US2856918A - Hair and scalp treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 21, 1958 1 c. KINGERY ETAL HAIR AND SCALP IREATING APPARATUS Filed July S, 1956 III).

' Invent-ans:

LIHIG. N 3 C. 'kmgevy A Dqvvd Tpbaker Unite States This invention relates generally to hair and scalp treating apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for performing shampoo, massage and like operations on the hair and scalp.

Heretofore shampooing, dyeing, massage and like treatments of the hair and scalp generally have been carried out manually, both when done in the home and when atent done by barbers, beauticians and other professional hairdressers. In the home such treatments are at best tedious and time-consuming, and to the professional hairdresser the necessity to provide these services seriously detracts from the business profit picture. Such services require the time and attention of the hairdresser to work which does not fully utilize his talents and training, and which therefore can not be charged for at the same rates as other services. Further, shampoo and like treatments as conventionally carried out are tiring to the hairdresser and may be unpleasant to the customer by reason of the necessary moves from wash to rinse stations, the postures necessary to be assumed, and the irritability of certain shampoo preparations to the eyes and ears.

Accordingly, the present invention has asv its principal object the provision of new and improved apparatus for performing shampoo, dyeing, massage and the like operations on the hair and scalp automatically, with minimum time and labor of the operator and minimum discomfort to the subject.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in apparatus for treating the hair and scalp, of massaging finger elements actuated by pulsating fluid pressure in a manner to closely duplicate the action of, manual massage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide new and improved hair and scalp treating apparatus adapted to both home and professional use, and characterized by optimum simplicity of structure and economy of manufacture.

Briefly, the hair and scalp treating apparatus of the invention comprises a generally hemispherical or similarly shaped hood element adapted to be fitted over the subjects head and to seal thereto about the periphery of the hood. The interior surface of the hood elementiis provided with a plurality of orifices through which may be directed streams of shampoo liquid, rinse water or other fluent material suitable for use in treating the hair and scalp, these fluids being supplied sequentially if desired. The hood interior also is provided with a plurality of hollow finger-like massage elements fabricated of a thereby closely duplicate the massaging action character- I istic of manual massage. This massaging action, coupled with the uniformly distributed flow of shampoo and rinse fluids, provides a thorough washing action with minimum time and attention of the operator and minimum discomfort to the subject. 3

The invention and its objects, features and advantages will be more fully understood by reference to the ap-. pended claims and the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1

Figure l is a sectional view of apparatus in accordance with the invention, the subjects head outline being shown in phantom and certain auxiliary apparatus being shown diagrammatically;

Figures 2 and 3' are sectional views of massaging finger elements suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1; and

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views of two alternative embodiments of the apparatus of Figure 1.

With continued reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate like parts, the apparatus of Figure 1 comprises a generally hemispherical hood element 10 adapted to fit over the users head and scalp and to be supported in such position as by a boom 12 pivotally carried on a floormounted pedestal 14 or other suitable support;

As shown, hood element 10 comprises three similarly shaped shell members 16, 18 and 20 maintained in nested,

elements 22 more specifically described hereinafter with particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, which illustrate suitable constructions of the massage elements.

The innermost shell member 20 also has spaced over the surface thereof a plurality of orifices 24 through which liquid under pressure in the space 26 between that shell member and the next outer shell member 18 is directed onto the users hair and scalp. Liquid may be supplied to this space 26 by means of a fitting 28 which extends through the center and outer shell members 16 and 18, and which may be sealed thereto as by threading as shown. Fitting 28 connects through tubing 30 to a supply of shampoo, rinse water or other hair and scalp treating fluid under pressure.

In the illustrated embodiment, this shampoo and rinse supply takes the form of a hot-and-cold water mixing valve 32, which preferably is thermostatically controlled, supplying water of proper temperature to a mixing chamber 34. During the washing operation, shampoo or other scalp treating fluid is supplied from a reservoir 36 to mixing chamber 34, where it blends with water from valve 32 and passes on through tubing 30, fitting 28 and orifices 26 onto the subjects scalp. Orifices 26 preferably are uniformly distributed over the interior surface of hood element 10 so as to uniformly spray the shampoo and other fluids, to thus aifordthorough washing and rinsing action throughout the entire working area.

A drain connection may be provided comprising a fitting 38 extending through'the hood 10 and opening into the space between the'inermost shell member 20 and the usershead. This fitting-and'itsconnected tubing serve to drain away the Wash and rinse fluids which accumulate in the lower portion of the hood. 7 V As' noted above, the finger-like massage elements ,22 are pressure actuated to provide a massage *actio-nmesembling that normally obtained manually. To this end, a pulsating fluid pressure sourceis connected tothe space 40 between the center and outer shellmembers 16'and 18, which space communicates with the hollow interior of each of the massage elements 22 through a bore formed in:the massage member mounting stem 42 as will later be more fully described. The supply'ofpressure fluid to the massage elements may be either liquid or gaseous, it being only necessary that thefluid. pressure I fluctuate cyclically either above or below atmospheric.

J While for certain applications it may be preferable to utilize the system water supply as the source of fluid pressure for actuating the massage elements, compressed air is generally to be preferred because it affords better control and a more natural massaging action.

As shown, the compressed air supply 44 is connected through a pulsator device 46 to the massage elements, this pulsator serving to transform the constant pressure output of compressor 44 to the cyclically varying pressure requ red by the massage elements. Since the construction of pulsator 46 forms no part of the present in-v vention and such devices are well known and commercially available, the pulsator construction will not be further described herein.

Referring now to Figure 2, the massage element shown in this figure comprises a stem 42 exteriorly threaded to provide threaded connection to the center and inner shell members 18 and 20 (Fig. 1). Stem 42 is provided with a central bore 50 opening into the hollow interior of the massage element, which as shown is formed with a plurality of fingers 52, 53 and 54 branching outwardly from the upper end of the massage element. These fingers preferably are integrally formed of an elastic material such, for example, as rubber which is capable of expanding and contracting in response to variations of fluid pressure within the massage element. Due to the shape and disposition of fingers 52--54, their outer ends also move laterally with expansion and contraction of the massage element, in a manner to closely simulate the action of manual massage.

This massaging action may in some cases be enhanced by embedding springs within the fingers of the massage element as illustrated in Figure 3. As there shown, the massage element 56 has embedded in each of its fingers 58 a coil spring 60 which adds to the natural resilience of the material of which the massage element fingers are formed. These springs 60 may also serve to maintain the fingers 58 in fully contracted position except when expanded by increasing fluid pressure, which is of advantage in that the hood may be more easily fitted to the users head when the massage elements are fully contracted.

With reference .again to Figure 1, hood element and the several shell members 1640 of which'it is formed may be fabricated of metal, plastic or other suitable material, plastic being preferred by reason of its relatively light weight. The hood may if desired be fabricated of a material having a degree of flexibility, so that it better adapts to the shape of the users head. In any event, the hood should be shaped generally to conform to average head contours and normal hair lengths particularly at the rear of the hood.

T o prevent escape of wash, rinse and other fluids from beneath the hood, it preferably is provided with a seal ring 62 disposed about its periphery in sealing engagement with the users head through an expansible seal portion 64. This seal structure may be secured to the hood element as by spring clips 66 spaced about the periphery of the hood, and is formed of rubber or like elastic material so as to be expansible when subjected to fluid pressure. Such pressure may as shown be provided from the same source as for the massage elements, control of seal pressure being afiorded by a three-way valve 70 interposed in the conduit 68 conveying pressure to the seal. 7

Figure 4 illustrates a modified formof the invention wherein the hood element comprises only two shell - memhere 72 and 74 maintained in spaced relation as by a spacer member 76. Pulsating fluid pressure fitting 48 is connected into the space between the two shell members and actuates the massage elements 22 in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to Figures 1-3. The drain fitting 38 and-seal 62 shown in Figure 4also are generally similar to those previously described.

The wash and rinse fluid supply arrangement differs, however, in that the supply fitting 78 of Figure 4 connects into a distribution chamber 89 disposed between the two shell members 72 and 74. A plurality of small tubes 82 connect into this distribution chamber at one end, and at their other ends open through the inner shell member 72 to direct a uniformly distributed spray of fluid onto the users hair and scalp.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the hood element 84 is formed of a single piece of plastic as shown. The pulsating pressure fluid supply for actuating the massage elements 22 connects to those elements through fitting 48 and a plurality of passages 86 integrally formed in the plastic of which the hood element is formed. A similar fitting (not shown) and plurality of passages 88 provide uniform distribution of wash, rinse and other hair and scalp treating fluids to the space enclosed by the hood.

It will be understood that while only particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in the foregoing, the invention is susceptible to many other modifications, and the appended claims therefore. are intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

'1. Hair and scalp treating apparatus comprising a hood element adapted to be fitted over the scalp area and to substantially cover the same, first passage means in said hood element terminating in inwardly directed orifices disposed in spaced relation over the interior surface of said hood element, inlet fitting means for connecting said first passage means to a supply of scalp treating fluid under pressure, a plurality of massage elements mounted in said hood element projecting inwardly from the interior surface thereof, said massage elements being of hollow elongated form and elastically deformable when subjected to internal fluid pressure, pulsating fluid pressure supply means, and second passage means in said hood element connecting the interior of each said massage element to said pulsating fluid pressure supply means.

2. Hair and scalp treating apparatus comprising a hood element adapted to be fitted onto the users head and to substantially cover the scalp area thereof when so fitted, a plurality of massage elements mounted in said hood element and projecting inwardly from the interior surface thereof, said massage elements being of hollow elongated form and elastically deformable when subjected to internal fluid pressure, a pulsating fluid pressure source, and passage means in said hood element opening into the interior of each said massage element and connectedto said source of pulsating fluid pres sure whereby the pulsating fluid pressure is eflective to induce alternate expansion and contraction of said massage elements.

-3.'Hair and scalp'treating apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each said massage element includes spring means cooperative therewith to normally maintain the massage element in contracted position.

4. Hair and scalp treating apparatus comprising a hood element adapted to be fitted onto the users head and to substantially cover the scalp area thereof when so fitted, a plurality of hollow filfger-like massage elements elastically deformable laterally under fluid pressure mounted in said hood .element so as to project inwardly f om th inte or urf c thereof, puls t fluid p essu e s pply mean and pa a means in sa hood l m n connecting the interior of each said massage element to said pulsating fluid pressure supply means thereby to induee alternate expansion and contraction of said massage elements.

'5. Hair and scalp treating apparatus as defined inclaim 4--wherein each said massage element comprises a pluralityof hollow fingers branching outwardly from a common stem connecting the hollow interiors thereof to said passage means.

6. Hair and scalp treating apparatus comprising a hood element adapted to cover the scalp area of the users head, first passage means in said hood element terminating in inwardly directed orifices disposed in spaced relation over the interior surface of said hood element, inlet fitting means for connecting said first passage means to a supply of scalp treating fluid under pressure, a plurality of hollow branched massage elements elastically deformable laterally when subjected to internal fluid pressure mounted in said hood element so as to project inwardly from the interior surface thereof, pulsating fluid pressure supply means, and second passage means in said hood element connecting the hollow interior of each said massage element to said pulsating fluid pressure supply means.

7. Hair and scalp treating apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said hood element comprises at least three nested shell members disposed in spaced relation and sealed to each other about their peripheries, the space between one pair of adjacent shell members defining said first passage means and being open to said massage elements, and the space between another pair of adjacent shell members defining said second passage means open to said orifices.

8. Hair and scalp treating apparatus as defined in claim References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 998,804 Salisbury July 25, 1911 1,025,504 Birrell May 7, 1912 2,369,881 Berns Feb. 20, 1945 2,566,600 Colon Sept. 4, 1951 2,657,684 Avery Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,484 Canada Oct. 18, 1955

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