LONG HAIR SHAMPOO BASIN
The present invention relates to a long hair shampoo basin for use at barber shops and beauty salons. More specifically, the present invention is directed to shampoo basins which are adapted for shampooing longer hair than is accommodated by present basins without dragging the hair on the bottom of the basin. A variable height screen may be positioned within the basin to vary the effective depth of the basin.
This application claims priority to the provisional patent application filed on Sep. 10, 2004 having Ser. No. 60/522281, which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTThis invention was not developed under a Government contract or through financial support resulting from a government contract.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraditional basins for shampooing hair as used in a hair salon or barber shop are adapted to wash short to medium length hair. The problem is that longer hair bunches up at the bottom of the basin, often sliding through the drain at the bottom thereof and contacting the unsanitary drain-pipe. Moreover, the bunching of the long hair causes substantial tangling, creating potential for further problems and damage to the hair. The resultant tangled hair must be combed and/or brushed by the stylist. The tangles caused by the prior art basins are often difficult to comb-out, inflicting pain on the client and substantial damage to the hair roots.
Moreover, using a wash basin known in the art, it is difficult to properly wash medium to long hair as the hair is all clumped at the bottom of the basin. The clumped hair limits complete coverage of all the hairs with the shampoo, which thereby prevents complete washing of all hairs. Additionally, similar problems are encountered when attempting to apply conditioners and cream-rinses because of the clumping or collecting of the hair at the bottom of the wash basin.
There is need in the art for a wash basin which provides solutions to these and other problems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a long hair shampoo basin for use at barber shops and beauty salons. More specifically, the present invention is directed to shampoo basins which are adapted for shampooing longer hair than is accommodated by present basins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention 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:
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a shampoo basin as generally depicted in
The basin body is preferably of single piece construction and may be formed from conventional materials that are known in the art, such as molded or formed stainless steel, ceramic-, porcelain-, or powder-coated metal, or appropriate plastic or polymer, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
The embodiment depicted in
Although not a part of the present invention, the present basin may be attached or associated with a wash or spray nozzle as currently used for the washing of hair.
In another embodiment, the wash basin has an adjustable vertical depth such that the stylist or person who will be washing the client's hair may increase or decrease the vertical depth of the wash basin, by introducing a lower screen (10) of suitable dimensions.
In yet another embodiment the wash basin has a plurality of apertures or spray heads (32), shown as dashed lines in
Other noteworthy features of the first embodiment of the invention include a water pressure and temperature control valve arrangement which is of a conventional design and which is typically utilized with conventional showers and bathtubs. Additionally, the fluid delivery conduit and fluid delivery line could be connected such that they could be selectively utilized or utilized simultaneously. This selective or simultaneous utilization could be controlled by a conventional manually operable valve arrangement or a valve arrangement in association with a foot operated water delivery switch whether electric or manually actuated, as is known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of foot control switches could be selectively or simultaneously engaged by the stylist to effect the desired selective or simultaneous delivery of water to either the fluid delivery conduit or fluid delivery line or to both. As is readily apparent, the foot operated water delivery switch arrangement allows for the hands of the stylist giving the shampoo and rinse to be free from controlling water flows so that the shampoo and rinse can more easily be completed. It is to be understood that the switch and valve assembly described is illustrative of numerous types and designs of switch operated valves which could be utilized in combination with the present invention, and it is within the intent and purview of the present invention to encompass all such conceivable and known designs.
Although the basin is shown in
Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention will occur readily to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. Therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the following claims which include all such other embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawings.
Claims
1. A shampoo basin comprising:
- a basin means having a plurality of sidewalls and a floor portion with a drain means disposed therein, at least one of the sidewalls having an upper rim portion having a substantially semi-circular notch formed therein for supporting a client's head during usage of said basin means, wherein the basin means has a depth comprising a distance between the notch and the floor portion, wherein the depth is adapted to accommodate long hair extending from the person's head so that the long hair is fully extended into the basin without contacting the drain means; and
- a rinse means disposed within said basin means proximate said notch, said rinse means comprising at least one spray nozzle in fluid communication with a water supply means and serving to supply liquid to a dorsal surface of the client's head and neck.
2. The shampoo basin of claim 1, further comprising a movable second floor portion is positioned vertically above and substantially parallel to said floor portion.
3. The shampoo basin of claim 2, wherein said second floor portion is a screen.
4. The shampoo basin of claim 2, wherein the second floor portion comprises means for supporting a container containing a treatment material.
5. The shampoo basin of claim 1 further including a water pressure and temperature control means for said water delivered to said rinse means.
6. The shampoo basin of claim 1, wherein said rinse means comprises one or more water directing spray apertures formed in said basin means and being positioned to direct a spray of water.
7. The shampoo basin of claim 1 further including a handheld rinse means comprising a flexibly movable spray assembly in fluid communication with a water supply means.
8. The shampoo basin of claim 7, further comprising means for independently directing water to said rinse means and said handheld rinse means.
9. The shampoo basin of claim 6, wherein said means for independently directing water further comprises electric switch means to operatively connect to actuate valves to control flow of water to said rinse means and said handheld rinse means.
10. The shampoo basin of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spray nozzles arranged substantially vertically along the sidewalls for directing water toward the long hair suspended within the basin means.
11. A shampoo basin designed to more efficiently rinsing with water the long hair of a person receiving a shampoo, said basin comprising:
- a basin means having a plurality of sidewalls and a floor portion with a drain means disposed therein, at least one of the sidewalls having an upper rim portion having a substantially semi-circular notch formed therein for supporting the person's head during usage of said basin means, wherein the basin means has a depth comprising a distance between the notch and the floor portion, wherein the depth is adapted to accommodate long hair extending from the person's head so that the long hair is fully extended into the basin without contacting the drain means;
- a first rinse means fixedly attached to said basin means proximate said notch, said first rinse means serving to supply water to a dorsal surface of a person's head and neck.
12. The shampoo basin of claim 11, further comprising at least a second rinse means fixedly attached to said basin means.
13. The shampoo basin of claim 11, wherein said first rinse means comprises a plurality of water spray directing apertures formed in said basin means.
14. The shampoo basin of claim 12, wherein said second rinse means is fixedly securable to said basin means.
15. The shampoo basin of claim 11, wherein said basin body portion is integrally molded from a solid material.
16. The shampoo basin of claim 11, wherein said basin body portion is integrally molded from a plastic or polymer material.
17. The shampoo basin of claim 11, further comprising a movable second floor portion disposed vertically above and substantially parallel to said floor portion.
18. The shampoo basin of claim 17, wherein said second floor portion is a screen.
19. The shampoo basin of claim 17, wherein the second floor portion comprises means for supporting a container containing a treatment material.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 16, 2006
Inventor: Kim Schulken (Escondido, CA)
Application Number: 11/162,475
International Classification: A45D 19/00 (20060101);