Styling comb

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a styling comb that can be used to train stylists to make precisely angled cuts, the styling comb having a single spirit level with indicia corresponding to at least two predetermined angles. Particularly preferred embodiments of the styling comb have the same feel (e.g., weight, balance, etc.) as a standard styling comb.

1 . A styling comb, comprising:
 (a) an elongate spine;   (b) a first plurality of teeth extending from the spine, the teeth of the first plurality of teeth (i) being generally coplanar with, and generally parallel to, each other and (ii) having substantially the same width and thickness as each other; and   (c) a spirit level integrated into the spine, the spirit level including (i) a generally transparent casing integrated into the spine, (ii) liquid housed within the casing, (iii) a gas bubble housed within the casing, (iv) a first indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a first predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the first indicium, and (v) a second indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a second predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the second indicium.   
   
   
       2 . The styling comb of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined angle is zero degrees. 
   
   
       3 . The styling comb of  claim 1 , wherein (A) the first indicium is a first pair of lines that are each generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the first indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the first pair of lines, and (B) the second indicium is a second pair of lines that are each generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the second indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the second pair of lines. 
   
   
       4 . The styling comb of  claim 3 , wherein the first pair of lines is a first color and the second pair of lines is a second color. 
   
   
       5 . The styling comb of  claim 1 , wherein the spirit level further includes (vi) a third indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a third predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the third indicium. 
   
   
       6 . The styling comb of  claim 5 , wherein (A) the first indicium is a first pair of lines that are each generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the first indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the first pair of lines, (B) the second indicium is a second pair of lines that are generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the second indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the second pair of lines, and (C) the third indicium is a third pair of lines that are generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the third indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the third pair of lines. 
   
   
       7 . The styling comb of  claim 5 , wherein the first predetermined angle is zero degrees, the second predetermined angle is θ degrees, and the third predetermined angle is negative θ degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The styling comb of  claim 5 , wherein the spirit level further includes (vii) a fourth indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a fourth predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the fourth indicium, (viii) a fifth indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a fifth predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the fifth indicium, (ix) a sixth indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a sixth predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the sixth indicium, and (x) a seventh indicium on the casing indicating that the spine forms a seventh predetermined angle with the horizontal when the gas bubble is aligned with the seventh indicium. 
   
   
       9 . The styling comb of  claim 8 , wherein the first predetermined angle is zero degrees, the second predetermined angle is θ degrees, the third predetermined angle is negative θ degrees, the fourth predetermined angle is λ degrees, the fifth predetermined angle is negative λ degrees, the sixth predetermined angle is α degrees, and the seventh predetermined angle is negative α degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The styling comb of  claim 1 , further comprising (d) a second plurality of teeth extending from the spine, the teeth of the second plurality of teeth (i) being generally coplanar with, and generally parallel to, each other and the teeth of the first plurality of teeth and (ii) having substantially the same width and thickness as each other but being generally wider and thicker, and spaced further apart, than the teeth of the first plurality of teeth,
 wherein the first plurality of teeth stretch from near a first end of the spine to near the midline of the spine and the second plurality of teeth stretch from near the midline of the spine to near a second end of the spine.   
   
   
       11 . The styling comb of  claim 10 , wherein the spine includes (i) a first set of markings indicating distance increments from the first end of the spine to the midline of the spine and (ii) a second set of markings indicating distance increments from the second end of the spine to the midline of the spine. 
   
   
       12 . The styling comb of  claim 1 , wherein the spirit level is visible from the top and both sides of the styling comb. 
   
   
       13 . A method of performing one or more styling operations on hair, comprising:
 (a) providing a styling comb that includes:
 (i) an elongate spine; 
 (ii) a first plurality of teeth extending from the spine, the teeth of the first plurality of teeth (A) being generally coplanar with, and generally parallel to, each other and (B) having substantially the same width and thickness as each other; and 
 (iii) a spirit level integrated into the spine, the spirit level including (A) a generally transparent casing integrated into the spine, (B) liquid housed within the casing, (C) a gas bubble housed within the casing, and (D) first and second indicia on the casing; 
   (b) selectively positioning the styling comb such that the spine forms one of two or more predetermined angles with the horizontal, selectively positioning the styling comb including (i) aligning the gas bubble with the first indicium to form a first predetermined angle or (ii) aligning the gas bubble with the second indicium to form a second predetermined angle.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first predetermined angle is zero degrees. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first indicium is a first pair of lines that are each generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth and the second indicium is a second pair of lines that are generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and wherein aligning the gas bubble with the first indicium comprises positioning the styling comb such that the gas bubble is between the two lines of the first pair of lines and aligning the gas bubble with the second indicium comprises positioning the styling comb such that the gas bubble is between the two lines of the second pair of lines. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first pair of lines is a first color and the second pair of lines is a second color. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the spirit level further includes a third indicium on the casing, and wherein selectively positioning the styling comb optionally includes (iii) aligning the gas bubble with the third indicium to form a third predetermined angle. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein (A) the first indicium is a first pair of lines that are each generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the first indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the first pair of lines, (B) the second indicium is a second pair of lines that are generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the second indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the second pair of lines, and (C) the third indicium is a third pair of lines that are generally parallel to the teeth of the first plurality of teeth, and the gas bubble is aligned with the third indicium when the gas bubble is between the two lines of the third pair of lines. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first predetermined angle is zero degrees, the second predetermined angle is θ degrees, and the third predetermined angle is negative θ degrees. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the spirit level further includes fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh indicia on the casing, and wherein selectively positioning the styling comb optionally includes (iv) aligning the gas bubble with the fourth indicium to form a fourth predetermined angle, (v) aligning the gas bubble with the fifth indicium to form a fifth predetermined angle, (vi) aligning the gas bubble with the sixth indicium to form a sixth predetermined angle, and (vii) aligning the gas bubble with the seventh indicium to form a seventh predetermined angle. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first predetermined angle is zero degrees, the second predetermined angle is θ degrees, the third predetermined angle is negative θ degrees, the fourth predetermined angle is λ degrees, the fifth predetermined angle is negative λ degrees, the sixth predetermined angle is α degrees, and the seventh predetermined angle is negative α degrees. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the styling comb further includes (iv) a second plurality of teeth extending from the spine, the teeth of the second plurality of teeth (A) being generally coplanar with, and generally parallel to, each other and the teeth of the first plurality of teeth and (B) having substantially the same width and thickness as each other but being generally wider and thicker, and spaced further apart, than the teeth of the first plurality of teeth,
 wherein the first plurality of teeth stretch from near a first end of the spine to near the midline of the spine and the second plurality of teeth stretch from near the midline of the spine to near a second end of the spine.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the spine includes (A) a first set of markings indicating distance increments from the first end of the spine to the midline of the spine and (B) a second set of markings indicating distance increments from the second end of the spine to the midline of the spine. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the spirit level is visible from the top and both sides of the styling comb. 
   
   
       25 . A styling comb, comprising:
 (a) an elongate spine;   (b) a first plurality of teeth extending from the spine, the teeth of the first plurality of teeth (i) being generally coplanar with, and generally parallel to, each other and (ii) having substantially the same width and thickness as each other; and   (c) a spirit level integrated into the spine, the spirit level including (i) a generally transparent casing integrated into the spine, (ii) liquid housed within the casing, (iii) a gas bubble housed within the casing, (iv) indicating means for indicating which, if any, of a plurality of predetermined angles the spine forms with the horizontal.   
   
   
       26 . The styling comb of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of predetermined angles includes zero degrees. 
   
   
       27 . The styling comb of  claim 25 , further comprising (d) a second plurality of teeth extending from the spine, the teeth of the second plurality of teeth (i) being generally coplanar with, and generally parallel to, each other and the teeth of the first plurality of teeth and (ii) having substantially the same width and thickness as each other but being generally wider and thicker, and spaced further apart, than the teeth of the first plurality of teeth,
 wherein the first plurality of teeth stretch from near a first end of the spine to near the midline of the spine and the second plurality of teeth stretch from near the midline of the spine to near a second end of the spine.   
   
   
       28 . The styling comb of  claim 27 , wherein the spine includes (i) a first set of markings indicating distance increments from the first end of the spine to the midline of the spine and (ii) a second set of markings indicating distance increments from the second end of the spine to the midline of the spine. 
   
   
       29 . The styling comb of  claim 25 , wherein the spirit level is visible from the top and both sides of the styling comb.