Ultrasonic device for the treatment of hair and other fibers

Abstract

An ultrasonic device for the treatment of hair and other fibers. The device generally includes an applicator, capable of coupling a topically efficacious frequency to fibers, and an insulator, capable of preventing acoustic coupling of the topically efficacious frequency to a surface supporting the fibers.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A comb assembly for fibers comprising: 
 an applicator; and,    an insulator;    wherein said applicator is capable of coupling a topically efficacious frequency to said fibers when said fibers are in communication with said applicator; and,    wherein said insulator prevents acoustic coupling of said topically efficacious frequency to a surface supporting said fibers.    
     
     
         2 . The comb assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one protuberance disposed upon said insulator, wherein said at least one protuberance prevents acoustic coupling of said topically efficacious frequency to a surface supporting said fibers.  
     
     
         3 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one material reservoir for supplying at least one material wherein said at least one material reservoir is in fluid communication with said applicator.  
 
     
     
         4 . A fiber treatment device comprising: 
 a housing;    at least one ultrasonic generator fixably mounted to said housing;    at least one comb device coupled to said housing and cooperatively associated with said ultrasonic generator for contacting engagement with at least one surface of said ultrasonic generator;    wherein at least one fiber is positioned proximate to said ultrasonic generator when said ultrasonic generator is energized to a topically efficacious frequency; and,    wherein at least one product is dispensed to said at least one fiber and said topically efficacious frequency efficaciously deposits said at least one product to said at least one fiber.    
     
     
         5 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 at least one material reservoir for supplying said at least one product wherein said at least one material reservoir is in fluid communication with said applicator.  
 
     
     
         6 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 4  wherein said comb device is removeably coupled to said housing.  
     
     
         7 . A fiber treatment device comprising: 
 an ultrasound generator capable of converting electrical energy to a mechanical vibration having a topically efficacious frequency;    a comb device coupled to said ultrasound generator, said comb device at least partially encapsulating said ultrasound generator;    wherein said comb device and said ultrasound generator define a treatment region;    wherein a fiber to be treated is placed in said treatment region; and,    wherein said topically efficacious frequency is communicated from said ultrasound generator to said fiber.    
     
     
         8 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said topically efficacious frequency is from about 15 KHz to about 500 KHz.  
     
     
         9 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 8  wherein said topically efficacious frequency is from about 20 KHz to about 150 KHz.  
     
     
         10 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said comb device is acoustically insulated from said ultrasound generator.  
     
     
         11 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said comb device comprises an acoustically insulative material.  
     
     
         12 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said acoustically insulative material is compliant.  
     
     
         13 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 at least one material reservoir for supplying at least one material; and,  
 wherein said at least one material reservoir is in liquid communication with said comb device.  
 
     
     
         14 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of at least one material reservoir is removeably contained within said fiber treatment device.  
     
     
         15 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said comb device is removeably coupled to said ultrasound generator.  
     
     
         16 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said fiber treatment device efficaciously heats fibers treated thereby.  
     
     
         17 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said comb device has a plurality of protuberances disposed thereon.  
     
     
         18 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 17  wherein said protuberances have a variable spacing from each other.  
     
     
         19 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 7  wherein said comb device further comprises a fiber converging device for converging said fibers to a region proximate to said ultrasound generator.  
     
     
         20 . The fiber treatment device of  claim 19  wherein said fiber converging device is a reflector with a reflectance, R; 
 wherein said reflectance is expressed as:  
 |R|>0;  
 wherein  
           R   =         Z   2     -     Z   1           Z   2     +     Z   1           ;                   
 wherein  
 Z 1 =acoustic impedance of wet fiber; and,  
 Z 2 =acoustic impedance of said reflector;  
 wherein  
 Z2=ρ 2 c 2 ;  
 and,  
 Z 1 =ρ 1 c 1 ;  
 and,  
 wherein  
 ρ 1 =density of wet fiber;  
 ρ 2 =the density of said reflector;  
 c 1 =the acoustic velocity in wet fiber; and,  
 c 2 =the acoustic velocity in said reflector.