Cleaning comb with matter collecting means

Abstract

A comb for clearing hair from adhered matter, particularly lice and nits, the comb comprising a plurality of needles defining a spacing between needles and at least one matter collecting channel running along a combing side defined by the needles, the channel without extending into the spacing between needles.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A comb for cleaning hair, comprising 
 a handle portion,    a plurality of needles arranged side-by-side and defining a spacing between needles, the spacing being small enough to prevent any particle adhered to the hair passing through the spacing, the needles having a proximal portion retained in the handle and a distal portion including leading ends defining a leading edge, the plurality of needles defining two opposite combing sides, and    matter collector means in at least one of the combing sides, the matter collector means comprising:    at least one channel extending along the at least one combing side substantially parallel to the leading edge, the channel only extending on the at least one combing side without extending into the spacing between needles.    
     
     
         2 . The comb of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is defined by a recess in each needle, the recess being aligned and provided only in the periphery of the needle that forms part of the at least one combing side, whereby the recess of each needle does not extend into the spacing between the needles.  
     
     
         3 . The comb of  claim 2 , wherein each needle has a circular cross section defining a needle diameter and the channel has a deepness of about 20% to 25% of the needle diameter.  
     
     
         4 . The comb of  claim 2 , wherein the channel has a width of about 3 mm to 8 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The comb of  claim 2 , wherein the channel has a U shape cross section with right angles being defined between a bottom and walls of the channel.  
     
     
         6 . The comb of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom and walls of the channel are flat.  
     
     
         7 . The comb of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing between needles is about 5 μm to about 100 μm.  
     
     
         8 . The comb of  claim 2 , wherein each needle includes a plurality of grooves with a spacing of about 3 mm to about 5 mm from each other, each groove being provided only in the periphery of the needle that forms part of the at least one combing side, whereby the groove does not extend into the spacing between the needles.  
     
     
         9 . The comb of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves provide each needle with an extra resiliency to enhance the flexibility of the needles when combing the hair.  
     
     
         10 . The comb of  claim 2 , wherein each needle has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         11 . The comb of  claim 1 , wherein the comb is made of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The comb of  claim 1 , wherein the leading edge is a slightly curved edge.  
     
     
         13 . The comb of  claim 1 , wherein the matter collector means is provided in the two opposite combing sides, the matter collector means comprising at least one channel extending in each combing side without extending into the spacing between needles.  
     
     
         14 . The comb of  claim 13 , wherein the channel in each combing side is defined by a recess in each needle, the recess being provided only in the periphery of the needle that forms part of the combing side, whereby the recess of each needle does not extend into the spacing between the needles.  
     
     
         15 . The comb of  claim 14 , wherein each needle includes a plurality of grooves with a spacing of about 3 mm to about 5 mm from each other, each groove being provided only in the periphery of the needle that forms part of the at least one combing side, whereby the groove does not extend into the spacing between the needles.  
     
     
         16 . The comb of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of grooves provide each needle with an extra resiliency to enhance the flexibility of the needles when combing the hair.  
     
     
         17 . The comb of  claim 8 , wherein the grooves and the channel are about {fraction (1/10)} to about {fraction (9/10)} mm. deep.  
     
     
         18 . The comb of  claim 15 , wherein the grooves and the channel are about {fraction (1/10)} to about {fraction (9/10)} mm. deep.  
     
     
         19 . The comb of  claim 14 , wherein each needle has a circular cross section defining a needle diameter and the channel has a deepness of about 20% to 25% of the needle diameter.  
     
     
         20 . The comb of  claim 14 , wherein the channel has a width of about 3 mm to 8 mm and a U shape cross section with right angles being defined between a bottom and walls of the channel, wherein the bottom and walls of the channel are flat.