Neck strip and nail artist sheet for use in cosmetology services

Abstract

The invention includes a neck and clothing protector, a neck strip and a nail artist sheet and methods of using same that are especially designed for use in the cosmetology industry. Embodiments of the invention may include a rectangular strip of textured, flexible waterproof material of preselected dimensions wherein the body of the material is integral and does not have any scoring or perforations passing through its rectangular surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a Continuation-In-Part patent (CIP) Application of U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 11 / 205,592, issued Mar. 24, 2009 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,383. This CIP patent Application further claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 209,701 filed on Mar. 9, 2009, titled “NECK STRIP AND METHOD OF USING SAME”, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. Additionally, this CIP patent Application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 209,702 filed on Mar. 9, 2009, titled “NAIL ARTIST SHEET AND METHOD OF USING SAME”, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for protecting salon client and client's clothing during various cosmetology procedure...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a line of protective clothing and accessories for the cosmetology industry. The products are made of a flexible, waterproof material that is not scoring or perforated. The neck strip and nail artist sheet are designed to protect the neck and face from contamination during services. The dimensions of the products are described, and they can be packaged in different ways to prevent contamination. The methods of using the products are also described. The technical effects of the invention are to provide protective clothing and accessories for the cosmetology industry that are comfortable, flexible, and effective in protecting the neck and face from contamination."

Problems solved by technology

While towels are absorbent and can readily be used to dry the client's hair after shampooing, they also tend to become wetted by the shampooing and rinsing procedures.

Additionally, the cotton material in towels may wick the moisture and thereby transmit the moisture to the client's clothing underneath the towel.

This may be a minor inconvenience for some clients.

But, for other clients, especially those wearing dry clean only clothing, it is a serious problem that requires the client or the salon to pay for dry cleaning of the contaminated clothes.

Another drawback with using conventional towels is that they must be laundered after each procedure, thus, requiring additional expenditure of time, energy and money on behalf of the salon, which is undesirable.

While this combination of an absorbent neck strip and cape may be suitable for most cutting, styling or coloring procedures, it is generally unsuitable for protecting the client's clothing during shampooing.

This is because the capes may be loosely secured about the neck area and, thus, do not provide a water tight seal with or without an absorbent neck strip.

And finally, Sanek® Neck Strips may dissolve or disintegrate when wet, which is undesirable in the shampooing and rinse procedures.

First, double draping is too bulky for the client and the stylist.

The towels become wet and uncomfortable then generally have to be removed for easier access for the service being performed.

Second, double draping doubles the amount of towels that must be laundered for each client serviced, thus increasing costs, which is undesirable.

A conventional single drape method that eliminates the second towel of the double drape method still fails to solve the problem of welting the client's clothing and also tends to be bulky, though not as much so as the double drape method.

However, such plastic sheeting materials are generally uncomfortable because they stick to the client's skin.

Furthermore, because the plastic wrap readily sticks to itself, the plastic wrap is difficult to dispense and place over the clothing of the client.

But the Gettinger cape still suffers from the lack of sealing and wicking problems of conventional capes.

While the Morris-Jones bib could be used in salon procedures, it is not moisture impervious and would leave the problem of protecting a client's clothing during shampooing unsolved.

However, the Bolick et al. bib head opening also fails to provide a water tight seal around the neck.

However, the Baggetto device does not protect the client's clothing all the way around the neck.

This is a problem immediately after completion of the rinse procedure and as the client sits up from the reclining chair for drying of the hair.

Additionally, the Baggetto device may be uncomfortable when tied around the client's neck and the procedure for placing and tying the Baggetto device is time consuming for the cosmetology professional.

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