Figure 1, the brush has, externally, a main body 10 with a head 11 and a handle 12. The main body 10 has an outer shell made up of a front part 101 and a back part 102. The bristles 141 of the brush 1 are, as shown, distributed over the front surface of the head 11. The bristles 141 start from inside the brush and pass through holes made in a wall 15 with holes which is arranged in the head 11, and more specifically in the portion of the head in the front part 101. in the centre of the distribution of bristles 141, the example shown has a push-button 142. On the sides of the main body 10, the brush has respective actuatable parts 16 for causing the bristles to emerge from inside the main body to take up the position shown in Figure 1.

[0029] Figure 2 shows the brush of Figure 1, with the bristles in the storage position. In the storage position, the bristles are not visible.

[0030] Figures 3 to 10 show various internal and external elements of the brush 1 of the example. Figures 3 and 4 show the various elements. Figures 5 to 7 are sectional views depicting the relative position of the various elements in the position of use and with the actuatable parts in the retention position. Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views depicting the relative position of the various elements in the storage position. For illustrative purposes, Figure 9 shows the actuatable part in the release position. Lastly, Figure 10 is a detail view of the elastic means of the actuatable parts and an example of a clipping device for the latter.

[0031] With reference to the figures, it can be seen that the bristles 141 are arranged such that they cover the surface of a plate 14 located inside the brush 1. in the centre of the plate is the push-button 142, the purpose of which is to enable the user to push the plate to go from the position of use, shown in Figure 1, to the storage position shown in Figure 2. The plate has elastic means which push it towards the position of use. In the example shown, the elastic means comprise springs 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d which are housed in corresponding housings 121 in the back part 102. The front part 101 also has guides 113, 114 which guide the movement of the plate 14 from the storage position, in which the plate is located at the bottom of the brush, close to or touching the main wall 15b of the back part 102, into the position of use in which the plate is located in the front or upper portion of the brush, close to or touching the wall 15a with holes for the bristles, located in the front part of the brush. For guiding purposes, the plate 14 comprises through holes 113', 114' interacting with the guides 113, 114. The elastic means of the example ensure that, in the absence of any other action, the bristles 141 are pushed permanently towards the position of use, in other words, protruding from the head 11 of the brush, as can be seen in Figure 1.

[0032] The example shown presents respective actuatable parts 16 which act in unison and have the function of preventing or allowing the plate to move from the storage position into the position of use and/or vice versa. To this end, the actuatable parts 16 are movable, such that they have a retention position, in which they prevent, as mentioned, the movement of the plate 14 and a release position in which the parts clear the path of the plate between the position of use and the storage position, or vice versa. In the case of the example, the two actuatable parts 16 are pivotable about corresponding pins 122, 122'. The pivoting movement about the corresponding pin 122, 122' places the corresponding blocking end 131 of each of the parts 16 in the path of the plate 14. in the example shown, the two parts share an elastic means, specifically a spring 17, the action of which causes the two actuatable parts 16 to pivot until the blocking ends 131 are placed in the path of the plate, such that the parts are in said retention position. The spring 17 is compressed between the two actuatable parts 16 and guided by respective studs 133 on each of the corresponding actuatable parts 16. Said studs 133 are arranged facing one another. The two actuatable parts 16 are mutually symmetrical, and therefore they move in unison, as if they were one. In the example shown, the pins 122, 122' about which the actuatable parts 16 move belong to the back part 102 of the brush, each part having respective holes 132 for receiving said pins 122, 122'. Alternatively, the pins could belong to the front part 101. Also alternatively, said pins could form part of the actuatable parts 16 and be housed in corresponding holes in either of the parts that make up the outer shell of the brush.

[0033] When the parts 16 are in the retention position they prevent movement of the plate 14, in such a way that the latter stays in its current position (storage position or deployed). In particular, the blocking ends 131 are placed in the path of the plate 14, as can be seen in Figures 6 and 7. When the parts are in the release position, the blocking ends 131 are housed in a space inside the brush in which they do not interfere with said path, as shown in Figure 9. Note that, in the example, the actuatable parts may be either in the release position or in the retention position, both with the plate and the bristles in the position of use and with the plate and the bristles in the storage position.

[0034] In the example, since the spring 17 pushes the actuatable parts 16 - and in particular their blocking ends 131 - into the retention position, said parts will prevent passage from the position of use to the storage position, and vice versa, in the absence of external action by the user.

[0035] This action may be performed by the user by pressing on the actuatable parts 16 on their corresponding actuation surfaces 161. Said actuation surfaces 161 are on the outside on the side of the brush 1. When they are pressed, action is exerted against the action of the spring 17, bringing the blocking ends out of the path of the plate 14. To prevent accidental actuation of the brush, each actuatable part 16 has a tab 134 which interacts with a clipping lip 151, engaging dimensionally with one another. This engagement means that it is necessary to exert a minimum force on the actuatable part in order for it to start moving. This feature associated with the tabs 134 is entirely optional. This feature may also be implemented in two different ways. According to a first mode of implementation, the spring exerts sufficient force to overcome the force necessary for each of the tabs 134 to get past the corresponding clipping lip 151, in such a way that when the user stops pressing on the actuation surfaces 161, the actuatable part 16 automatically returns to the retention position. According to a second mode of implementation, the spring does not exert sufficient force for the tabs 134 to get past the corresponding clipping lips 151. in this case, the user must exert an opposite action by pressing on the actuation parts via the outer end furthest away from the actuation surfaces 161, which in the figures of the example is the end closest to the head. The first mode of implementation is the preferred mode.

[0036] The brush 1 of the example works as described below.

[0037] Starting from the position of use shown in Figure 1, and with the actuatable parts in the release position, the user may place the brush in the storage position by pressing on the plate 14 via the push-button 142, with sufficient force to overcome the action of the elastic means of the plate (springs 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d). When the plate reaches the storage position, in the case of the example shown, the user must stop pressing on the actuatable parts, this causing the blocking ends to go into the retention position and prevent the plate from moving. The brush will thus stay in the storage position.

[0038] To bring the brush from the storage position into the position of use, the user must keep the actuatable parts pressed via their actuation surfaces 161 furthest from the head. This causes the blocking ends 131 to move back and clear the path of the plate between the storage position and the position of use. The springs 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d push the plate and this causes the bristles to emerge out through the corresponding holes in the wall 15a with holes of the brush 1. Likewise, the push-button 142 also emerges out through the corresponding hole 112. When the actuatable parts 16 cease to be pressed, the spring 17 returns them to the retention position, which retains the brush in the position of use. The brush is then ready for use.

[0039] Although the invention has been disclosed and described with reference to embodiments, it will be appreciated that these are non-limiting embodiments of the invention and therefore several different structural or other details could become obvious to a person skilled in the art after interpreting the subject matter disclosed in the present description, claims and drawings. In particular, in principle, all of the features of each of the various embodiments and alternatives disclosed and/or suggested may be combined with one another. Consequently, the present invention encompasses all variants and equivalents if they can be considered to fall within the broadest scope of the claims which follow.

Claims

1. Brush for the hair, which comprises an outer main body with a handle and a head, an inner plate with bristles, the plate having the capacity to move in the longitudinal direction of the bristles, along a path between a position of use in which the bristles protrude from the head and a storage position in which the bristles are inside the main body, the head comprising for this purpose a wall with holes which allow said bristles to pass through as they move between the storage position and the position of use, the brush further comprising retention means for the inner plate, characterized in that the retention means comprise at least one actuatable part which is placed in the path of the plate, in such a way that, when said actuatable part is placed in the path, it prevents the plate from going from the position of use to the storage position and vice versa.

2. Brush according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the actuatable part may pivot with respect to a pin, said part being able to pivot between a retention position in which a portion of the actuatable part is placed in the path of the plate, and a release position, in which the actuatable part is not placed in the path.

3. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuatable part has elastic means which push the part into the retention position or into the release position.

4. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises elastic means which act on the plate so as to bring it from the storage position into the position of use or vice versa.

5. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means of the plate push the plate into the position of use.

6. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means of the actuatable part push the part into the retention position.

7. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the retention position, the actuatable part leaves a first space between the wall with holes of the head and said actuatable part, making it possible to house the plate in said space, without allowing the plate to move when it is in the position of use.

8. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the retention position, the actuatable part leaves a second space between the actuatable part and a wall of the head opposite the wall with holes such that it prevents the plate from moving in the storage position.

9. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one actuatable part has an actuation surface which is exposed on the outside on a side of the main body, in such a way that a user can actuate the part by pressing on a point of said actuation surface.

10. Brush according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic means of the actuatable part are positioned in such a way that they exert an action contrary to the actuation action caused by pressing on the actuation surface.

11. Brush according to any of Claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said actuatable part comprises a hole for receiving a pin belonging to the main body on which said at least one part pivots.

12. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main body comprises guides internally for guiding said movement of the plate between the position of use and the storage position.

13. Brush according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner plate comprises a central area without bristles to enable a user to push the plate into the storage position.

14. Brush according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the centred area comprises a protrusion to facilitate said pushing.

15. Brush according to either of Claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the head has a hole to allow the user to access the central area in the position of use.

Drawing