HAIR AND SCALP COMB SHAPED APPLICATOR NOZZLE
A comb shaped applicator nozzle used to dispense product from an aerosol canister or other similar standard dispenser to the hair or scalp of a user in a clean and efficient manner. The applicator nozzle includes a hollow base, a plurality of hollow tines extending from the base, and a stem also extending from the base. The stem has a tapered internal passageway which fits over a standard tapered dispensing nozzle. The taper of the stem passageway matches the taper of the standard dispensing nozzle. The friction between the two matching tapered surfaces causes the applicator nozzle to stay held in place when it is situated on the dispensing nozzle. When product is dispensed from the dispensing nozzle, it travels through internal fluid communication passageways of the hollow stem, hollow base, and hollow tines. The product exits through an orifice at the end of each tine and is deposited in thin streams onto the user's scalp or hair.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/142,449 filed 2021 Jan. 27 by the present inventor.
BACKGROUND—PRIOR ARTThe following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
Certain medications and cosmetics are intended to be applied directly to the scalp of a user in the form of a foam or fluid. There is often difficulty associated with this task because hair on the scalp obstructs direct access to the scalp. This results in messy application and wasted medication or cosmetic product.
Specifically, some medications are dispensed in the form of foam from an aerosol canister through a single round nozzle. When applying the foam to one's scalp using such a nozzle, the foam does not dispense effectively onto the scalp. The foam exits the nozzle and forms a glob on the scalp, which then has to be spread out over the scalp using one's fingers. This causes excess foam to absorb into the skin of one's hand and undesirably soak into the hair. As a result, foam is wasted and less absorbs into the scalp where it is intended.
Previously, several types of comb shaped applicators and nozzles have been proposed for applying a variety of products to the scalp, hair, and hair roots—for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,447 to Eldredge (1969), 5,339,839 to Forcelledo et al. (1994), 5,555,899 to Foreman (1996), 6,260,557 to Yarbrough (2001), 7,077,146 to Eckerson (2006), patent application publications 20,050,000,535 to Kim (2003), and 20,140,326,264 to Kong et al. (2014), and European patent specification 523460 to Ooshima (1993).
These devices can dispense substances onto to the hair or scalp, however they either directly incorporate some type of container or reservoir to hold the substance to be dispensed, or they incorporate a threaded connection so the device can be coupled with a plastic bottle or other standard threaded container. Therefore, these devices suffer from the following disadvantages:
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- (a) The applicator devices are used exclusively with specific containers, reservoirs, or threaded bottles respective to each device. This limits the use of the devices to the particular container, reservoir, or threaded bottle.
- (b) For some of these devices, the substance to be dispensed has to be transferred from its original container to the device's specific container or reservoir. For the other devices, the substance to be dispensed has to be transferred to a bottle with appropriate threads, which match the threaded connection on the device, if the substance is not already in such a bottle. This creates extra work, increases the potential to spill the substance, and may create extra waste if the substance cannot be put back into its original container.
- (c) Manufacturing a one-piece hollow applicator/nozzle with an inlet and multiple outlets is difficult and expensive.
In accordance with one embodiment a comb shaped applicator nozzle that can be easily connected to an existing standard singular, round, unthreaded dispenser nozzle to dispense foam or other fluid substances directly to the scalp of a user in a clean and efficient manner.
AdvantagesAccordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects are that the applicator nozzle can be used with and connected to an existing singular round dispenser nozzle, and that the product to be dispensed does not need to be transferred from its original container to a different container, reservoir, or bottle. Other advantages of one or more aspects are that the applicator nozzle can be manufactured cheaper and more easily. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
The stem 24 and stem passageway 30 both have a circular cross section along their axes. The stem passageway 30 travels along the axis of the stem 24 with the diameter of the stem passageway 30 reducing as it approaches the base 26. The base passageway 32 is cylindrical, and it travels longitudinally through the entire length of the base 26. The base passageway 32 breaks through both ends of the base 26. The stem passageway 30 connects to the base passageway 32. In each tine 28, the tine passageway 34 runs vertically along the axis of the tine 28. Each tine passageway 34 is cylindrical in shape and continues from the tip of the tine 28 towards the base 26 until it connects with the base passageway 32.
The applicator nozzle is used by holding the aerosol canister 38 upside down with the tips of the tines 28 (
The applicator nozzle allows the user to dispense fluid product directly onto their scalp in an easy and ergonomic manner while also reducing the amount of wasted product.
Detailed Description—Alternative Embodiment—FIGS. 7, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10Multiple alternative embodiments of the applicator nozzle can have different shapes or profiles at the end of each tine 28 (
Thus, the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the applicator nozzle provides an easier, more efficient, and cleaner way to apply fluid product from a standard aerosol canister or other similar standard dispenser directly to the scalp.
While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of various embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments.
For example, the number of tines and the length of each tine can be increased or decreased. The length of each individual tine can also be adjusted to modify the profile formed by the tine ends. For instance, the tine lengths could all be equal so that the ends of the tines form a flat profile rather than a concave profile. The cross-sectional shape of each tine can be changed as well. For example, the outer shape of each tine could be elliptical rather than circular.
Also, the positioning of the tines can be modified so that the tine axes are not coplanar. The size of the base can be increased, and the tines can be positioned in an array where the axes are substantially parallel, but not coplanar.
Additionally, the applicator nozzle could be manufactured in two halves with the body split vertically down the center through the plane formed by the tine axes. Both halves would be the same, and the base passageway would not break through either end of the base. The end caps would not be used, and the two body halves would be bonded together, ultrasonic welded, or joined by any other appropriate method.
The components of the applicator comb nozzle can be made from rigid plastic, flexible plastic, rubber, or metal using an appropriate method of manufacturing for the specific material.
Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Claims
1. An applicator for dispensing fluid directly on the scalp of a user, comprising:
- a. a hollow base having a longitudinal axis,
- b. a plurality of substantially parallel hollow tines of predetermined length extending from said base substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said base, with each of said tines having a tip,
- c. at least one orifice in each of said tips of at least some of said tines,
- d. a stem defined on said body having an axis obliquely angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of said body,
- e. a tapered substantially circular passageway through said stem with a predetermined diameter at the terminating end of said stem and a reduction in diameter towards said base to establish a taper of a predetermined angle,
- f. a fluid communication channel from said tapered circular passageway in said stem, through said hollow base, through at least one said hollow tine, to at least one said orifice,
- whereby a standard tapered cylindrical dispensing nozzle can be inserted into said tapered circular passageway in said stem of the applicator and fluid can be dispensed through said fluid communication channel out said orifices at the tip of said tines onto the user's scalp.
2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said tips of said tines comprise of a flat surface with said flat surface normal to the axis of said tine.
3. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said tips of said tines comprise of a flat surface with said flat surface obliquely angularly disposed to the axis of said tine.
4. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said tips of said tines comprise of a convex curved surface.
5. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said tips of said tines comprise of a concave curved surface.
6. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of said tines are all of equal length.
7. The applicator of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tines is of a different length than at least one other said tine.
8. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the axes of said tines are coplanar.
9. An applicator for dispensing fluid directly on the scalp of a user, comprising:
- a. a hollow base having a top, bottom, inside and outside,
- b. a plurality of substantially parallel hollow tines of predetermined length extending from said base substantially perpendicular to the top surface of said base, with each of said tines having a tip,
- c. at least one orifice in each of said tips of at least some of said tines,
- d. a stem defined on said body having an axis obliquely angularly disposed to the bottom face of said body,
- e. a tapered substantially circular passageway through said stem with a predetermined diameter at the terminating end of said stem and a reduction in diameter towards said base to establish a taper of a predetermined angle,
- f. a fluid communication channel from said tapered circular passageway in said stem, through said hollow base, through at least one said hollow tine, to at least one said orifice,
- whereby a standard tapered cylindrical dispensing nozzle can be inserted into said tapered circular passageway in said stem of the applicator and fluid can be dispensed through said fluid communication channel out said orifices at the tip of said tines onto the user's scalp.
10. The applicator of claim 9 wherein the axes of at least two said tines lie on a single plane and the axis of at least one other said tine lies on a separate plane.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 13, 2021
Publication Date: Jun 15, 2023
Inventor: Robert Folchi (Milford, CT)
Application Number: 17/549,803