US2806235A - Vibratory hair brush - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1957 R. M. CARSTAIRS ET AL 2,806,235

VIBRATORY HAIR BRUSH Filed July 9, 1953 J H' R y M- cdrsfa/fj K a/esfe g0/7f7//o mvEwToR;

ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice VIBRATORY HAIR BRUSH Roy M. Carstairs and Oreste Yannello, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application July 9, 1953, Serial No. 366,962

2 Claims. (Cl. 1522) It is an object of this invention to provide a vibratory hair brush having a shell and a bristle-bearing portion de'tachably secured thereto.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a brush as aforesaid in which the vibrating mechanism is secured to the shell.

The above and other objects will be made clear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away of the improved device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is an end elevation partially in section on the line 33 of Figure 1 and partly broken away; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a military type brush utilizing the invention.

Stimulation of the scalp by means of vibration has long been recognized as beneficial in promoting circulation of blood in the scalp. Actually, much the same effect can be attained by prolonged brushing with the added advantage of the removal of dandruff and other foreign matter.

The present invention combines both actions, in that a singularly effective vibrator is secured immediately to the back of the bristle-bearing portion of a hair brush. Thus in the normal course of brushing 'ones hair, dandruff is both loosed and removed and the scalp is stimulated without resort to protracted brushing.

Referring now to Figure 1 we show a hair brush having a handle portion 12 and a bristle-bearing portion 14 to one side of which conventional tufts of bristles 16 are conventionally secured. The bristle bearing portion 14 is made of any suitable, preferably non-metallic substance such as glass or porcelain. The opposite side of the bristle-bearing portion 14 has an upstanding flange 18. If desired, and for heavy duty this could be made solid across the entire area of the bristle-bearing portion 14. A shell 20, preferably metal, fits the flange 18 and is secured thereto by cap screws 22. Obviously the shell 20 could be secured to the flange 18 by other means, as rivets, dimples or by the formation of a bayonet joint. The engagement of the shell 20 with the flange 18 secures the two units against lateral, mutual displacement and also predetermines the clearance between the vibrating armature members 38 and the upper surface of the backing member 14. The cap screws 22 or their equivalent are required to act only in shear and only to resist vertical separation of the shell 20 and the backing member 14.

A conventional appliance cord 24 enters the shell through a conventional bushing 26 and is connected to the poles of an electromagnet 28 through a conventional switch 30. Screws 32 pass through the shell 20 and engage tapped holes in flanges 34 of the electromagnet 28. A spring 36 has its free ends secured between the shell and the flanges 34 by the screws 32. This spring passes between a pair of armature members 38 to which the spring is secured by rivets 40, thus providing in effect 2,806,235 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 spring suspension at each end of the armature members 38 When the appliance cord 24 is plugged in and the switch 30 turned to operating position the armature 38 with each pulsation of the current will be drawn toward the electromagnet 28. The spring 36 is designed to have resonance at the intended frequency of the magnet 28, which normally will be sixty cycles per second. This resonance brings about a greater amplitude of movement of the armature 28 and therefore a more intense vibrational effect than ordinarily would be the case. However, the precise frequency in the case of alternating current is immaterial, and quite readily, by the addition of a make and break contact to provide a pulsating current, direct current can be used as the supply.

It is to be noted that the tufts 16 are divergent outwardly from the under surface of the bristle-bearing portion 14. The action of the vibrating armature 38 is normal to the plane of the bristle-bearing portion 14. The vibrator effect, therefore, is to spread and diverge the tufts of bristles 16, whereby to intensify dandruif-loosening and scalp-stimulating properties of the device by a lateral action of the bristles.

It is to be noted that the vibrational energy is imparted primarily and directly to the bristle-bearing portion 14 and only incidentally to the handle portion 12, thus making the device much more comfortable for the user.

Precisely what constitutes a benefit of brushing the hair as distinct from brushing the scalp is not exactly known, though the fact that such brushing action is beneficial is usually accepted. Demonstratively, the present invention (due to the vibrating action) will produce the same effect on the hair with fewer brushing strokes than is the case with a nonvibrating brush.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a military type of brush in which the shell 20 constitutes the handle. The appliance cord 24 and a switch 30 are provided as in the figures discussed herein above. Brushes of the type shown in Figure 4 ordinarily will be used in pairs, in which case it may be convenient to supply in addition to switch 30, another switch 31the two switches being interconnected in parallel with one another on well known principles so that the vibrator may be started by throwing either switch, to use opposite brushes. This arrangement makes it immaterial whether either brush be used in the right or left hand.

While various constructional details have been illustrated and described, the invention is not to be limited to such details but only as set forth in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vibratory brush comprising: a hollow shell having an open side and a top wall opposite said open side; an electromagnet secured to said top wall, said magnet having a plurality of poles, said poles being directed downwardly from said top wall; resilient means secured to said top wall; an armature suspended from said resilient means in a position below and normally spaced from the poles of said electromagnet; a backing member having an upper portion sized and shaped to fit the interior of said open side of said shell and to form a complete closure therefor, said backing member having a lower portion providing a bristle bearing face; bristles mounted in said face; means detachably securing said upper portion Within said open side of said shell and an electrical connection for energizing said electromagnet to cause vibration of said armature, said securing means acting in shear to prevent vertical separation of said shell and said backing member.

2. A vibratory brush as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower portion of the backing member projects laterally beyond the upper portion and coacts with the rim of the 7 A 3 shell to enforce a clearance between the upper portion and the armature in its lowermost position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,281 3038' Aug. 11, 1931 1,867,896 Soss July 19, 1932 2,412,093 Minnenberg Dec. 3, 1946 4 Robey Aug. 10, 1948 McCready Mar. 22, 1949 McCready Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Ian. 3, 1938 Italy Aug. 12, 1927 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1952

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