Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Device with applicator having specific movement
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-06
2001-09-04
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Device with applicator having specific movement
C601S136000, C601S072000, C601S070000, C601S069000, C015S185000, C015S202000, C015S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283930
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is drawn to the field of hair care apparatus, and more particularly, to a novel travel massage brush.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Massage brushes are known to provide effective scalp massage to stimulate blood circulation to hair follicles. By doing so, hair receives vital nutrients necessary for healthy growth and a lustrous sheen. The massage action also helps to detangle the thickest hair without hair breakage and may be used for wet or dry hair.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,676,347; 2,806,235; 3,427,674; 3,870,056; 3,782,395; and 5,511,270 are exemplary of the heretofore known massage brushes. The '347 patent discloses a “military” style (handle-less) scalp brush having mating modules enclosing a power-operated reciprocating member, and a brush mounted thereto for back-and-forth reciprocating movement. The '235 patent discloses a vibrating hairbrush having a shell that houses a power-operated vibratory member and a brush attached to the bottom of the shell. In one embodiment, a handle rigidly extends from the shell, while another embodiment is “military” style. The '674 patent discloses a power-operated hairbrush having an elongated drive housing graspable by hand and a brush head mounted thereto that includes brush bristles positioned therein for extension and retraction thru aligned openings in the head as the latter rotates. The '056 patent discloses reciprocating combs in a hair detangling device having a rigid handle. The '395 patent discloses a battery-powered hair teasing device having an eccentric that rocks an extending brush member side-to-side about a pivot. The '270 patent discloses a battery-operated hair detangling brush having a brush head mounted for sliding and rotary motion relative to the axis of an elongated handle.
The utility of the heretofore known massage brushes has been limited in that they have been cumbersome to use and otherwise not compact; have required AC outlet access and otherwise have not been portable; their mechanisms have been complicated, and they have been composed of multiple, and thus costly, component parts; their bristles have been subject to crushing and otherwise have not been damage resistant; their brush heads have not been interchangeable; and/or once their brush-heads have been soiled with use, it has not been easy to clean their bristles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is one principal object of the present invention to provide a travel massage brush that is compact, portable, easy to use and maintain, and is damage resistant. In accord therewith, the disclosed travel massage brush includes a vibratory brush-head subassembly having outwardly extending bristles, a battery-powered vibratory motion imparter, and a user-accessible switch for actuating the vibratory motion imparter. The disclosed travel massage brush further includes a handle subassembly contoured to fit comfortably in the hand; and a mechanical articulation subassembly connecting the handle subassembly and the vibratory brush-head subassembly for motion between a closed position and an open position.
In the closed position, the handle subassembly covers the outwardly extending bristles of the vibratory brush-head subassembly, protecting them against unintentional damage, from lint and dirt pick-up, and from catching, for example, on the lining of a bag or luggage. In the open position, the handle subassembly extends from the vibratory brush-head subassembly serving as a user-manipulatable handle.
The travel massage brush of the present invention in its open condition is of compact size, comparable to that of a standard hair brush, and is selectably operable as a hair brush, as a vibrating hair brush, and as a massager. In its closed condition, the travel massage brush of the invention is of compact size comparable to that of a standard pocket comb, making it readily portable in bag or pocket, and is selectably operable as a massager.
In the preferred embodiment, the handle subassembly includes an elongated, generally cupshaped member defining a hollow that receives the bristles of the vibratory brush-head subassembly when it is in its closed position. A mirror member is mounted in the hollow of the elongated, generally cup-shaped member of the handle subassembly, which allows the user to groom themselves. At least a portion of the mirror member may be magnified to allow the user to better groom themselves.
In the preferred embodiment, the mechanical articulation includes a spring-biased pivot hinge pivotally connecting the handle subassembly and the vibratory brush-head subassembly for pivotal motion between the closed and opened positions. The spring imparts a bias that needs be overcome whenever it is moved from its open to its closed condition, and from its closed to its open condition.
It is another principal object of the present invention to provide a travel massage brush that is compact and portable, that has interchangeable heads, and that has easy to clean bristles. In accord therewith, the disclosed travel massage brush of the present invention includes a brush-head subassembly comprised by a vibratory base member having a battery-powered vibratory motion imparter, a user-accessible switch for activating the vibratory motion imparter, and an exposed face for receiving a detachable carrier; and is further comprised by a detachable carrier removably mounted, preferably for sliding motion, to the exposed face of the vibratory base member. The detachable carrier is easy to clean whenever it is detached from the exposed face of the vibratory brush-head subassembly, and it is easy to replace it after cleaning.
The detachability of the detachable carrier permits interchange of different carriers on the exposed face of the vibratory brush-head subassembly. In the preferred embodiment, the detachable carrier is a nylon bristle carrier, although a natural bristle carrier and/or, among others, a massage finger carrier could be employed.
In the preferred embodiment, the detachable carrier includes a pliant substrate and the battery powered vibratory motion imparter includes a battery receiving compartment integrally formed along the exposed face of the vibratory base member. Whenever the bristle carrier is in place on the vibratory brush-head subassembly, the pliant substrate captures the battery and helps to retain it in the battery receiving compartment, dampens vibration whenever the brush-head subassembly is operative in massage mode, and helps to lock-out moisture damage to the vibratory motion imparter and the other components carried in the base member of the vibratory brush-head subassembly. In addition, the curvature of the captured battery helps to impart to the pliant substrate, and therewith to the bristles carried thereby, the curvature characteristic of the vibratory brush head subassembly. In this manner, the pliant substrate of the carrier performs multiple functions, resulting in a novel brush-head subassembly that is simple in construction with attendant lowered manufacturing costs.
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Anderson Troy Gene
Purvis Grant David
Raffo David M.
Vandenbelt Rudy Anthony
Brown Michael A.
Durigon Albert Peter
Headwaters Research & Development Inc.
Koo Benjamin K.
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