Hair Treatment Applicator

Abstract

An applicator ( 10 ) to apply liquid ( 32 ) to hair. The liquid may be a dye or other hair treatment liquid. The applicator ( 10 ) has a handle ( 11 ) that is hollow so as to provide a chamber ( 12 ) to store the liquid ( 32 ). Fixed to the handle ( 11 ) is a stem ( 16 ) having a passage ( 20 ) that receives the liquid, while there is fixed to the stem ( 16 ) an applicator portion ( 23 ) having apertures ( 26 ) communicating with the passage ( 20 ) so the liquid may be delivered by the applicator ( 10 ).

1 . An applicator to apply a liquid to hair, said applicator including:
 a handle to be gripped in a user's hand, the handle providing a chamber to receive the liquid to be dispensed by the dispenser;   a stem fixed to the handle so as to extend longitudinally therefrom, the stem having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal passage communicating with said chamber so that in use liquid from the chamber can flow longitudinally of the stem, said stem further including a socket communicating with said passage; and   an applicator portion located in said socket, said portion including a surface over which the hair is to pass and a duct extending from the passage to an aperture in said surface to which the liquid can be delivered, said portion being formed of resilient material so that said aperture is urged to a substantially closed configuration, with said portion when engaged by hair being resiliently deformed to cause the aperture to open to aid in the delivery of the liquid to said surface for the application to hair passing over said surface.   
   
   
       2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said stem is substantially rigid. 
   
   
       3 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said handle is substantially rigid. 
   
   
       4 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said handle is resiliently deformable so that a user may apply pressure to the liquid in said chamber by resilient deformation of the handle. 
   
   
       5 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said portion includes a plurality of teeth extending outwardly with respect to the stem, and said duct is one of a plurality of ducts extending from the passage, and said aperture is one of a plurality of apertures, each aperture being associated with a respective one of the ducts so as to receive the liquid therefrom, the apertures being located between adjacent teeth so that liquid can be delivered to between the teeth. 
   
   
       6 . The applicator of  claim 5 , wherein each aperture is a slit, with the slits being oriented generally longitudinally parallel to said axis so as to extend substantially longitudinally of said stem. 
   
   
       7 . The applicator of  claim 5 , wherein each aperture is a slit, with said slits being oriented so as to extend generally transverse relative to said axis so as to extend generally transverse relative to said stem. 
   
   
       8 . The applicator of  claim 6 , wherein said slits are between a pair of adjacent teeth. 
   
   
       9 . The applicator of  claim 8 , wherein said teeth are a first set of teeth, and said stem includes a second set of teeth extending outwardly relative to said axis in a direction generally opposite said first set of teeth. 
   
   
       10 . The applicator of  claim 5 , wherein said aperture is an elongated slit, with said portion having a longitudinal length and said slit extending a substantial portion of said longitudinal length. 
   
   
       11 . The applicator of  claim 6 , wherein adjacent the or each slit there is a slit edge portion projecting from said surface away from said axis, said edge portion being provided to aid in engaging hair to facilitate resilient deformation of said applicator portion to aid in opening the or each slit. 
   
   
       12 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the or each slit is located between a pair of edge portions, the edge portions extending from said surface away from said axis and being provided to aid in resiliently deforming said applicator portion to engage the hair to aid in opening the or each slit. 
   
   
       13 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said portion is removably located in said socket. 
   
   
       14 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator includes a bar attached to the stem and to extend longitudinally relative thereto and spaced therefrom so as to provide a gap between which hair may pass to aid in causing hair to pass over said surface. 
   
   
       15 . The applicator of  claim 14 , wherein said bar is pivotally attached to said stem for angular movement about an axis generally transverse of the stem. 
   
   
       16 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator includes a driven member located in the stem passage, and a motor operatively associated with said driven member and operated by a user to activate said driven member to cause movement of the liquid to the or each aperture. 
   
   
       17 . The applicator of  claim 16 , wherein said driven member is a spiral extending along the stem passage and having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the stem longitudinal axis, with said motor being located in said handle and operable to cause rotation of the driven member. 
   
   
       18 . An applicator to apply liquid to hair, said applicator including:
 a hollow stem providing a passage to receive said liquid, the stem having a socket communicating with said passage; and   an applicator portion located in said socket, said portion including a surface over which the hair is to pass, an aperture in said surface in liquid communication with said passage so as to receive the liquid therefrom, with said portion being formed of resilient material so that said aperture is urged to a substantially closed portion, with said portion when engaged by hair being resiliently deformed to cause the aperture to open to aid in delivery of the liquid to said surface for application to hair passing over said surface.   
   
   
       19 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said stem is adapted to be gripped by a user so the user may pass said surface over said hair. 
   
   
       20 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said stem is deformable by a user so as to apply pressure to said liquid to cause the liquid to flow to said aperture. 
   
   
       21 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said aperture is a first aperture, and said applicator portion has further apertures so as to have a plurality of apertures, with each aperture communicating with said passage. 
   
   
       22 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said applicator portion is elongated so as to extend in a direction generally transverse of an intended direction of travel over hair. 
   
   
       23 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein each aperture is a slit extending generally transverse of the applicator portion. 
   
   
       24 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein each aperture is a slit extending generally longitudinally of the applicator portion. 
   
   
       25 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said applicator portion in transverse cross-section extends from said stem to a longitudinally extending peak. 
   
   
       26 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein the applicator includes a handle attached to said stem, the handle being hollow so as to receive said liquid for delivery to said stem. 
   
   
       27 . The applicator of  claim 26 , wherein said handle is resiliently deformable so that pressure may be applied to said liquid to cause it to flow to said stem. 
   
   
       28 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said applicator portion is concave so as to provide a cavity communicating with said passage, with each aperture communicating with said cavity. 
   
   
       29 . The applicator of  claim 28 , wherein said applicator portion includes a longitudinally extending ridge within which each aperture is provided. 
   
   
       30 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said applicator includes a comb portion fixed to said stem and providing a plurality of teeth extending generally transverse relative to said applicator portion, with the teeth being located relative to said applicator portion so that hair passes between said teeth and over said surface. 
   
   
       31 . The applicator of  claim 18 , wherein said surface extends longitudinally relative to said stem and faces away from said stem in a predetermined direction, and said stem has projecting from it a plurality of comb-teeth that extend in a direction away from the stem. 
   
   
       32 . The applicator of  claim 31 , wherein said stem has a longitudinal axis, and the direction of said comb-teeth includes a direction component normal to said longitudinal axis.