Hairbrush

Abstract

An apparatus for removing a hair tangle is provided that moves the hair brush having a first bristle on a rotatable brush element through the hair above the tangle in a first direction, pivots the first bristle on the rotatable brush element about a pivotal axis of the brush in a second direction if the hair tangle is encountered by the bristle, moves a second bristle on the rotatable brush element through the hair below the tangle, and moves additional bristles to a side of the tangle in order to release the hair tangle.

1 . A method for removing a hair tangle with a hair brush, comprising the steps of:
 moving the hair brush having a first bristle on a rotatable first brush element through the hair above the tangle in a first direction;   pivoting the first bristle on the rotatable first brush element about a pivotal axis of the brush in a second direction if the hair tangle is encountered by the first bristle;   moving a second bristle on the rotatable first brush element through the hair below the tangle; and   moving additional bristles to a side of the tangle in order to release the hair tangle.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising controlling the pivoting of the first and second bristles to enable the bristles to move more or less freely about the pivotal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the controlling step is performed by adjusting a thumb wheel coupled to a biasing spring. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further rotating independently the first brush element and a second brush element from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first brush element is configured to rotate through a range of angles up to and including over 360 degree about the pivotal axis of the brush. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising compressing the bristles toward the pivotal axis when the brush is pressed against a scalp. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the bristles are moveably mounted with respect to the brush elements so that when a force is applied to the bristles, a portion of the bristles retract into the brush elements. 
     
     
         8 . A brush for grooming hair, comprising:
 a brush body having a handle portion and a bristle carrier portion, wherein the bristle carrier portion includes a longitudinal axis; and   a plurality of brush elements moveably mounted on the bristle carrier portion and having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, the plurality of bristles extending generally radially outward from the plurality of brush elements and the plurality of brush elements being arrayed generally along the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the plurality of brush elements is configured to rotate independently from one another.   
     
     
         9 . The brush according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of bristles is configured so that when one of the plurality of bristles on the plurality of brush elements encounters a resistance from the hair, that respective brush element will move in an opposite direction of brushing thereby causing the one of the plurality of bristles encountering the resistance to move out of engagement with the hair. 
     
     
         10 . The brush according to  claim 9 , wherein another one of the bristles on the respective brush element will move into engagement with the hair at a location spaced from the location of the hair which caused the resistance. 
     
     
         11 . The brush according to  claim 8  further comprising an adjusting mechanism located within the handle portion and is operatively engaged with the plurality of brush elements to adjust a rotational resistance applied to the plurality of brush elements. 
     
     
         12 . The brush according to  claim 11 , wherein the rotational resistance is the amount of force that must be overcome in order to induce rotational movement of the plurality of brush elements about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The brush according to  claim 8 , further comprising a spacer element arranged along the bristle carrier portion and adjacent to a side of the plurality of brush elements. 
     
     
         14 . The brush according to  claim 13 , wherein the spacer element is a non-rotatable element. 
     
     
         15 . The brush according to  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a thumb wheel coupled to a biasing spring that moves a sliding mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The brush according to  claim 15 , wherein the sliding mechanism engages the plurality of brush elements and is configured to slide back and forth within the handle portion. 
     
     
         17 . The brush according to  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting mechanism is configured to press the spacer element and the plurality of brush elements together to increase the rotational resistance between them, wherein the increased rotational resistance opposes the rotational movement of the plurality of brush element about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The brush according to  claim 8 , wherein the bristles are configured to be movable towards the longitudinal axis to a compressed state when the brush is pressed against a scalp. 
     
     
         19 . The brush according to  claim 8 , wherein the bristles of the brush elements that do not encounter the resistance in the hair continue to brush through the hair and wherein the bristles are configured to be movable towards the longitudinal axis when the brush is pressed against a scalp. 
     
     
         20 . The brush according to  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting mechanism is configured to decrease the rotational resistance between the spacer element a plurality of the brush elements.