Combination hair comb and pick

Abstract

The invention provides a combination comb and hair pick which is particularly adapted for debraiding plat-styled hair. The device of the invention comprises a comb section, a pick section and an intervening body section. The pick section is contiguous with and extends from the body toward the bottom end of the device to form an angle of less than 90 degrees with the longitudinal axes of the comb teeth. This configuration provides a hooking action which prevents the pick section from slipping out of a pleat during the debraiding of the plat. The comb and pick operation of the device can be rapidly switched without releasing the device or radically reorienting the device. This is achieved by pivoting the device while it is held, so that either the comb section or pick section is brought in contact with the desired portion of hair.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hair grooming device having a top end, a bottom end and a vertical axis, the device comprising: 
 a body;    a comb section comprising a plurality of substantially parallel teeth contiguous and extending from the body, 
 wherein each tooth has a free end and a longitudinal axis, and  
 the free ends of the teeth define the bottom end of the device and the longitudinal axes of the teeth define the vertical axis of the device; and  
   a pick section contiguous with and extending from the body toward the bottom end of the device.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the vertical axis of the device and the pick section is less than 90 degrees.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pick section extends from the body at a point disposed above the comb section.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pick section is contiguous with and extends from the top end of the device.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pick section extends from the body at a point disposed below the top end of the device.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body section is offset with respect to the vertical axis of the device.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth have a uniform length.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth have varying lengths.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the pick section extends from the body at a point disposed above the comb section.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the pick section is contiguous with and extends from the top end of the device.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the pick section extends from the body at a point disposed below the top end of the device.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the body section is offset with respect to the vertical axis of the device.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the teeth have a uniform length.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the teeth have varying lengths.