Highlight Applicator

Abstract

A wishbone shaped highlighting applicator includes a top portion having two prongs extending upward and outward from a base and a plurality of fibers protruding outward from a front side of the top portion. The highlighting applicator also includes a bottom portion having a curved handle with a textured grip. In one embodiment, the fibers are configured to receive bleach or hair dye and transfer the bleach or hair dye when the highlight applicator is passed along a section of hair.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein generally relates to a hair highlighting system, and more specifically, to a highlighting applicator.

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms for applying hair bleach or dye to an individual's hair are known. For example, conventional methods rely on brushes or combs that deposit bleach from an attached applicator bottle or separate vessel in a uniform manner. However, these devices can result in a line of demarcation on the individual's hair when bleach is applied but not properly smoothed or blended into where the bleached section ends, resulting in a visible horizontal border separating bleached hair from non-bleached hair. Further, comb or brush applicators may cause bleach applied to one section of hair to bleed or transfer through to an unwanted section of hair lying closer to the individual's head, causing “tiger spots” of lightness or other discontinuous patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a first side of the highlight applicator, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a second side of the highlight applicator, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the highlight applicator, according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures and the following description relate to preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without departing from the principles of what is claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein.

A wishbone shaped highlight applicator allows for precise and natural-looking application of bleach or dye to a user's hair. The prongs at the top portion of the device allow the user to create a V-shaped application of bleach on the hair such that a minimum amount of bleach is deposited at the root area, blending into more bleach saturation towards the mid-lengths and ends of the hair, resulting in more lightness at the ends and less lightness at the roots. The shape of the device inhibits the creation of hard edges or uninterrupted lightness (e.g., bands or tiger spots) that are a common result of existing devices.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it illustrates a wishbone-shaped highlight applicator, according to an example embodiment. The applicator 100 includes a prong portion 105 having two prongs 110 and a plurality of fibers 115 extending outward a first side of the prong portion 105 and a handle portion 125 having a handle 130 with a textured grip 135. In one example embodiment, the height of the highlight applicator 110 from the bottom of the handle portion 125 to the tips of the prongs 110 is approximately 180 to 190 millimeters.

The top or prong portion 105 of the highlight applicator 100 includes two prongs 110 that extend outward and upward from the bottom of a base 120 of the prong portion 105 at an approximately 135-degree angle in a “V” shape. The width of each of the prongs 110 is approximately five to ten millimeters in one example embodiment. The distance between the prongs 110 is approximately 30-70 millimeters at the tips of the prongs 110 and approximately 10-20 millimeters at the top of the base 120 in one example embodiment.

Coupled to the prong portion 105 are a plurality of fibers 115 arranged in rows and spaced approximately one-half to one millimeter apart in one example embodiment. The fibers 115 extend from the tips of each of the prongs 110 to the bottom of the base 120. The fibers 115 protrude approximately four to six millimeters outward from the prong portion 105 in one example embodiment. In one example embodiment, the fibers 115 are located only on a first side of the prong portion 105. Alternatively, the fibers 115 are located on both the first and a second side of the prong portion 105. In one example embodiment, the first side is a front side of the applicator 100 and the second side is a rear side of the applicator 100. In one example embodiment, the fibers 115 are configured to receive approximately seven to ten grams of bleach or hair dye per load and transfer the bleach or hair dye to the hair when the highlight applicator 100 is passed along a section of hair.

In one example embodiment, the height of the prong portion 105 from the bottom of the base 120 to the tips of the prongs 110 is approximately 70-100 millimeters, and the height of the base 120 is approximately 10-40 millimeters. The width of the prong portion 105 is approximately 50-80 millimeters at the tips of the prongs 110 and approximately five to fifteen millimeters at the bottom of the base 120. The depth of the prong portion 105 is approximately three to ten millimeters at both the base 120 and the tips of the prongs 110.

In one example embodiment, the ratio of the distance from the outer edges of the prongs 110 to the distance between the tips of the prongs 110 to the bottom of the base 120 creates a ratio between 1:4 and 1:6.

The height or length of the handle portion 125 is approximately 80-100 millimeters. In one example embodiment where the applicator 100 is viewed from a first side or a second side, the width of the handle portion 125 curves outward and inward from the top of the handle portion 125 downward to the bottom of the handle portion 125, such that the width of the bottom portion is approximately five to ten millimeters at the top of the handle portion 125, approximately ten to fifteen millimeters at a widest point near the top of the handle portion 125, and approximately five to ten millimeters at the bottom of the handle portion 125. Alternatively, the width of the entire handle portion 125 is the same.

In one example embodiment, the handle portion 125 has a convex contour having an arc with an apex at an approximate center of the arc. The depth of the bottom portion is approximately three to seven millimeters at the top of the handle portion 125, approximately five to ten millimeters at a widest point near the top of the handle portion 125, and approximately three to seven millimeters at the bottom of the handle portion 125. Alternatively, the depth of the entire handle portion 125 is the same.

Finally, in one example embodiment, the handle 130 has a contour such that when the applicator 100 is laid flat on a first side, the contour is convex and when the applicator 100 is laid flat on a second side, the contour is concave. In one example embodiment, the angle of the contour is approximately 150 degrees. In other embodiments, the top of the handle 130 extends downward toward the bottom of the handle 130 at a zero degree angle.

In one example embodiment, the handle 130 has a textured grip 135 to facilitate grip of the highlight applicator 100. For example, the handle 130 might include a series of raised ridges that protrude approximately one-half to one-and-one-half millimeters from the handle 130. In other embodiments, the surface of the handle 130 is smooth. In one example embodiment, the textured grip 135 is on a first side of the highlight applicator 100. Alternatively, the textured grip 135 is on the second side of the highlight applicator 100. In still other example embodiments, the textured grip 135 is on both the first side and the second side.

The highlight applicator 100 may be made of a metal, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, or other rigid material and may be constructed as a single piece or assembled from multiple pieces (e.g., separate top and bottom portions 105 and 125). The fibers 115 may be made of nylon, polyester, or other semi-soft material.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a second side of the highlight applicator 100. As shown in FIG. 2, in one example embodiment, the prong portion 105 of the second side of the highlight applicator 100 is smooth and does not contain any fibers. Alternatively, the fibers 115 are located on both the first and second sides of the prong portion 105. In still other embodiments, coupled to the prongs 110 on the second side of the prong portion 105 are sponges configured to apply hair dye or bleach to a user's hair.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the highlight applicator 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 130 and textured grip 135 are contoured such that when the applicator 100 is laid flat on a first side, the contour is convex, and when the applicator is laid flat on a second side, the contour is concave. In one example embodiment, the angle of the contour is approximately 150 degrees. When a user wraps her hand around the applicator 100, the contour of the handle 130 and textured grip 135 provide ergonomic support and facilitate grip.

ADDITIONAL CONFIGURATION CONSIDERATIONS

The disclosed configurations provide a number of advantages over existing highlight applicators. For example, the two prongs at the top portion of the device prohibit the deposition of a linear border of bleach on the hair and enable gentle application of bleach to the topside of each hair section, preventing the bleach from transferring through the applied section to an unwanted section of hair.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional designs as disclosed from the principles herein. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a top portion having two prongs structured in a wishbone configuration and protruding upward from a base, a first side of the device having a plurality of fibers protruding outward from the top portion; and

a bottom portion having a handle extending along a length from the base, the handle having a convex contour forming an arc along the length, the arc having an apex at an approximate center of the arc.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the handle has a textured grip.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the textured grip is on the first side of the device.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the textured grip is on a second side of the device.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the textured grip is on the first side and a second side of the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion a unibody construction with the bottom portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is made of substantially rigid plastic.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the fibers are made of polyester.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a height of the device is approximately 180 to 190 millimeters.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a distance between the two prongs is approximately 30-70 millimeters at tips of the prongs and approximately 10-20 millimeters at a top of the base.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the fibers protrude approximately four to six millimeters from the top portion.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the fibers protrude outward from a second side of the top portion.

13. The device of claim 1, where a width of the top portion is approximately 50-80 millimeters at tips of the prongs and approximately five to fifteen millimeters at a bottom of the base.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein a depth of the top portion is approximately three to ten millimeters.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein a width of the handle curves outward and inward from a top of the handle to a bottom of the handle.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein a length of the handle is approximately 80-100 millimeters.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein a width of the handle is approximately five to ten millimeters at a top of the handle, approximately ten to fifteen millimeters at a widest point, and approximately five to ten millimeters at a bottom of the handle.