US2594721A - Applicator for dye and the like - Google Patents

Description

F. E. BEEBE APPLICATOR FOR DYE AND THE LIKE April 29, v1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed April 9, 1949 Nm; bm,

W5/WOR HMM/CK E. 35555 TTORA/ff April 29, 1952 F. E. BEEBE APPLICATOR FOR DYE THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SIiEET 2 Filed April 9, 1949 310mg the line Il-I I of 112 i s,atop plan view of ogneendof the novel Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLICATOR FOR DYE AND THE LIKE Fredrick E. Beebe, Willoughby, Ohio Application April 9, 1949, Serial N o. 86,921

4 Claims. l

The invention relates to applicator means for simultaneously combing the hair and applying treating iluid thereto. It is particularly adapted "to the application of hair dye to the hair while protecting the scalp from discharge of dye thereon.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial N o. 667 ,260, led May 3, 1946, now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means associated with a hair comb for retaining a quantity of fluid when the comb is notV in use, and for continuously discharging a fresh quantity of fluid adjacent the comb teeth as the previously discharged liuid is removed by the combing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel comb ofthe type described wherein a liquid holding reservoir runs longitudinally of the comb and communicates with a Wick-receiving channel so constructed that a Wick-inserting and Wick-removing tool may be passed into the reservoir.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel reinforced Wick for use "in a comb of the type'described.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent I from a study of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of the invention in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional View through 'a hair'comb embodying my invention, the parts being shown in side elevation;

Figs. 2 and 3 are elevational views from respectively the left and right ends of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively' on'lines 4 4 and 5-5 'of Figi;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view generally similar to Fig. 4, but showing a slightly modied form of the invention; Fig. 7 is a longitudinally extending sectional View through a inodied form of my device showing an improved wick and wick-inserting tool which has moved the wick partially into its receiving channel; Fig. 8 is a sectional 3 8 of Fig. 7 but showing the wick and insertv ing "tool in their fully inserted position;

iFig. Y9 is a sectional view taken at the right hand end of Fig. 7 and showing a tool in position to vremove the wick;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1l is a transverse sectional view taken Fig. 9; While View taken along the line wick showing the manner of gripping the same with the inserting tool.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a hair comb body II) having the usual series of spaced teeth I I. The comb body is provided with a longitudinal trough or channel I2 opening towards the teeth, and, in the embodiment shown, communicating with the inner ends of the spaces I3 between the teeth. The comb is further provided with a handle portion I II connected with the comb by means of a neck I5. In the embodiment shown the neck terminates in a threaded socket IS and the handle I4 has a complementary threaded plug I1 seatable in the socket.

The handle carries a fluid receptacle or bulb which, as here shown, is made of rubber or similar resiliently yieldable and leak-proof material. The bulb is provided with a discharge neck I9 surrounding andgri'pping a hollow nipple 20 attached to the handle. Said nipple is in communication with channel I2 through a passageway 22 extending centrally through plug Il. At its right end the bulb I3 has an intake spout 24 provided with an intake .port 25 extending therethrough. The spout is provided with a removable closure member, such as screw cap 26.

It will be apparent that the bulb I3 may be nlled in the conventional manner by compressing its resilient walls and inserting intake spout 24 into the treating fluid, thereafter permitting the fluid to be sucked into the expanding bulb. A check valve 2l within nipple 2!) prevents reverse flow of fluid or air through channel I2 and passageway 22 into bulb I8.

Seated in channel l2 is a wick S which lies partly in the channel and extends partly outwardly into the inner ends of the spaces I 3 between the teeth, as best seen in Figs. l and 5. When it is desire-fl to use the applicator, the bulb I8 is -compressed so as to discharge a quantity of iluid through passageway 22 to wick 39. During the operation of combing the hair, the fluid is transferred to the hair from the exposed portions of the wick, being continuously replaced by fresh fluid from the body of the wick and its feeding channel.

In order to insure an even distribution of the fiuid'to the wick 39, a longitudinal bored aperture 3| is provided immediately adjacent and parallel to channel I2, the aperture communicating with the channel through a necked slot 32. The fluid first completely lls the unobstructed aperture or reservoir portion SI when the bulb i8 is slightly compressed, and thereafter the fluid flows to. thepwick through slot 32. As will be seen reference to Fig; l, the space abetweenthe inner end or plug Il and the inner face of socket IG constitutes a header space communicating both with channel l2 and with aperture 3l.

Fig. 6 shows a slightly modified embodiment of the invention wherein the wick has incorporated therein a stiiening strip 34 of metal or other suitable material. The strip extends longitudinally throughout substantially all of the length of the wick. The practical advantage of strip 34 is that it aids in the insertion of the wick in channel I2. Such aid will be appreciated when the wick material is a snug lit in the channel.

The advantage of a structure of the nature just described will be particularly apparent in connection with its use for applying dye fluid to the hair. As is well-known to those who have attempted to use hair dye, one of the disadvantages of the operation lies in the fact that it is diiicult to evenly distribute the dye, and consequently the dye has a tendency to ow inwardly s over the scalp. This results in imparting to the scalp a disagreeable color which detracts from the natural appearance of the scalp and hair. When dye is applied by means o the device just described, substantially all of the dye is applied e evenly to the hair and very little or none comes in contact with the scalp.

If the bulb I8 is of non-resilient material, it will act as a dye reservoir and reed to wick 33 if ball check 21 is omitted. But I prefer the y.'

positive feed provided when bulb IB is of rubber or the like.

A modied form of my 7 to 1l inclusive. In this device is shown in Figs. form, the comb 35 has a plurality of parallel teeth 3E; in the usual manner. Extending longitudinally through the comb is a reservoir 31 which is somewhat of a keyhole shape as more clearly shown in Figs. 10 and ll. It includes a generally cylindrical reservoir proper 31a and a depending trough 31h which is cut through the bases of the teeth 36 as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The reservoir 31 communicates at the right hand end oi Fig. 7 with a recess 38 which may be threaded to receive a rubber bulb I4 like that described in connection with Fig. 1, or the rubber bulb may have a force i'lt in the recess 38. The reservoir portion 31a is large enough to receive a wick-inserting tool 39 embracing a reinforced wick construction as shown in Figs. 'I and 8, as will be later more fully described.

The present invention also includes a novel form of wick for use in the comb just described. In this form of wick, a strip of stili reinforcing material 40 is embraced by wicking material 4l which is folded in U-form so as to extend down one side of the strip 40, fold under the bottom.

and extend up the other side. strip 49 is of a material which is readily perforated by the needle of a sewing machine of standard character so that the wicking may be secured to the strip 40 by a line of stitching 42. It will be noted that the width of the strip 40 when measured in the general direction of the plane of teeth 36 is substantially equal to the depth or the reservoir 31a plus the trough 31h when measured in the same direction minus the thickness of the wicking. This is clearly seen in Figs. 10 and 11. The line of stitching 42 is positioned to lie near that side of the reservoir 31a which is nearer to the channel 31h. In fact, in the form shown, it is approximately along the zone where the reservoir 31a meets the trough 31h. This leaves free edges Ma along the top of the wicking parallel tothe upper edge of the Preferably, the I portion passing through the strip 40 for insertion of the tool 39 as will presently appear.

For inserting and removing the wick in the comb structure, I provide the special tool 39 mentioned above. This comprises a handle portion 39a .having a bifurcated end including the two arms 33h and 39e extending from the handle. A cheap form of this device is provided by bending a strip of metal back upon itself in one continuous form to provide the parts 39a, 33h and 39e. A sleeve 39d may then be slipped upon the bifurcated end to maintain the grip of these ends on the wick between them. The manner of gripping the wick for inserting the same in the comb will be clearly seen in Figs. 7, 8, 10 and 12. The tool 39 is applied to the wick as shown in Fig. l2. The bifurcated ends 39h and 39o are spread apart to receive the reinforcing strip 40 between them. The tool 33 is applied to the strip 40 along its upper edge as clearly shown in Fig. 10 and above the line of stitching 42. The lips 41a of the upper end of the wicking part easily to permit this operation. The tool and wick are then inserted longitudinally into the aperture in the comb as shown in Figs. "I and 8. The sleeve 33d pressing against the end of the strip 40 as shown in Fig. 8 shoves the wick home to its iinal position as shown there.

The removal of the wick is illustrated in Fig. 9 using the longer arm 39h of the tool 39. This longer arm has its tip end turned over as indicated at 39e to provide a short hook. The strip 40 has an aperture 40a drilled through it at the end nearer the mouth 38 oi the comb. This opening may have registering openings through the wicking 4l although this is not necessary as the lips 4ta may be parted to permit the insertion of the hook 39e through the opening 40a as shown in Fig. 9. A pull on the wick then removes it from the comb. It will be noted that the opening 40a is located abovethe line of stitching 42 for easy access in removal. The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive is similar to that of my rst described form. Liquid to be applied to the hair may be placed in the rubber bulb i4 or a similar bulb which is attached to the mouth 38 oi the comb 35. A small amount of the liquid may then be squeezed into the reservoir portion 31a. where it will get into the wicking M and be carried to the bases of the teeth 36 for direct contact with the `hair as the comb is drawn through the same. At the same time, I have provided a wick with its central reinforcing strip 40 and a line of stitching 42 attaching the wicking to the reinforcement so that the wicking does not ball up or get out of place in use. At the same time, the reservoir 31 is made large enough to receive the tool 39 gripping the strip 40 for insertion of the wick, as otherwise users would have diiculty in making efficient use of my invention. The removal of the wick is very easy as illustrated in Fig. 9.

What I claim is:

1. A comb for the purpose described comprising a unitary comb body provided with a series of spaced teeth extending from one side thereof, said body and teeth lying generally in the same plane, said body having a passageway extending longitudinally through the central portion thereof, said passageway being of substantially uniform section throughout its length, said passageway being generally of key-hole form in section and having a generally cylindrical portion communicating with a trough portion, said trough bases 'of the comb teeth and communicating directly with said teeth, and a wick lying in both portions of said passageway, said wick having a sheet of wicking folded in U-form about a strip of stiff reinforcement, said trough portion being of a width to snugly receive said wick and said cylindrical portion being Wider than said trough portion to receive said wick plus an inserting instrument.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein a row of stitching secures said sheet of wicking to said reinforcement, said row of stitching extending generally parallel to, and on the trough portion side of, the axis of said cylindrical portion.

3. A wick for use in a comb of the type described and comprising an elongated rectangular flat strip of stiff reinforcement, and a sheet of wicking folded over one of the longitudinal edges of said reinforcement and secured thereto.

4. A wick for use in a comb of the type delscribed and comprising an elongated rectangular flat strip of stiff reinforcement, and a sheet of wicking folded over one of the longitudinal edges of said reinforcement, portions of said wicking extending along both flat sides of said strip, and

-a row of stitching parallel to said one longitudinal edge and securing said reinforcement.

wicking portions to said FREDRICK E. BEEBE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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