Compartmentalized hair styling apparatus
A hair styling apparatus having an essentially hollow handle adapted for carrying at least one tampon and an essentially hollow body having at least one storage compartment for storing other items, such as sanitary wipes and pharmaceuticals is presented.
The present invention generally relates to devices for the storage of catamenial related products and more particularly to a comb or brush incorporating compartments for the convenient and inconspicuous storage and transport of catamenial related articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ARTConvenient access to catamenial related products such as tampons, sanitary napkins, pharmaceuticals, feminine wipes, panty shields, and the like is a necessity for many women. Traditionally, women have carried catamenial related products in their purses, briefcases, or pockets. When doing so, women often find that the unprotected items become crushed and unusable. In addition, the paper or plastic covering for the products may tear, making the items susceptible to moisture or contamination, rendering them useless or unsanitary. Worse, the items can often become misplaced when they are urgently needed.
When the products are needed, it can be embarrassing for a woman to have to retrieve an item from a purse or brief case and carry it to a restroom. Women often will try and hide the products or will be forced to carry a purse or other case with them to a restroom.
In addition to the above issues, it is often inconvenient or impractical to have to carry multiple catamenial related items in a purse along with wallets, keys, brushes, etc., where space is often at a premium. This is particularly true if a women wishes to carry a small evening purse.
Over the years, several attempts have been proposed to address the convenience of storing catamenial products. For example, a wallet-like carrying case containing a pocket for the insertion of tampons is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,639 to Murphy. However, the case does not provide crush resistance for the product held therein. This device also does not address the issue of having limited space, since the case must be carried in addition to other items.
Another example is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,620 to Barabino which discloses a multi-compartmental carrying case that includes a partition to separate catamenial related products from more frequently accessed items such as cosmetics. This device also does not provide crush resistance and a product stored within the separated storage area is susceptible to being crushed. Also, this device does not address the issue of having limited space, since the case must be carried in addition to other items.
Other inventors have addressed the desirability of combining hair brushes and storage. None of the devices, however, address catamenial products. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 168,428 to Teets teaches a hair brush having a hollow handle for storing a comb. It further teaches a hollow body for storing cosmetics. A further example is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,764 to McKay which teaches a brush having a handle for storing make-up items and a brush head for storing powder. While these inventions advance the art field, they do not contemplate or teach the use of a brush for storing catamenial products nor do they teach separate compartments for the safe storing of multiple catamenial related products.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that enables a user to simultaneously, discretely, and conveniently carry multiple catamenial related products while at the same time reduce the total number of items to be carried.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTIONIt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which multiple items for catamenial use can be carried safely, conveniently, and discretely.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a crush resistant container for catamenial related products.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a portable container for catamenial related products.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable container for storing many different types of catamenial related products.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that reduces the number of overall items women need to carry.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus in the guise of a hair styling tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention, a hair styling apparatus having an essentially hollow handle adapted for carrying at least one tampon and an essentially hollow body having at least one storage compartment for storing other items, such as sanitary wipes and pharmaceuticals is presented. The invention enables a user to carry one or more items in a manner that is convenient, organized and inconspicuous. Privacy is maintained because the catamenial related products are carried discreetly inside the hollow part of the brush or comb. Additionally, a styling brush or a comb is useful in and of itself and provides additional flexibility while at the same time reduces the overall number of items required to be carried. The inventive device can be carried openly to a restroom.
The invention is therefore superior to devices currently used to carry loose articles, which have no function other than to carry other items. This device presents the heretofore uncombined features of privacy, functionality and convenience and provides an advantageous and novel way for women to carry articles of menses.
Before explaining the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
There has been outlined above, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention 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, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the invention.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.
These together with other objects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Hair brushes and combs take many forms. In view of the teachings and suggestions of the disclosure which follows, those skilled in the art of machine design will know how to construct any type of brush or comb that embodies the present invention.
Turning to
In the preferred embodiment, first end 38 has an opening 42. Opening 42 is adapted to receive a catamenial related product. Opening 42 can be reversibly sealed using end cap 44. As those skilled in the art will quickly understand, end cap 44 can take many forms, for non-limiting example, a compression type fit using a hinge member 46 (as illustrate in
The body 34 of the preferred embodiment, as shown in
The compartments 48 and 50 can be reversibly sealed using body cap 54. As those skilled in the art will quickly understand, body cap 54 can take many forms, for non-limiting example, a compression type fit using a hinge member 58 (as illustrate in
Another alternative embodiment is shown in
Still yet another embodiment is shown in
Additionally, as illustrated in
One item that many women find particularly helpful is a sanitary wipe 300 (
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, various modes of carrying out the principles disclosed herein are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited except as otherwise set forth in the claims.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the preferred and alternative embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1) A catamenial related products storage apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to receive means for styling hair, the body further including an essentially hollow portion, the essentially hollow portion further defining at least one compartment;
- a handle having an interior space, the handle further including a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening and the second end adjacent the body;
- at least one lid disposed to reversibly seal the at least one compartment of the body; and,
- an end cap disposed to reversibly seal the first end of the handle.
2) The apparatus of claim 1 further including a prepackaged wipe disposed in any of the at least one compartments.
3) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body further includes an exterior surface on which ornamentation can be applied.
4) A catamenial related products storage apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to receive means for styling hair, the body further including an essentially hollow portion, the essentially hollow portion further defining at least one compartment;
- a handle adjacent the body, the handle further including an interior space;
- at least one lid disposed to reversibly seal the at least one compartment of the body; and,
- a handle lid disposed to reversibly seal the interior space of the handle.
5) The apparatus of claim 4 further including a prepackaged wipe disposed in any of the at least one compartments.
6) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the body further includes an exterior surface on which ornamentation can be applied.
7) A catamenial related products storage apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to receive means for styling hair spanning its circumference, the body including a first end and a second end, the second end having an opening, the body further having an essentially hollow portion, the essentially hollow portion further defining at least one compartment;
- a handle having an interior space, the handle further including a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening, the second end adjacent the first end of the body;
- a body end cap disposed to reversibly seal the second end of the body; and,
- a handle end cap disposed to reversibly seal the first end of the handle.
8) The apparatus of claim 7 further including a prepackaged wipe disposed in any of the at least one compartments.
9) A catamenial related products storage apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to receive means for styling hair spanning its entire circumference, the body further including an essentially hollow portion, the essentially hollow portion further defining at least one compartment and having an opening at a body end member;
- a handle adjacent the body, the handle further including an interior space;
- a body end cap disposed to reversibly seal the body end member body end member of the body; and,
- a handle lid disposed to reversibly seal the interior space of the handle.
10) The apparatus of claim 9 further including a prepackaged wipe disposed in any of the at least one compartments.
11) A catamenial related products storage apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to receive means for styling hair along its entire length, the body further including an essentially hollow portion, the essentially hollow portion further defining at least one compartment; and
- at least one lid disposed to reversibly seal the at least one compartment of the body.
12) The apparatus of claim 11 further including a prepackaged wipe disposed in any of the at least one compartments.
13) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the body further includes an exterior surface on which ornamentation can be applied.
14) A catamenial related products storage apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to receive means for styling hair along its entire length, the body further having a first end and a second end and including an interior space, the interior space further defining at least one compartment; and,
- at least one lid disposed to reversibly seal the at least one compartment of the body; and,
- a first end cap disposed to reversibly seal the first end of the body.
15) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a second and cap is disposed to reversibly seal the second end of the body.
16) The apparatus of claim 14 further including a prepackaged wipe disposed in any of the at least one compartments.
17) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the lid further includes an exterior surface on which ornamentation can be applied.
18) A compartmentalized hair styling apparatus comprising:
- a hair brush member having a solid base, the solid base having a bottom, the bottom a plurality of bristle members mounted therein;
- an elongate handle that extends longitudinally from the base portion, the handle having a first end and a second end and further including an interior space, the handle being open at the first end;
- a means for closing the first end of the handle.
19) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the closing means is an end cap disposed to reversibly seal the first end of the handle.
20) A compartmentalized hair styling apparatus comprising:
- a comb member having a solid base, the solid base having a bottom, the bottom including a plurality of tines mounted therein;
- an elongate handle that extends longitudinally from the base portion, the handle having a first end and a second end and further including an interior space, the handle being open at the first end;
- a means for closing the first end of the handle.
21) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the closing means is an end cap is disposed to reversibly seal the first end of the handle.
22) A compartmentalized hair styling apparatus comprising:
- a hair brush member having a solid base, the solid base having a bottom, the bottom a plurality of bristle members mounted therein;
- an elongate handle that extends longitudinally from the base portion, the handle further including an interior space, the interior space further having an opening; and,
- a means for reversibly sealing the opening of the interior space of the handle.
23) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the closing means is a lid disposed to reversibly seal the opening of the interior space of the handle.
24) A compartmentalized hair styling apparatus comprising:
- a comb member having a solid base, the solid base having a bottom, the bottom including a plurality of tines mounted therein;
- an elongate handle that extends longitudinally from the base portion, the handle further including an interior space, the interior space further having an opening; and,
- a means for reversibly sealing the opening of the interior space of the handle.
25) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the closing means is a lid disposed to reversibly seal the opening of the interior space of the handle.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 25, 2003
Publication Date: May 26, 2005
Inventor: L. Krey (South Wayne, WI)
Application Number: 10/722,236