GB2593133A - Tinting brush - Google Patents

Abstract

A tinting brush 100 for applying a hair lightening preparation using the Balayage technique is disclosed. The brush 100 comprises an elongate handle (190, Figure 3) having a tapered tail portion 191, a head portion 192 and a gripping section 193. A first row (110, Figure 4b) and a second row (120, Figure 4b) of a plurality of tufts 11 of bristles (12, Figure 2) extend from within the head portion 192 from a proximal bristle end region (130, Figure 3) at which said rows (110,120; Figure 4b) are spaced apart, to a distal bristle end region (140, Figure 3) where the rows (110,120; Figure 4b) converge. Head portion 192 is wider than the tail portion 191 and gripping section 193, the head portion 192 being separated from the tail portion 191 by the gripping section 193. The distal bristle end region (140, Figure 3) is in the same plane as the tail portion 191. The tufts 11 of bristles (12, Figure 2) of the first and second rows (110,120; Figure 4b) may converge to a blunt surface at the distal bristle end region (140, Figure 3). Bristles (12, Figure 2) may be held in place using a staple system.

Description

TINTING BRUSH

The present invention relates generally to the field of hair colouring, in particular to a tinting brush for applying a hair lightening preparation using the Balayage technique.

Background to the Invention

Highlighting is a very popular technique in hairdressing and typically involves the following steps: A section of hair is separated out and held between a hair stylist's first and middle fingers. A tail comb is woven through the section and lifted, thereby separating some strands of hair from the section. A sheet of aluminium foil or plastic meche wrap is placed beneath the separated strands, supported by the stylist's hand or the head of the client being treated. A hair highlighting preparation, prepared shortly before application in a plastic bowl, is applied to the separated strands with a tinting brush. The foil or meche is then folded and wrapped around the treated strands to enclose them while the stylist moves on to treat other sections of hair.

Such a highlighting technique is very different to the Balayage technique. Balayage is a French word meaning "to sweep" or "to paint". Herein, the term "Balayage" means a freehand hair lightening technique that allows for sun-kissed natural-looking hair with no harsh or obvious regrowth lines. By "freehand technique" is meant no foil or meche are used to create the highlights. When using the Balayage technique to lighten hair, the hair stylist paints a hair lightening preparation onto the surface of the hair strand and does not saturate the hair lightening preparation through the section of hair until the very tips. Typically, the hair lightening preparation is not applied directly from the bowl in which it is prepared. Whilst some hair stylists do still apply the hair lightening preparation directly from the bowl, the hair lightening preparation is instead preferably first loaded onto a paddle.

The hair stylist then holds the paddle in one hand and uses that same hand to tension the hair section to which the hair lightening preparation is to be applied. The tinting brush is held in the stylist's other hand.

For decades there has been limited modification to hair colouring tools. Conventional tinting brushes usually have a single row of tufts of bristles on a handle having a wide head and thin body which is tapered to a point at the end opposite the bristles. The bristles may be crimped to try to allow for a more even distribution of colour when using the brush. Alternatively, the bristles may be cut diagonally to try to aid precision of colour application.

Some tinting brushes have two parallel rows of tufts of bristles so that more colour can be loaded onto the brush. Such tinting brushes do not result in precise application of hair colouring preparations and are therefore generally for full coverage hair colouring.

The prior art tinting brushes fail to meet the demands of the modern day hair lightening technique It is a therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tinting brush which enables a hair stylist to transfer their creativity with ease, speed, comfort and precision, thus perfecting their Balayage hair lightening preparation application or at least to provide a suitable alternative to currently available tinting brushes.

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a tinting brush with a handle and a tapered bristled section which aids in hair lightening preparation application when using the Balayage technique.

According to the invention, there is provided a tinting brush for applying a hair lightening preparation using the Balayage technique, the tinting brush comprising an elongate handle having a tapered tail portion, a head portion and a gripping section, wherein the head portion is wider than each of the tail portion and the gripping section and is separated from the tail portion by the gripping section. The tinting brush also has a bristled section in which a first row of a plurality of tufts of bristles extends from within the head portion of the handle from a proximal bristle end region to a distal bristle end region and a second row of a plurality of tufts of bristles extends from within the head portion of the handle from the proximal bristle end region to the distal bristle end region, wherein the first and second rows are spaced apart from each other at the proximal bristle end region and the tufts of bristles of the first row converge with the tufts of bristles of the second row at the distal bristle end region and wherein the distal bristle end region is in substantially the same plane as the tail portion.

The bristled section of the brush extends substantially linearly from the handle as opposed to orthogonally therefrom This aids the stylist to precisely and accurately apply hair lightening preparation.

Ensuring the bristles converge at the distal bristle end region results in a tinting brush which is soft at the top, i.e. distal bristle end region, but stiffer at the bottom, i.e. proximal bristle end region. This allows for more control than brushes having either a single row of tufts of bristles or parallel rows of bristles.

The converging bristles aid the precision and accuracy of hair lightening preparation application and save time compared to prior art tinting brushes due to the enablement of smooth and accurate hair lightening preparation placement.

In order to converge, the bristles extend from the head portion at an angle. Preferably, the bristles are at an angle of about 4° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the brush. However, this is not to be considered limiting and other angles which allow the bristles to converge at the distal bristle end region are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

The distance between the centre of the first row and the centre of the second row at the proximal bristle end section is preferably in the range of from about 3mm to about 5mm, e.g. about 4.5mm.

The tufts of the first row may be off-set from the tufts of the second row. This results in bristles of tufts of one row at least partially filling gaps between the tufts of the other row at the distal bristle end region and may further aid precision of application of the hair lightening application. Alternatively, each tuft of the first row may be in line with a tuft of the second row. However, neither is to be considered limiting and other tuft layouts are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The number of tufts in the first row may be the same as the number of tufts in the second row. Alternatively, especially in the offset layout embodiment, the number of tufts in each row may differ, for example the first row may have one tuft more than the second row or one tuft less.

In a preferred embodiment, the bristled section of the brush is blunt at the distal bristle end region. In other words, the tufts of bristles of the first and second rows converge to a blunt surface. This blunt surface is preferably achieved by trimming the bristles. The blunt surface further aids control during application of hair lightening preparation. The blunt surface may be a flat tip or other straight cut tip, for wherein the bristles form an angled bristled section, e.g. due to being cut diagonally.

Preferably, the tinting brush according to the invention has only two rows, each independently having a plurality of tufts of bristles. In an alternative embodiment, the tinting brush may have more than two rows, e.g. three or four rows of tufts of bristles. Essentially, it is irrelevant how many rows of tufts of bristles the brush has as long as the tufts are spaced apart at the proximal bristle end region, i.e. where they extend form the head portion of the brush, and converge at the distal bristle end region. In other words, the shape of the brush tapers from the proximal bristle end regions towards the distal bristle end region.

The bristles may be held in place within the head section of the handle using a staple system or anchor system. Such systems are well known brush production processes. There is no requirement for the tinting brush according to the invention to have a grooved plug or ferrule and filament cluster holding the tufts of bristles in place.

During a preferred method of manufacture of the tinting brush, holes are formed in the head portion of the handle, with the tufts of bristles subsequently being placed in the holes and preferably fixed with wire. The holes are preferably all of uniform diameter, preferably wherein the diameter of each hole is in the range of from about 1.5 mm to 2mm in diameter, e.g. about 1.85mm.

The distance between the proximal bristle end region and the distal bristle end region, i.e. the length of the bristled section of the brush, is preferably in the range of from about 20mm to about 40mm, particularly preferably from about 25 mm to about 35 mm, e.g. 28mm.

The width of the bristled section of the brush is preferably in the range of from about 20mm to about 80mm, e.g. 24mm, 35mm or 65mm.

The depth of the bristled section of the brush is preferably in the range of from about 5mm to about 10mm, e.g. 6.4mm.

The above bristle section dimensions are preferred and are not to be considered limiting. Other dimensions of bristle sections are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The bristles may be natural or synthetic. A combination of natural and synthetic bristles may be used. If the bristles are synthetic, they may be made of polyester, e.g. polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), nylon or a blend of these. The bristles may be hollow or solid and can be tapered or untapered. Additionally or alternatively, the bristles may be crimped.

The handle may be made of any suitable material such as for example wood, metal or plastic, e.g. moulded plastic.

The handle is preferably in the range of from about to about 150mm to about 200mm in length, e.g. 183mm.

Brief Description of the drawings

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred tinting brush according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the head portion of the tinting brush of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the tinting brush of Figure 1; Figure 4a is an end view of the tinting brush of Figure 1; Figure 4b is an enlarged view of Figure 4a; Figure 5 is a perspective view of another preferred tinting brush according to the invention; Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the head portion of the tinting brush of Figure 6; Figure 7 is a plan view of the tinting brush of Figure 5; Figure 8a is an end view of the tinting brush of Figure 5; Figure 8b is an enlarged view of Figure 8a; Figure 9 is a perspective view of yet another preferred tinting brush according to the invention; Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the head portion of the tinting brush of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a plan view of the tinting brush of Figure 9; Figure 12a is an end view of the tinting brush of Figure 9; and Figure 12b is an enlarged view of Figure 12a.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings and especially to Figures 1 to 5b, there is shown a preferred tinting brush for applying a hair colouring product using the Balayage technique, the tinting brush generally referred to by the reference numeral 100 and comprising an elongate handle 190, a first row 110 of a plurality of tufts 11 of bristles 12 and a second row 120 of a plurality of tufts 11 of bristles 12.

Handle 190 has a tapered tail portion 191 and a wider head portion 192. Handle 190 as shown in the Figures is 183mm long.

Head portion 192 is separated from tail portion 191 by gripping section 193. Head portion 192, tail portion 191 and gripping section 193 are all in line, i.e. head section 192 extends linearly as opposed to orthogonally from gripping section 193.

Tufts 11 of rows 110, 120 extend from within holes (not shown) in head portion 192 from a proximal bristle end region 130 to a distal bristle end region 140 such that distal bristle end region 140 is in substantially the same plane as tail portion 191. In other words, the bristled section of brush 100 extends substantially linearly from handle 190 as opposed to orthogonally therefrom.

First row 110 and second row 120 are spaced apart from each other at proximal bristle end region 130 and converge at distal bristle end region 140.

Bristles 12 are at an angle of about 4° with respect to the longitudinal axis of brush 100.

As most clearly shown in Figure 4b, tufts 11 of first row 110 are off-set from tufts 11 of second row 120 such that tufts 11 of row 110 do not completely fill the gaps between tufts 11 of row 210 at distal bristle end region 140. In other words, the distal ends of tufts 11 do not form a straight line. Instead, the distal ends of tufts 11 form a zig-zag.

Figures 1 to 4b show a tinting bush 100 having six tufts 11 of bristles 12 in first row 110 and seven tufts 11 of bristles 12 in second row 120, the distance from the proximal bristle end region 130 to distal bristle end region 140 being 28mm and the width of distal bristle end region 140 being 35mm. First row 110 and second row 120 are spaced apart from each other at proximal bristle end such that the distance between the centre of first row 110 and the centre of second row 120 is 4.15mm.

Figures 5 to 8b show a smaller tinting bush 200 having five tufts 11 of bristles 12 in first row 210 and four tufts 11 of bristles 12 in second row 220, the distance from the proximal bristle end region 230 to distal bristle end region 240 being 28mm and the width of distal bristle end region 240 being 25mm. There are no other substantial differences between brushes 100 and 200.

Figures 9 to 12b show a show a larger tinting bush 300 having eleven tufts 11 of bristles 12 in first row 310 and ten tufts 11 of bristles 12 in second row 320, the distance from the proximal bristle end region 330 to distal bristle end region 340 being 34mm and the width of distal bristle end region 340 being 65mm. The distance between the centre of first row 310 and the centre of second row 320 is 4.5mm. There are no other substantial differences between brushes 100 and 300.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A tinting brush for applying a hair lightening preparation using the Balayage technique, the tinting brush comprising: an elongate handle having a tapered tail portion, a head portion and a gripping section; a first row of a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from within the head portion of the handle from a proximal bristle end region to a distal bristle end region; and a second row of a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from within the head portion of the handle from the proximal bristle end region to the distal bristle end region, wherein the first and second rows are spaced apart from each other at the proximal bristle end region and the tufts of bristles of the first row converge with the tufts of bristles of the second row at the distal bristle end region; wherein the head portion is wider than each of the tail portion and the gripping section, the head portion being separated from the tail portion by the gripping section; and wherein the distal bristle end region is in substantially the same plane as the tail portion.
2. 2. The tinting brush of claim 1, wherein the tufts of bristles of the first and second rows converge to a blunt surface at the distal bristle end region.
3. 3. The tinting brush of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the distance between the proximal bristle end region and the distal bristle end region is in the range of from about 28mm to 20 about 34mm.
4. 4. The tinting brush of any on of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bristles are held in place within the head section using a staple system.