Hydrophilic polyurethane structures and methods of using the same

Abstract

Fiber supports include a base and hydrophilic polyurethane foam that directly contacts the fibers while being elastic and flexible for reshaping. Hydrophilic polyurethane foam has a density to hold over nineteen times its weight in liquids that absorb into the fibers in direct contact with the foam over time. Supports may be any shape or size, and may be rigid or flexible. Cylindrical shapes are useable to permit winding, curling, or spiraling of fibers about the support. The fibers are directly affixed to the foam for support and shaping. A clasp may be clamped or snapped over the fibers and foam support to compress the two directly together. If the support is flexible, the foam may be reshaped with the fibers, holding the shape during wearing or drying. During such wearing or drying, liquid held in the foam may be absorbed directly into the fiber, resulting in favorable chemical treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roller for supporting fibers contacting the roller, the roller comprising:
 a base;   a hydrophilic polyurethane foam surrounding the base and forming an outermost surface of the roller, wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam is elastic and flexible.   
     
     
         2 . The roller of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam has a density of approximately 32 to approximately 120 kilograms per cubic meter and a cellular foam structure capable of holding liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The roller of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam has a structure capable of holding up liquid that is approximately 95% total weight of the foam and liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The roller of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 liquid fiber treatment absorbed into the hydrophilic polyurethane foam, wherein the liquid accounts for approximately 95% of the combined weight of the foam and liquid.   
     
     
         5 . The roller of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid fiber treatment is an aqueous solution including at least one hair conditioning solute. 
     
     
         6 . The roller of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a flexible tube being bendable at least 180 degrees about an axis. 
     
     
         7 . The roller of  claim 6 , wherein the base is further configured to maintain its shape upon being bend by a human user, and wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam elastically conforms to the shape without failure. 
     
     
         8 . The roller of  claim 7 , wherein the roller is cylindrical with a diameter of approximately 0.25-4 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The roller of  claim 1 , wherein the roller and the hydrophilic polyurethane foam are cylindrical, and wherein the foam extends completely around the roller so as to form a complete outer surface of the roller except for ends of the roller. 
     
     
         10 . The roller of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conditioner absorbed into the hydrophilic polyurethane foam in a volume having a weight greater than a dry weight of the hydrophilic polyurethane foam, wherein the conditioner and foam are configured to exude the conditioner over time when directly contacted by a fiber.   
     
     
         11 . A method of treating and shaping a fiber or fibers, the method comprising:
 affixing the fiber or fibers directly to an outermost surface of a roller for supporting the fiber or fibers, wherein the roller includes,
 a base, and 
 a hydrophilic polyurethane foam surrounding the base and forming the outermost surface of the roller, wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam is elastic and flexible. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the roller is cylindrical and wherein the affixing includes winding the fiber or fibers around a circumference of the roller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 attaching a clamp over the fiber or fibers and the roller so as to compress the fiber or fibers against the hydrophilic polyurethane foam.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the clamp is a rigid, unmovable clamp shaped to extend around the circumference. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 reshaping the base and the foam manually into a new shape, wherein the base and the foam hold the new shape following the reshaping.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 drying the fiber or fibers in direct contact with the hydrophilic polyurethane foam.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam has a density of approximately 32 to approximately 120 kilograms per cubic meter and a cellular foam structure holding a liquid that is approximately 95% total weight of the foam and liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber or fibers is a tress of human hair, and wherein the liquid is a conditioner that exudes over time into the tress. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber or fibers are wet, the method further comprising:
 drying the fiber or fibers in direct contact with the hydrophilic polyurethane foam.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrophilic polyurethane foam has a density of approximately 32 to approximately 120 kilograms per cubic meter and a cellular foam structure holding a conditioner that is approximately 95% total weight of the foam and conditioner, and wherein the drying further includes exuding the conditioner from the hydrophilic polyurethane foam into the fiber or fibers during the drying.