Apparatuses, methods and systems for removing elastic bands from hair

Abstract

An elastic band removal apparatus includes a cutting element for removing elastic bands from hair. The cutting element may include a grasping element and an adjacent receptacle that are configured to engage a portion of an elastic band, as well as a severing edge configured to apply a localized pressure to the portion of the elastic band to cut or break the elastic band. The elastic band removal apparatus may comprise a comb, with the cutting element being carried by a spine of the comb, at or near an end of the comb. Methods for removing elastic bands from hair may include the use of such an elastic band removal apparatus. A grooming kit may include an elastic band removal apparatus, one or more elastic bands and a package for carrying the elastic band removal apparatus and the one or more elastic bands.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A grooming kit, comprising:
 at least one elastic band;   an elastic band removal apparatus, including:
 a handle configured to be grasped by a hand of an individual; and 
 a handle configured to be grasped by a hand of an individual; and 
 a cutting element, comprising:
 a fixed grasping element protruding from a back edge of the handle, the fixed grasping element including an inner edge that faces the back edge of the handle; 
 an intermediate edge continuous with the back edge of the handle and the inner edge of the fixed grasping element; 
 a receptacle defined by the back edge of the handle, the intermediate edge and the inner edge of the fixed grasping element; and 
 a single fixed blade carried by the back edge of the handle and the intermediate edge, the single fixed blade including a portion located above the back edge of the handle and oriented transverse to an orientation of the back edge of the handle, the cutting element configured to engage and cut an elastic band in hair; and 
 
   a package for carrying the at least one elastic band and the elastic band removal apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of elastic bands. 
     
     
         3 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic band removal apparatus comprises a comb. 
     
     
         4 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the single fixed blade is configured to cut through the elastic band. 
     
     
         5 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the single fixed blade is configured to apply a localized force to the elastic band. 
     
     
         6 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the grasping element comprise plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the single fixed blade comprises a same material as the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the single fixed blade comprises a different material from the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes features for receiving phalanges of the hand of the individual. 
     
     
         10 . The grooming kit of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to conform to a shape of the hand of the individual. 
     
     
         11 . A grooming kit, comprising:
 a plurality of elastic bands;   an elastic band removal apparatus, including:
 a handle configured to be grasped by a hand of an individual; and 
 a handle configured to be grasped by a hand of an individual; and 
 a cutting element defined by a portion of the back edge of the handle, the cutting element comprising:
 a fixed grasping element protruding from the back edge of the handle and including a grasping portion spaced apart from the back edge of the handle and extending in generally a same direction as the back edge of the handle; 
 a receptacle defined by the back edge of the handle and the fixed grasping element; and 
 a fixed cutting edge at a closed end of the receptacle, the cutting element configured to engage and cut an elastic band in hair; and 
 
   a package for carrying the at least one elastic band and the elastic band removal apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The grooming kit of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed cutting edge comprises a same material as the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The grooming kit of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed cutting edge comprises a different material from the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The grooming kit of  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes features for receiving phalanges of the hand of the individual. 
     
     
         15 . The grooming kit of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is configured to conform to a shape of the hand of the individual. 
     
     
         16 . The grooming kit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of elastic bands and the elastic band removal apparatus are contained by the package and visible through the package. 
     
     
         17 . A grooming kit, comprising:
 a plurality of elastic bands;   an elastic band removal apparatus, including:
 a handle configured to be grasped by a hand of an individual; and 
 a handle configured to be grasped by a hand of an individual; and 
 a cutting element defined by a portion of the back edge of the handle, the cutting element comprising:
 a fixed grasping element protruding from the back edge of the handle; 
 a peripheral edge defined by spaced locations of the fixed grasping element and the back edge of the handle that are located opposite from one another and by a continuous edge connecting the locations of the fixed grasping element and the back edge of the handle that are located opposite from one another; 
 a receptacle defined by the peripheral edge; and 
 a single fixed cutting edge within the receptacle, along at least a portion of the peripheral edge; and 
 
   a package for carrying the at least one elastic band and the elastic band removal apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The grooming kit of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of elastic bands and the elastic band removal apparatus are contained by the package and visible through the package. 
     
     
         19 . The grooming kit of  claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The grooming kit of  claim 19 , wherein the fixed cutting edge comprises a different material from the handle.