Temporary Hair Coloring Kit

Abstract

A hair coloring apparatus includes a case having a base and a lid. The lid is pivotally coupled to a back wall of the base, the lid being movable between an open configuration providing access to an interior area and a closed configuration preventing access to the interior area. The apparatus includes a minor panel removably and pivotally coupled to the front wall of the base, the mirror panel movable between a storage configuration completely in the case interior area and a deployed configuration substantially displaced from the base interior area. A template member is situated in the base interior area that defines a plurality of recesses. A non-powder coloring substance and a powder coloring substance are situated in respective recesses. The apparatus includes first and second applicators, each one having a tip particularly configured to apply the powder and non-powder coloring substances, respectively.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 61/552,629 filed Oct. 28, 2011 titled Dispenser of Rolled Wet Wipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to hair care products and, more particularly, to a temporary hair coloring kit that enables a user to cover up undesirable gray hair roots or to lighten undesirable dark hair roots.

Artificially coloring one's hair is a common way that both women and men seek to maintain a youthful and well-groomed appearance. Sometimes hair coloring is even undertaken to express one's personality or to experiment with a brand new appearance. However, a person with dark hair sometimes just wants to temporarily cover up a few tinges of grey roots or, conversely, a person with light hair wants to cover dark roots.

Various products have been proposed in the art for temporarily covering gray or dark roots. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing products tend to make a user's hair appear wet or clumped together even after the treatment dries. In addition, the past proposals do not provide a device that is convenient to carry or use by busy consumers.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a temporary hair coloring kit that provides all of the items in a convenient kit that are needed to temporarily cover undesirable gray or dark hair roots. Further, it would be desirable to have a temporary hair coloring kit that is portable and easily storable. In addition, it would be desirable to have a temporary hair coloring kit that also provides a selectively positionable and removable mirror.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hair coloring apparatus according to the present invention for use by a person when coloring the roots of her hair includes a case having a base and a lid. The lid is pivotally coupled to a back wall of the base, the lid being movable between an open configuration providing access to an interior area and a closed configuration preventing access to the interior area. The apparatus includes a minor panel removably and pivotally coupled to the front wall of the base, the mirror panel movable between a storage configuration completely in the case interior area and a deployed configuration substantially displaced from the base interior area.

A template member is situated in the base interior area that defines a plurality of recesses. A non-powder coloring substance and a powder coloring substance are situated in respective recesses. The apparatus includes first and second applicators, each one having a tip particularly configured to apply the powder and non-powder coloring substances, respectively.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a temporary hair root coloring kit that enables a user to cover up undesirable gray or dark colored hair roots.

Another object of this invention is to provide a temporary hair root coloring kit, as aforesaid, that includes hair root coloring applicators and coloring substances in a compact case that is convenient to store, transport, and use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a temporary hair root coloring kit, as aforesaid, that includes a pivotally movable and removable mirror.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a temporary hair root coloring kit, as aforesaid, that is easy to use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a temporary hair root coloring kit, as aforesaid, that is economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temporary hair coloring kit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a temporary hair coloring kit as in FIG. 1 shown in an open and deployed configuration;

FIG. 3a is another perspective view of a temporary hair coloring kit as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3b is a perspective view of a temporary hair coloring kit as in FIG. 2 with the minor panel in a storage configuration; and

FIG. 3c is a perspective view of a temporary hair coloring kit as in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A temporary hair coloring kit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3c of the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that references to “coloring” hair should be understood as “covering” the hair temporarily rather than making a permanent hair color change.

The temporary hair coloring kit 10 includes a case having a base 30 and a lid 34 pivotally coupled to a back wall of the base 30. The lid 34 is selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to an interior area of the case 20 and an open configuration providing access to the interior area (FIG. 2). The lid 34 may be releasably coupled to the base 30 with a fastener 36 such as a clip, latch, lock, hook and loop fastener combination, magnet or other suitable fastener. Preferably, the case 20 is constructed of a hard plastic material that is durable and easy to clean although materials such as a lightweight metal may also be suitable.

Inside the case 20, a mirror panel 40 may be pivotally coupled to a front wall 32 of the case 20. When the case lid 34 is at the open configuration, the mirror panel 40 may be pivotally movable between a storage configuration completely inside the interior area of the case 20 and a deployed configuration outside of the interior area of the case 20. The mirror panel 40 may include a reflective mirror surface on one or both generally planar sides. It is understood that the minor panel 40 may be coupled to the front wall 32 with a type of hinge 42 or hinges that enable the panel 40 to be selectively positioned and maintained at a desired angle. Further, the mirror panel 40 may be removably coupled to the front wall 32 of the case 20 so that it may be selectively removed and used separately. More particularly, the hinges 42 and corresponding front wall interface may include complementary snap fit or pinch fit structures that are quickly and easily separated or connected.

The kit 10 may also include a template member 44 situated in the base 30. The template member 44 may include a foam construction that defines a plurality of recesses 46 configured to receive various types of brush members and hair coloring reservoirs as will be described below. The recesses may include at least a first recess configured to receive one type of coloring substance and a second recess configured to receive another type of coloring substance as will be described in more detail below.

The kit 10 may include a first applicator 50 having a first handle shaft 52 and a pointed tip 54. The kit 10 may also include a second applicator 60 having a second handle shaft 62 and a rounded tip 64. Applicators having other configurations or tips may also be included as different tip configurations are suited for respective applications. More particularly, a pointed tip may be best suited for coloring the roots of hair or applying a non-powder coloring substance whereas a rounded tip may be better suited for longer strands of hair or for applying a powder type coloring substance. The applicators are not limited to any particular size or configuration.

The kit 10 may include one or more coloring substances, such as an eye-shadow type of coloring substance or a powder type coloring substances. The coloring substances may be situated in respective recesses 46 of the template. Further, the coloring substances may be inserted into respective recesses at the point of manufacture or may be inserted by a consumer as needed or desired.

In use, temporary hair coloring kit 10 may be stored conveniently in a consumer's bathroom vanity, countertop, or purse for use as needed to temporarily color graying hair roots. When needed, the case 20 may be opened and the mirror panel 40 pivoted outwardly to a desired configuration so that the mirrored side is angled appropriately. A user may then select an applicator having a tip appropriate for the type of hair coloration desired. For instance, grey roots may be covered up by applying a dark coloring substance similar to eye shadow. Conversely, dark roots for a person with light colored hair may be lightened by applying a powder coloring substance. When finished, the applicator(s) may be returned to respective recesses 46 in the template member 44, the mirror panel 40 pivoted to the inside configuration, and the case 20 latched closed.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A hair coloring apparatus for use by a person when coloring the roots of her hair, comprising:

a case having a base, said base including a back wall, a front wall opposed to said back wall, and defining an interior area;

said case having a lid pivotally coupled to said back wall of said base, said lid being movable between an open configuration allowing access to said interior area and a closed configuration preventing access to said interior area;

a mirror panel pivotally coupled to said front wall of said base, said mirror panel movable between a storage configuration completely in said case interior area and a deployed configuration substantially displaced from said base interior area;

a template member situated in said interior area of said base that defines at least first and second recesses;

a non-powder coloring substance situated in said first recess;

a powder coloring substance situated in said second recess;

a first applicator configured to apply said non-powder coloring substance to hair roots; and

a second applicator configured to apply said powder coloring substance to hair roots.

2. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first applicator includes a pointed tip configured to apply said non-powder coloring substance to hair roots.

3. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said second applicator includes a rounded tip configured to apply said powder coloring substance to hair roots.

4. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said minor panel is selectively movable to said deployed configuration only when said lid is at said open configuration.

5. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 3, wherein:

said first applicator pointed tip is a brush; and

said second applicator rounded tip is a brush.

6. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 5, wherein:

said first applicator includes a handle shaft opposite said pointed tip; and

said second applicator includes a handle shaft opposite said rounded tip.

7. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said minor panel is coupled to said front wall of said base with a hinge.

8. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said lid is releasably coupled to said front wall of said base with one of a clasp, clip, latch, lock, hook and loop fastener combination, and magnet.

9. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said minor panel is configured to maintain a desired configuration between said storage configuration and said deployed configuration.

10. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mirror panel is removably coupled to said front wall of said base.

11. VA hair coloring apparatus for use by a person when coloring the roots of her hair, comprising:

a case having a base, said base including a back wall, a front wall opposed to said back wall, and defining an interior area;

said case having a lid pivotally coupled to said back wall of said base, said lid being movable between an open configuration providing access to said interior area and a closed configuration preventing access to said interior area;

a minor panel removably coupled to said front wall of said base, said minor panel movable between a storage configuration completely in said case interior area and a deployed configuration substantially displaced from said base interior area;

a template member situated in said interior area of said base that defines a plurality of recesses;

a non-powder coloring substance situated in a respective recess;

a powder coloring substance situated in another respective recess;

a first applicator removably situated in said base interior area and having a pointed tip configured to apply said non-powder coloring substance to hair roots; and

a second applicator situated in said base interior area and having a rounded tip configured to apply said powder coloring substance to hair roots.

12. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said mirror panel is selectively movable to said deployed configuration only when said lid is at said open configuration.

13. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said mirror panel is configured to maintain a desired configuration between said storage configuration and said deployed configuration.

14. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 11, wherein:

said first applicator includes a handle shaft opposite said pointed tip; and

said second applicator includes a handle shaft opposite said rounded tip.

15. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said lid is releasably coupled to said front wall of said base with one of a one of a clasp, clip, latch, lock, hook and loop fastener combination, and magnet.

16. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said mirror panel is configured to maintain a desired configuration between said storage configuration and said deployed configuration.

17. A hair coloring apparatus for use by a person when coloring the roots of her hair, comprising:

a case having a base, said base including a back wall, a front wall opposed to said back wall, and defining an interior area;

said case having a lid pivotally coupled to said back wall of said base, said lid being movable between an open configuration providing access to said interior area and a closed configuration preventing access to said interior area;

a minor panel removably coupled to said front wall of said base, said minor panel movable between a storage configuration completely in said case interior area and a deployed configuration substantially displaced from said base interior area;

a template member situated in said interior area of said base that defines a plurality of recesses;

a powder coloring substance situated in a respective recess;

a first applicator situated in said base interior area and having a rounded tip configured to apply said powder coloring substance to hair roots.

18. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:

a non-powder coloring substance situated in another respective recess; and

a second applicator removably situated in said base interior area and having a pointed tip configured to apply said non-powder coloring substance to hair roots.

19. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said mirror panel is selectively movable to said deployed configuration only when said lid is at said open configuration.

20. The hair coloring apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said mirror panel is configured to maintain a desired configuration between said storage configuration and said deployed configuration