US3678943A

US3678943A - Portable hair washing and coloring unit

Info

Publication number: US3678943A
Application number: US143041A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leona M Noel; Leo J Hagel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-05-13
Filing date: 1971-05-13
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25
Also published as: GB1337097A; CA957454A

Abstract

Apparatus for caring for the hair while in a seated position and having a base attachable to the back of a chair and a wash basin projecting rearwardly of the upper end of the base. The base is provided with means whereby the unit can be adjusted vertically and there is a neckrest to support the back of the neck of the seated person.

Description

[451 July 25, 1972 United States Patent Noel et al.

v FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [54] PORTABLE HAIR WASHING AND COLORING UNIT [72] Inventors: Leona M. Noel, 2884 5th St.; Leo J. Bagel,

3/l923 Great Britain............................. 546,630 4/l956 Belgium.......... 515,531 2/1955 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-4. N. Eskovitz Attorney-Fetherstonhaugh & Co.

416-1207 Douglas St., both of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada [22] Filed: May 13, 1971 [2]] App]. No.:

ABSTRACT Apparatus for caring for the hair while in a seated position and having a base attachable to the back of a chair and a wash mhn m 1 m d ed mm 1] 8 55 [52] U.S.Cl...

basin projecting rearwardly of the upper end of the base. The base is provided with means whereby the unit can be adjusted vertically and there is a neckrest to support the back of the neck of the seated person.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,456,655 Hale..... ....................................132/9 3Claims,4l)rawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 I VII/ OIS L EONA M. NOEL LEO .1. HAGEL ATTORAIE PORTABLE HAIR WASHING AND COLORING UNIT Our invention relates to apparatus which is intended for use while shampooing or coloring the hair.

Many people find it awkward and inconvenient to wash their hair while bending over a sink since they are inclined to bump their heads on the faucets and the water and shampoo running down over the face sometimes into the eyes is annoying to adults and is particularly distressing to children. Women who use strong hair solutions or coloring tints must try and keep such liquids away from the face and eyes and this they find difficult to do while washing or tinting the hair in the normal forwardly-bent position.

We overcome this particular problem and avoid most of the discomforts usually experienced when caring for the hair by providing a unit which enables the washing to be done while seated with the head tilted back and the neck supported on a rest so that the face normally is not touched by the water, shampoo or other solutions. The present apparatus can readily be stored in a closet or elsewhere and, when required, can be removed and conveniently mounted on the back of a type of chair found in most homes, hospitals and the like, the chair normally being positioned alongside kitchen or bathroom sink. By adjusting the unit vertically on the chair, a wash basin of the device can be positioned at a height most suitable for either a seated adult or ajuvenile.

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a plan of a unit, in accordance with the present invention,

FIG; 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a detailed section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a clamp valve of the unit.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral indicates a portion of a typical chair such as may be used to support the present invention, the chair illustrated having a seat 11 and back 12.

Such a chair 10 provides a convenient means of mounting a unit generally indicated by the numeral 15 and comprising a base 16 and a wash basin 17. Preferably, the unit 15 is molded I of a suitable tough, hard-wearing, and readily cleaned plastic,

the base 16 and basin 17 being integrally formed by a single injection molding operation.

Base 16 is a hollow or substantially sleeve-like structure having a front wall or backrest 20, parallel side walls 21, and a rear wall 22. The wall 22 need only extend a short distance above lower edge 23 of the base 16 as shown in FIG. 2. This particular construction provides a substantially tubular and oblong base 16 which may he slipped over the back 12 of the kitchen chair so as to be supported thereby with the basin l7 projecting to the rear roughly parallel to the seat 11. The backrest 20 is partly concave or curved transversely between the side walls 21 of the base to conform to the curvature normally found on the back of most chairs. The rear wall 22 is adapted to engage the back 12 to prevent the upit 15 from tilting rearwardly whenever the seated person leans back as she is required to do when washing her hair in the basin 17.

In order that the wash basin 17 may be supported a suitable distance above the seat 11, the unit 15 is provided with means generally indicated at 30 for adjusting the base 16 substantially vertically of the back 12. As shown in FIG. 2 and in detail FIG. 3, the means 30 comprises a horizontal bar 32 which slidably projects through slots 33 formed in the side walls 21. The slots 33 are regularly spaced apart at suitable vertical intervals and the bar 32 is provided with a downwardly extending hand grip 35 (FIG. 3) on one end which is adapted to engage an adjacent side wall 21 whereby to limit sliding movement of said bar in that direction. Thus, the bar 32 can be mounted in a selected pair of horizontally aligned slots 33 to rest on the top of the chair back 12 and this arrangement enables the unit 15 to be lowered as would be required for a youngster or elevated for use by an adult.

Projecting from the sides of the wash basin 17 and connecting with the upper edge of the backrest 20, are horizontal top flanges 36 and 37 (FIG. I) which provides the basin with a small counter space on either side of the unit. The flange 36 is provided with L-

shaped slots

38 and 39 which extend inwardly from the outer edge of said flange as shown in FIG. 1, these slots being adapted to receive spray and drain hoses which will be described later. Flange 37 has a well 40 formed therein to house shampoo and other bottles as well as the numerous other accessories commonly used when washing or coloring the hair.

A substantially semi-circular recess is formed in the upper edge of the backrest 20 in the center of the unit 15, this downwardly curving recess extending a short distance into the rim of the basin 17 to provide a neckrest 44. Thus, a person occupying the chair 10 and tilting her head back so that her hair falls into the basin 17, can support her neck and head in a reasonably comfortable position.

Basin 17 has a short outlet pipe 46 and this centrally disposed pipe is adapted to be fitted with a drain hose 47 which may be some 6 feet in length. The flexible hose 47 conveniently can be secured to the outlet pipe 46 by a conventional hose clamp 48 and the opposite end 49 of said hose is fitted with a suction cup 50. By means of the cup 50, the open end 49 of the drain hose can be secured to the side of a bathtub, toilet, bathroom, or kitchen sink so that the contents of basin 17 can be drained away when required.

The unit 15 is provided with valve means 54 for controlling the flow of waste water through the flexible hose 47. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the means 54 may comprise a conventional drain plug 55 fitted to the outlet pipe 46 within the basin 17 but preferably, said means comprises a clamp valve 56 which can be secured to the hose 47. As shown best in FIG. 4, the clamp valve 56 consists of a metal spring which is shaped to provide top and bottom portions 58 and 59 connected by a semicircular bend 60. Opposite the bend 60, the portion 59 has an end portion 61 which projects upwardly towards free edge 62 of the portion 58. A stop 63 is formed on the end potion 61 and this stop is adapted to engage the free edge 62 when the portions 58 and 59 are pressed together against the resistance offered by the metal spring. Bend and the portions 59 and 61 have two

openings

64 and 65 through which the hose 47 projects when the clamp valve 56 is secured to the hose as shown in FIG. 4. The portions 58 and 59 have

opposing ridges

66 and 67 formed therein and, when the free edge 62 is positioned beneath the stop 63, these ridges crimp the hose 47 so as to cut off the flow of water therethrough. When the unit 15 is not in use, the hose end 49 is entered into the slot 38 so that the drain hose 47 is stored folded neatly beneath the basin 17.

The slot 39 is used to store a water supply hose 60 which is fitted with a spray head 61. Hose 60 is the type which has an end 62 capable of being attached to any kitchen or bathroom faucet, not shown.

The operation of the unit 15 will be easily understood from the above description but it should be noted the weight of the person seated in the chair 10 and leaning against the backrest 20 will hold the basin 17 steady during the hair washing procedure. The basin 17 may be filled using the hose 60 which is also used during the rising operation and the valve means 54 is actuated as required emptying the waste water. When the washing or tinting operation has been completed, the

hoses

47 and 60 are stored in the

slots

38 and 39 and after the unit 15 has been wiped off, it can conveniently be stored in a cupboard or elsewhere and the chair 10 returned to its normal position of use in the kitchen.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent we have provided a simple and inexpensively constructed article which would be found extremely useful not only in the home but in hospitals and other institutions as well. Sick or elderly patients who might not be able .to stand bent over a sink for any length of time might be capable of sitting in a chair beside their beds so as to have their hair washed in the unit 15. Water can be carried to the basin 17 in a jug and waste water could be temporarily stored in a bucket for later disposal when the unit is used in a location where a sink or the like is not available.

We claim:

1. Portable hair washing and coloring unit comprising a base attachable to the back of a chair, a rearwardly projecting wash basin on the upper end of the base, said wash basin having a drain pipe, a flexible hose connected to the drain pipe, and valve means for controlling the flow of waste water through the flexible hose, said base having a front wall providing a backrest for a person seated in the chair, and a neckrest between the backrest and the wash basin, said base being a sleeve-like structure telescopically fitting over the chair back and having side walls, each of said side walls having a plurality of vertically spaced slots, and a bar slidably extending through horizontally aligned slots to rest on the upper edge of the chair back and position the wash basin a selected distance above the chair seat.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which said valve means comprises a clamp valve attachable to the flexible hose, said clamp valve having opposing portions between which the flexible hose extends, one of said portions having a stop, and the other of said portions having a free edge engaged by the stop when the flexible hose is closed by the clamping action of the clamp valve.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2, and including a suction cup on an end of the flexible hose remote from the drain pipe.