Patents Examined by Robyn Kieu Doan
  • Patent number: 6499491
    Abstract: A hair styling device for twirling locks of hair together including a main body, and at least two hair grabbers for respectively grabbing separate locks of hair. Each of the hair grabbers is connected to respective hair twisters, and each of the hair twisters rotates respective locks of hair to form twists of hair. The device further comprises a hair twist rotator body connected to each of the hair grabbers. The hair twist rotator body is connected to and rotatable relative to the main body. Rotation of the hair twist rotator body cables the twists of hair to form a cord of hair. The hair grabbers are substantially stationary relative to the hair twist rotator when the hair twist rotator rotates relative to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignees: Kennedy/Matsumoto Design Associates, Spectrum Associates
    Inventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Jose Longoria
  • Patent number: 6497235
    Abstract: A mascara dispenser including a container, a cap bearing a mascara brush, a comb retractable within the cap, and an element on the cap pivotally connected to a shaft that projects from the comb lengthwise within the cap. As the element is moved to extend the comb out of the cap, a guide within the cap engages a dogleg portion of the shaft to pivot the comb into an offset position relative to the dispenser, for ease of manipulation and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Henlopen Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore Dorsa, Volker Schrepf
  • Patent number: 6497237
    Abstract: A dental flossing system for allowing an individual to floss their teeth with only one hand and without positioning their fingers within their mouth during flossing. The dental flossing system includes a body having a pair of arms and a rear portion containing a spool rotatably positioned within, a platform structure movably positioned within the body, a wheel is rotatably attached within the platform structure, a shaft concentrically attached to the wheel and extending from a side of the platform structure for receiving a length of dental floss, and a locking arm that is pivotally attached to the platform structure for locking the dental floss in a desired position within a locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Sayel A. Ali
  • Patent number: 6494212
    Abstract: For providing a widely usable ornamental hair enriching equipment easy to rake out original hairs and capable of use for a multiple of heads, the ornamental hair enriching equipment comprises a support member made in a manner that an ventilation member with fine meshes is wound on a slightly stiff tape member, fastenings of reversible comb-like clips disposed on the back surface of the support member, a plurality of parallel elastic linear members comprising inside elastic bodies made of hard resin or steel material with adequate elasticity and stiffness, and formed to have a circular arc with a large curvature so as to fit to the curved surface of a general human head, and ventilation members made of tubes with fine meshes, and fitted outside the elastic bodies to engage integrally therewith, supported by the support member at one end of each of them, and disposed on the support member at predetermined intervals, and artificial hairs implanted on at least the elastic linear members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Artnature Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Yamakoshi
  • Patent number: 6494216
    Abstract: A hair iron comprises a pair of holding members having a heating surface and/or a pressing surface oppositionally on their interior surfaces being joined so that they can be flexibly opened and closed via a joint member at their ends. Furthermore, a slip preventing surface, a fingertip fitting cup and/or a finger trapping loop is formed on the exterior surface of at least one of the holding members at a position where the fingers A straddle the joint member so that a bundle of hair can be ironed flexibly by a simple finger operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Phild Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Hirata
  • Patent number: 6494214
    Abstract: A hair grooming device, in particular a device that facilitates the cutting and styling of hair at home, as well as at the salon. The device has handle with one or more fingers extending from it. The fingers may be curved to conform to the shape of the head. At least one of the fingers has a slot extending along its length. A comb carrying teeth extends adjacent the length of the/each slotted finger and is moveable between a retracted position in which it is spaced apart from the slot, and an engaged position in which the teeth intersect the slot to grip hair along the length of the slotted finger. A method of using the device is a further aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Freestyla Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Graham Coldicott
  • Patent number: 6494213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a slightly bendable nail file which has indicia in the form of a pictorial image. The file comprises a flexible foamed synthetic resin core sandwiched between paperboard panels, at least one of which is of a luminescent material. At least one paperboard panel has a layer of transparent grit bonded thereto. At least one paperboard panel also has an image formed thereon, the image being outwardly visible through the transparent grit. The second paperboard panel may optionally have a mirror coating. A sound chip, light emitting diode (LED), or image projector may optionally be imbedded in the foam core for enhanced audible and visual messaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Edward J. Calafut
  • Patent number: 6488034
    Abstract: The file, the body of which is provided on at least part of its surface with a roughness varying from 10 to 100 &mgr;m, is made of flat, pressed or hardened glass. The file can have a variety of geometrical shapes and cross sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Dalibor Blazek
  • Patent number: 6488036
    Abstract: A single support dental flosser with improved maneuverability; to provide the user with increased leverage and dexterity to easily and thoroughly clean food, debris, and dental plaque so as to prevent proximal caries and periodontal disease. The dental flosser includes a handle section, an intermediate section, and an upstanding dental floss support section. In an embodiment of the invention, the dental flosser includes a preset strand of floss attached to the upstanding dental floss support section. In an other embodiment, the dental flosser includes a main body portion having a cylindrical shape for ease of handling. A hollow interior containing a metered floss dispenser, and a floss support containing a through hole to supply floss. The metered floss dispenser has a simplified construction and is especially designed to fit into a cylindrically shaped handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Shlomo Francis
  • Patent number: 6484728
    Abstract: A hair clip comprises a first clip member including a first arcuate rod and a second clip member including a second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes a first end pivotally engaged with a first end of the first arcuate rod and a second end releasably engaged with the second end of the first arcuate rod. Arcuate first teeth project from the first arcuate rod and extend toward the second arcuate rod. Arcuate second teeth project from the second arcuate rod and extend toward the first arcuate rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Wen-Hsiiung Chang
  • Patent number: 6484731
    Abstract: A one piece molded assembly including a first part and a second part integral with the first part. The first part includes a first member engageable with a second member formed by the second part so as to form an articulation of the first part and the second part about an axis. Two linking strips are connected to the first and second parts to provide a spring-effect assist for opening and closing of the assembly about the axis, the linking strips crossing the axis in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Frank Lacout
  • Patent number: 6484730
    Abstract: A device and method used for cold waving and straightening hair. The cold waving device helps create a natural sheen on the hair. The cold waving hair device includes a plurality of different size clear plastic hollow rods. The hollow rods have a smooth and soft outer circumference for receiving rolled hair thereon. The different size rods receive a standard hair roller therein. Each roller includes a hair engaging line which is received along the length of the rod. The hair engaging line includes an end cap for inserting into an end cap hole in the roller. The line is used for holding the rolled hair in place against the side and length of the outer circumference of the rod. The cold waving hair device also includes plastic end wraps with a plurality of holes therein. Each end wrap is used for engaging the hair ends and wrapping the hair around the smooth outer circumference of the rod. The end wrap is used for receiving a wave solution for saturating and relaxing the hair on the different size smooth rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Ida M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6484729
    Abstract: Each end of a resilient band is attachable and detachable to each end of two needles. In use the first needle is placed in hair, the needle and band are sewn through the hair; the second needle is placed into the hair to secure; and the fastener is removable and reusable by detaching the needles from the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: David Alan Silva
  • Patent number: 6482207
    Abstract: A modular pedicle screw and rod implant assembly includes a shant screw, a rod holding element, a locking member, a rod, and a nut. The shant screw has a lower threaded shaft portion for insertion into the pedicle and a top shaft portion which is unthreaded, a portion of which is tapered. The locking member has a threaded upper portion and a smoothly tapered lower portion. It further includes an axial bore which is similarly tapered at the bottom for seating on the upper portion of the shant screw. This tapered bottom portion is slotted so that it may be expanded or compressed in accordance with a radial force applied thereto. The rod holding element includes two through holes; one for receiving the rod, and the other, transverse to the rod receiving hole, which is tapered. The two holes are overlapping so that when the rod is seated in the first hole and the tapered portion of the locking member is in the second hole the surfaces of the rod and the locking member are in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fastenetix, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Errico
  • Patent number: 6481445
    Abstract: A mascara brush has bristles that are wider and stiffer than conventional “soft” bristles. The brush has a central core formed from a pair of twisted wire segments. A plurality of radially extending bristles is secured between the pair of twisted wire segments to form a brush portion at an end of the core. The bristles are secured in a quantity of from 4 to 27 bristles per turn of the twisted wire segments. Each of the bristles has a diameter of from 8 mil to 18 mil and is made from a thermoplastic elastomer material having a durometer of between 62D and 82D. Preferably, the bristles have a diameter of 10 mil to 13 mil, are made from an elastomeric polyester material having a durometer of about 72D and are secured in a quantity of from 7-14 bristles per turn. The material from which the bristles are made is softer than the material from which conventional bristles are made to ensure that the bristles will be supple enough to facilitate application and avoid irritation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Color Access, Inc.
    Inventor: Loretta A. Miraglia
  • Patent number: 6474346
    Abstract: A powder case comprises a lower case for receiving powder, with a first connector, and an upper case including a second connector to be coupled with the first connector, and a downwardly extending a cylindrical housing with a ledge for engaging a flange of a slider of a brush, and an array of apertures at its bottom. As the end of the brush is inserted into the housing the flange of the slider 23 engages the ledge so that the brush fur is exposed to the powder through the apertures. The connectors may include complementary threads or cleats which engage to secure to upper and lower cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Sam Sung Corporation
    Inventor: Ki Hong Jang
  • Patent number: 6474343
    Abstract: In a system for coating human skin, a chemical composition, such as a cosmetic or medical formulation, is uniformly coated over the entire body or selected parts of the body of the person being coated. The system includes atomization of the coating composition, containment of the atomized spray, and residual recovery which together yield a novel method for applying chemical compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Laughlin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 6474347
    Abstract: A dental floss holder that has an elongate handle member (1) that has two fork fingers (2) at one end and wherein a floss supply (5) is mounted to the member (1) for pulling out of the dental floss (64-68) therefrom, and wherein points (3) of the fingers (2) have guidance members for the floss to permit a floss segment (66) to extend between the finger points (3) and wherein the members (91-97) are provided to attach a floss end (68) to the member (1). The dental floss supply (5) includes a floss roll (60) which is mounted with its rolling axle perpendicular to the elongate handle member (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Anders Hallinder, Pekka Sihvo
  • Patent number: 6470897
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mascara brush for making up eyelashes, especially suitable for the Orientals whose eyelashes are shorter and downwardly curved. The mascara brush according to the present invention includes a spirally twisted wire core at the center thereof; and a plurality of bristles, each being fitted into the wire core at one end thereof and being outwardly extended at the other end. The bristles are 5 mils to 6 mils thick and distributed at the wire core to be installed in 30 to 40 numbers per turn of the spirally twisted wire core. A section through the mascara brush is of a triangular shape. Ridges of 1.7 mm to 2 mm wide are formed at vertexes of the triangular section. A distance A from a bottom to each ridge of the triangular section through the mascara brush is in the range of 5.5 mm to 6 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Hae-won Jung, Yeong Jin Choi, Sung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6470895
    Abstract: A pedicure tool is disclosed which comprises a generally elliptical housing having at least three openings extending therethrough. Each of the at least three openings is adapted to releasably receive a concave insert panel therein. Further, each insert panel has an abrasive surface on the exterior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventors: Heidi M. Miller, Wayne A. Miller