Fluid Dispensing Comb Assembly

Abstract

A fluid dispensing comb assembly includes a comb that has a reservoir integrated therein to contain a fluid. The comb has a plurality of teeth for combing hair and each of the teeth has an opening to dispense the fluid into the hair. A heating element is integrated into the comb for heating the fluid in the reservoir. A plurality of balls is each positioned within a respective one of the teeth. Each of the balls is biased into the opening in the respective tooth for closing the opening to inhibit the fluid from passing through the opening. Each of the balls is urgeable into the respective tooth to facilitate the fluid to pass outwardly through the opening in the respective tooth.

Description

(a) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(b) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(c) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(d) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

(e) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(f) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to comb devices and more particularly pertains to a new comb device for applying a fluid hair treatment to a person's scalp.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to comb device including a comb that has a fluid reservoir and a plurality of teeth that each has laterally oriented fluid holes. The prior art also discloses a fluid dispensing comb that includes valves being integrated into teeth of the comb for releasing a fluid treatment. The prior art also discloses a fluid dispensing comb that includes a heating element. The prior art discloses a vibrating dispenser for applying a treatment to a user's skin. Additionally, the prior art discloses a liquid dispensing brush that has a hollow handle and a plurality of fluid openings being positioned between teeth of the brush.

(g) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a comb that has a reservoir integrated therein to contain a fluid. The comb has a plurality of teeth for combing hair and each of the teeth has an opening to dispense the fluid into the hair. A heating element is integrated into the comb for heating the fluid in the reservoir. A plurality of balls is each positioned within a respective one of the teeth. Each of the balls is biased into the opening in the respective tooth for closing the opening to inhibit the fluid from passing through the opening. Each of the balls is urgeable into the respective tooth to facilitate the fluid to pass outwardly through the opening in the respective tooth.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(h) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fluid dispensing comb assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a lid in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a front phantom view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

(i) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new comb device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the fluid dispensing comb assembly 10 generally comprises a comb 12 that has a reservoir 14 integrated therein to contain a fluid 16. The comb 12 has a plurality of teeth 18 for combing hair and each of the teeth 18 has an opening 20 extending into the reservoir 14 wherein for dispensing the fluid 16 into the hair. The fluid 16 may be hair conditioner, shampoo, scalp medication or any other type of fluid treatment that can be applied to human hair. The comb 12 has a handle portion 22 extending rearwardly from a head portion 24.

The comb 12 has a divider 26 positioned therein and the divider 26 divides the handle portion 22 from the head portion 24. The handle portion 22 is fluidly discrete from the head portion 24 and the reservoir 14 is positioned within the head portion 24. Each of the teeth 18 extends downwardly from the head portion 24 and each of the teeth 18 has a distal end 28 with respect to the head portion 24. The opening 20 in each of the teeth 18 extends through the distal end 28 and the head portion 24 has a top side 30. The top side 30 has a fill opening 32 extending into the reservoir 14 for filling the reservoir 14 with the fluid 16.

A lid 34 is hingedly coupled to the top side 30 of the head portion 24 and the lid 34 is aligned with the fill opening 32 for opening 20 and closing the fill opening 32. An engagement 36 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the top side 30 of the head portion 24 and the engagement 36 is positioned adjacent to the fill opening 32. A catch 38 is slidably coupled to the lid 34 and the catch 38 releasably engages the engagement 36 when the lid 34 is closed for retaining the lid 34 in a closed position. The catch 38 is slidable into a releasing position to facilitate the lid 34 to be opened.

A heating element 40 is provided and the heating element 40 is integrated into the comb 12. The heating element 40 is in thermal communication with the reservoir 14 to heat the fluid 16 in the reservoir 14. Additionally, the heating element 40 is coupled to the divider 26 having the heating element 40 extending into the reservoir 14. The heating element 40 may be an electric heating coil that has an operational temperature ranging between approximately 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit and 150.0 degrees Fahrenheit.

A switch 42 is slidably coupled to the comb 12 and the switch 42 is electrically coupled to the heating element 40 for turning the heating element 40 on and off. The switch 42 is positioned on the handle portion 22 of the comb 12. A power supply 44 is positioned within the handle portion 22 of the comb 12 and the power supply 44 is electrically coupled to the switch 42. The power supply 44 comprises at least one rechargeable battery 46 that is electrically coupled to the switch 42. The power supply 44 also includes a charge port 48 that is recessed into the handle portion 22 for receiving a charge cord 50 from a power source. The charge port 48 is electrically coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery 46 for charging the at least one rechargeable battery 46.

A plurality of balls 52 is each positioned within a respective one of the teeth 18 and each of the balls 52 is biased into the opening 20 in the respective tooth 18 for closing the opening 20. In this way each of the balls 52 inhibits the fluid 16 from passing through the opening 20. Each of the balls 52 has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the opening 20 thereby inhibiting the balls 52 from passing through the opening 20. Moreover, each of the balls 52 is urgeable into the respective tooth 18 thereby displacing the balls 52 from the opening 20 in the respective tooth 18. In this way each of the balls 52 facilitates the fluid 16 to pass outwardly through the opening 20 in the respective tooth 18.

A plurality of biasing members 54 is provided and each of the biasing members 54 is positioned within a respective one of the teeth 18. Each of the biasing members 54 engages the ball 52 in the respective tooth 18. Moreover, each of the biasing members 54 biases the ball 52 into the opening 20 in the respective tooth 18 for closing the opening 20. Each of the biasing members 54 may comprise a spring or other similar, compressible device.

In an alternative embodiment 56 as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 6 through 9, the handle portion 22 has a first end 58. The first end 58 threadably engages the head portion 24 thereby facilitating the handle portion 22 to be removable from the head portion 24. Moreover, the handle portion 22 is removable from the head portion 24 for filling the reservoir 14. The handle portion 22 may include a threaded collar, or other threaded coupling mechanism, for releasably engaging the head portion 24.

Continuing in the alternative embodiment 56, the heating element 40 is coupled to the first end 58 of the handle portion 22 of the comb 12. Additionally, the heating element 40 is oriented to extend along a longitudinal axis of the handle portion 22. In this way the heating element 40 is positioned within the reservoir 14 when the handle portion 22 is coupled to the head portion 24. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 9, a power cord 60 may be coupled to the handle portion 22 and the power cord 60 may be electrically coupled to the switch 42.

In use, the fluid 16 is poured into the reservoir 14 and the switch 42 is turned on the heat the fluid 16 in the reservoir 14. The teeth 18 on the comb 12 are combed through the user's hair and the balls 52 are each pressed against the user's scalp to facilitate the fluid 16 to pass through the teeth 18. In this way the fluid 16 is applied to the user's scalp while the user's hair is being comb 12ed. In this way the fluid 16 can be precisely applied to the user's scalp with minimal waste of the fluid 16.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing comb assembly for dispensing a fluid hair treatment while combing hair, said assembly comprising:

a comb having a reservoir being integrated therein wherein said reservoir is configured to contain a fluid, said comb having a plurality of teeth for combing hair, each of said teeth having an opening extending into said reservoir wherein each of said teeth is configured to dispense the fluid into the hair;

a heating element being integrated into said comb, said heating element being in thermal communication with said reservoir wherein said heating element is configured to heat the fluid in said reservoir;

a switch being slidably coupled to said comb, said switch being electrically coupled to said heating element for turning said heating element on and off; and

a plurality of balls, each of said balls being positioned within a respective one of said teeth, each of said balls being biased into said opening in said respective tooth for closing said opening wherein each of said balls is configured to inhibit the fluid from passing through said opening, each of said balls being urgeable into said respective tooth thereby displacing said balls from said opening in said respective tooth wherein each of said balls is configured to facilitate the fluid to pass outwardly through said opening in said respective tooth.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said comb has a handle portion extending rearwardly from a head portion, said comb having a divider being positioned therein, said divider dividing said handle portion from said head portion such that said handle portion is fluidly discrete from said head portion, said reservoir being positioned within said head portion.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said teeth extends downwardly from said head portion, each of said teeth having a distal end with respect to said head portion, said opening in each of said teeth extending through said distal end.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said head portion has a top side, said top side having a fill opening extending into said reservoir wherein said fill opening is configured to fill the reservoir with the fluid.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said heating element is coupled to said divider having said heating element extending into said reservoir.

6. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a power supply being positioned within said handle portion of said comb, said power supply being electrically coupled to said switch, said power supply comprising:

at least one rechargeable battery being electrically coupled to said switch; and

a charge port being recessed into said handle portion wherein said charge port is configured to receive a charge cord from a power source, said charge port being electrically coupled to said at least one rechargeable battery for charging said at least one rechargeable battery.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said balls has a diameter being greater than the diameter of said opening thereby inhibiting said balls from passing through said opening.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of biasing members, each of said biasing members being positioned within a respective one of said teeth, each of said biasing members engaging said ball in said respective tooth, each of said biasing members biasing said ball into said opening in said respective tooth for closing said opening.

9. A fluid dispensing comb assembly for dispensing a fluid hair treatment while combing hair, said assembly comprising:

a comb having a reservoir being integrated therein wherein said reservoir is configured to contain a fluid, said comb having a plurality of teeth for combing hair, each of said teeth having an opening extending into said reservoir wherein each of said teeth is configured to dispense the fluid into the hair, said comb having a handle portion extending rearwardly from a head portion, said comb having a divider being positioned therein, said divider dividing said handle portion from said head portion such that said handle portion is fluidly discrete from said head portion, said reservoir being positioned within said head portion, each of said teeth extending downwardly from said head portion, each of said teeth having a distal end with respect to said head portion, said opening in each of said teeth extending through said distal end, said head portion having a top side, said top side having a fill opening extending into said reservoir wherein said fill opening is configured to fill the reservoir with the fluid;

a heating element being integrated into said comb, said heating element being in thermal communication with said reservoir wherein said heating element is configured to heat the fluid in said reservoir, said heating element being coupled to said divider having said heating element extending into said reservoir;

a switch being slidably coupled to said comb, said switch being electrically coupled to said heating element for turning said heating element on and off, said switch being positioned on said handle portion of said comb;

a power supply being positioned within said handle portion of said comb, said power supply being electrically coupled to said switch, said power supply comprising: at least one rechargeable battery being electrically coupled to said switch; and a charge port being recessed into said handle portion wherein said charge port is configured to receive a charge cord from a power source, said charge port being electrically coupled to said at least one rechargeable battery for charging said at least one rechargeable battery;

a plurality of balls, each of said balls being positioned within a respective one of said teeth, each of said balls being biased into said opening in said respective tooth for closing said opening wherein each of said balls is configured to inhibit the fluid from passing through said opening, each of said balls having a diameter being greater than the diameter of said opening thereby inhibiting said balls from passing through said opening, each of said balls being urgeable into said respective tooth thereby displacing said balls from said opening in said respective tooth wherein each of said balls is configured to facilitate the fluid to pass outwardly through said opening in said respective tooth; and

a plurality of biasing members, each of said biasing members being positioned within a respective one of said teeth, each of said biasing members engaging said ball in said respective tooth, each of said biasing members biasing said ball into said opening in said respective tooth for closing said opening.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said handle portion has a first end, said first end threadably engaging said head portion thereby facilitating said handle portion to be removable from said head portion, said handle portion being removable from said head portion for filling said reservoir.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said heating element is coupled to said first end, said heating element being oriented to extend along a longitudinal axis of said handle portion, said heating element being positioned within said reservoir when said handle portion is coupled to said head portion.