GB2319175A

GB2319175A - Removing cut hair by vacuum

Info

Publication number: GB2319175A
Application number: GB9623551A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elizabeth Chrysanthou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-11-12
Filing date: 1996-11-12
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Also published as: GB9623551D0

Abstract

Loose hairs are removed from the neck of a person whose hair has been cut using a hand-held vacuum device having a relatively small elliptical suction opening surrounded by brush fibres. The body of the device contains an electric motor driven fan unit, filter and hair collection chamber. The motor may be reversible to provide a blowing action.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIRDRESSING This invention relates to hairdressing and more specifically to the removal of cut hair from the neck and adjoining visible body parts, hereinafter referred to as the 'neck' of a client.

Any hairdressing operation which involves cutting releases a multitude of cut or otherwise detached hairs.

Traditionally a bib/apron shield is placed round the client's neck and the hairdresser exercises his or her best endeavours to direct cut hair fragments onto this shield for removal. Nevertheless many detached cut hairs remain loose on the neck and a variety of hand brushes have been used in an attempt to dispose of them. It should be mentioned that, although modern hairdressing operations usually involve a wash which disposes of cut hairs present at the time of the washing, almost invariably some cutting takes place after washing so the problem remains.

It therefore almost invariably happens that a customer leaving a hairdressers has residual cut hairs on or around the neck which cause irritation. This problem, particularly acute with children, has been recognised for many years and remained without a solution.

In accordance with the present invention a method of removing cut hairs from the neck of a client comprises the step of applying to the neck suction from a hand-held appliance. Obviously it is the rear part of the neck which accumulates the most hairs. Positive air pressure can also be applied in addition to suction.

A hand-held hair dressing appliance in accordance with the invention comprises a body readily manipulable by a hairdresser, for example of the general form of a conventional hair drier, and a suction head with an end contact member of rounded and constricted cross-section which is arranged to apply suction to the neck of a client and draw off the cut hairs.

For this purpose the end contact member preferably has an elliptical end region and is of a relatively small cross-sectional area, for example an ellipse having a major axis of approximately 2.85 cm and a minor axis of approximately 1.85 cm. Also, to improve sealing contact, the elliptical edge region of said contact member may be in the form of upstanding brush fibres. Conveniently the elliptical end region should be oblique to a main axial direction of the appliance body as this assists in getting the appliance to an appropriate location on the neck.

The appliance also should include a dust collecting chamber to collect the hairs and allow them to be disposed of.

Usually the body will contain a fan-type suction impeller driven by an electric motor but connection to a remote source of suction is envisaged.

As mentioned above an appliance in accordance with the invention may have a similar appearance to a conventional hand-held hair drier and the accompanying drawings illustrate in four figures (top, bottom, side and front elevations) a prototype of the invention in this form.

The appliance includes a body 1 housing an electric motor (not shown) connected by an appropriate lead 2 to an electric power supply. An on/off switch 3 is also provided. The rotary direction of the electric motor is reversed as compared with a conventional hair drier so as to provide suction rather than a discharge of warm air and the internal heating element of such a hair drier is absent. In some cases it may be desirable to apply positive air pressure to the area of the neck or head to be cleared, and so reversing the air flow during use by reversal of the rotation of the electric motor as between sucking, then blowing, then sucking may be desirable.

At the front end of the appliance an elliptical end region including a suitable skin contact ring 4 of brush fibres or other soft material is provided. It should be appreciated that the appliance in accordance with the invention, in contrast to a hair drier is designed to contact or be in very close proximity of the back of the neck of the client to enable suction effectively to be developed.

The outer moulding of the appliance comprise three components, the nozzle and two halves of the body. The nozzle is detachable and forms the storage portion for collected cut hair. It houses a non-return flap to prevent collected hair from returning back down the nozzle. At the tip of the nozzle is the soft brush attachment to provide comfort when placed against skin.

The nozzle outlet as can be seen is in the form of an oblique ellipse having a major axis approximately 2.85 cm in length and a minor axis of approximately 1.85 cm.

This particular shape makes location on the neck with an adequate seal particularly effective.

The main body houses a suction fan and detachable filter.

A vent is positioned at the rear underside of the housing to allow filtered air to be expelled. The unit employs a compact mains driven motor and fan unit.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of removing cut hairs from the neck of a person who has received a hairdressing operation comprising the step of applying to the neck suction from a hand-held appliance.

2. A method according to Claim 1 in which positive air pressure is applied to the neck in addition to and at different times from the application of suction.

3. A hand held hair dressing appliance for carrying out the method according to any preceding claim comprising a body readily manipulable by a hairdresser, for example of the general form of a conventional hair drier, and a suction head with an end contact member of rounded and constricted cross-section which is arranged to apply suction to the neck of a person who has received a hairdressing operation and to draw off the cut hairs.

4. An appliance according to Claim 3 in which the end contact member has an elliptical end region and is of a relatively small cross-sectional area, for example an ellipse having a major axis of approximately 2.85 cm and a minor axis of approximately 1.85 cm.

5. An appliance according to Claim 4 in which the elliptical edge region of said contact member is in the form of upstanding brush fibres.

6. An appliance according to Claim 5 in which the elliptical end region is oblique to a main axial direction of the appliance body so as to assist in getting the appliance to an appropriate location of the neck.

7. An appliance according to any of Claims 3 to 6 which includes a dust collecting chamber to collect the hair and allow them to be disposed of.

8. An appliance according to any of Claims 3 to 7 in which the body contains a fan-type suction impeller driven by an electric motor.

9. An appliance for use in a hairdressing operation and substantially as herein described and as illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.