Powder-Dispensing Device for Sanitary Grooming

Abstract

A grooming device that absorbs moisture or oil on a patron and applies a light layer of powder to the patron, thus enabling unwanted hair to be easily brushed off the patron. The device employs a powder-dispensing head made of mesh or woven material that permits powder to pass from the head through the holes in the mesh or weave. The head is connected to or integral with a holder that enables a user's hand to stay powder-free while using the device by preventing powder from escaping onto the hand of the user holding the holder. A retainer positioned at the intersection of the head and a holder creates the cavity in the head that holds the powder. Optionally, a head ribbon is attached to or integral with at least a portion of the head and is detachably connected to the holder of a second grooming device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A grooming device comprising:
 a) a powder-dispensing head having an inside surface and an outside surface, the head made of a mesh or woven material that permits powder to pass from inside the head to outside the head through the holes in the mesh or weave;   b) a holder having a distal edge wherein:
 i. the holder is connected to the head at an intersection; 
 ii. the holder further comprises at least one opening in communication with the head such that loose powder can be poured into the head through the holder; and 
 iii. the distal edge has a single V-shaped side opening in which the point of the V is near a retainer, the legs of the V extend from the retainer to the distal edge, and the V-shaped side opening creates flaps that drape outward from the holder while the powder is poured into the head through the holder; and 
   c) the retainer is positioned between the head and the holder, wherein the retainer cinches and relaxes the device at the intersection of the head and the holder and when cinched closes a cavity in which the loose powder resides.   
     
     
         2 . The grooming device according to  claim 1  wherein the entire outside surface of the head is exposed during use. 
     
     
         3 . The grooming device according to  claim 1  wherein the head has a curved outline and no points or corners. 
     
     
         4 . The grooming device according to  claim 3  wherein the head is U-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The grooming device according to  claim 4  wherein the head further comprises:
 a) a first face made of a flexible material, the first face having a U-shaped periphery; 
 b) a second face made of the flexible material, the first face having a U-shaped periphery, the faces connected together at their peripheries to form a peripheral edge, with the holder connected to the head at the open end of the U; and 
 c) a head trim attached to the peripheral edge to add structural rigidity such that the flexible material does not collapse upon itself. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein the head and holder are each made of terry cloth. 
     
     
         7 . The grooming device according to  claim 1  wherein the retainer slides within a casing that is disposed over the intersection. 
     
     
         8 . The grooming device according to  claim 1  further comprising loose powder in the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The grooming device according to  claim 8  wherein the retainer prevents loose powder in the cavity from escaping onto a hand of a user holding the holder. 
     
     
         10 . The grooming device according to  claim 1  wherein the inside surface and the outside surface are opposite sides of a single wall head. 
     
     
         11 . A grooming device comprising:
 a) a single-wall powder-dispensing head having a first end and a second end wherein:
 i. the head is curved at its first end, with no points or corners; 
 ii. the head has an inside and an outside surface, and the entirety of the outside surface is exposed during use; and 
 iii. the head is made of a flexible powder-permeable material that permits powder to pass from inside the head to outside the head through the material; 
   b) a holder having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the holder is connected to the second end of the head at an intersection having at least one opening in communication with the head such that loose powder can be poured into the head through the holder; and   c) a retainer positioned at the intersection of the head and the holder such that, when fastened, encloses the powder in the head.   
     
     
         12 . The grooming device according to  claim 11  wherein the retainer prevents powder in the head from escaping onto the hand of a user holding the holder. 
     
     
         13 . The grooming device according to  claim 11  wherein the distal end of the holder is discontinuous, having a single V-shaped side opening in which the point of the V is near the retainer and the legs of the V extend from the retainer to the distal end so that the V-shaped side opening creates flaps that drape outward from the holder while the powder is poured into the head through the holder. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the head is made of terry cloth. 
     
     
         15 . A grooming device comprising:
 a) a single-wall powder-dispensing head made of a flexible material that permits powder to pass from inside the head to outside the head through the holes in the material, wherein the head further comprises a first face having a U-shaped periphery and a second face having a U-shaped periphery, the faces connected together at their peripheries to form a peripheral edge and an interior cavity, wherein the first and second faces are not connected at the open and of the U;   b) a head trim attached to the peripheral edge to add structural rigidity such that the flexible material does not collapse upon itself;   c) a holder made of the flexible material, the holder having:
 i. a proximal end connected to the head at the open end of the U such that loose powder can be poured into the head through the holder; and 
 ii. a distal end having a single V-shaped side opening in which the point of the V is near a retainer, the legs of the V extend from the retainer to the distal end, and the V-shaped side opening creates flaps that drape outward from the holder while the powder is poured into the head through the holder; and 
   d) a retainer positioned at the intersection of the head and the holder, wherein the retainer cinches and relaxes the device to contain the powder in the head.   
     
     
         16 . The grooming device according to  claim 15  wherein the retainer slides within a casing that is disposed over the intersection. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein the head and holder are the same length. 
     
     
         18 . The grooming device of  claim 15  wherein the holder is as long as a user's palm, such that it is sized to enable secure grasping in the user's hand. 
     
     
         19 . The grooming device of  claim 15  further comprising a holder trim attached to the proximal end of the holder. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein the head and holder are each made of terry cloth.