Hair brush

Abstract

To provide a hair brush capable of improving a degree of adhesion to the scalp.SOLUTION: A hair brush 1 comprises a body part and a brush part 20. The brush part 20 has a plurality of pins (first pins 51). The plurality of pins are erected from the surface of the body part (front surface 40A of a brush base 40). An imaginary surface V comprising the connected tips of the plurality of pins is recessed toward the surface of the body part. The brush part 20 has non-contact parts and contact parts. The non-contact parts are parts where the tips of the pins do not come in contact with the scalp in a use state, and the contact parts are disposed at both sides sandwiching the non-contact parts in the brush part 20 and are parts where the tips of the pins come in contact with the scalp in a use state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hairbrush. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional hairbrush. This hairbrush has a head portion and multiple rod-shaped protrusions standing upright from the brush surface of the head portion. The multiple protrusions include first protrusions and second protrusions. The first protrusions are arranged in the center of the brush surface in the width direction. The second protrusions are arranged on both sides of the area in which the first protrusions are arranged in the width direction. The second protrusions are shorter than the first protrusions. This reduces the resistance caused by contact between the second protrusions and hair when brushing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-81854 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, there is a demand for hair brushes that have tips of the protrusions in contact with the scalp for the purpose of cleaning and massaging the scalp. In this case, it is preferable to have as many protrusions as possible in contact with the scalp so that the brush can be tightly attached to the scalp. However, when relatively short protrusions are provided on both sides of a relatively long protrusion as in Patent Document 1, the long protrusions come into contact with the scalp and become stiff, preventing the other protrusions from contacting the scalp.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and has as its object to provide a hair brush that can improve the degree of contact with the scalp. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The hairbrush of the present invention is a hairbrush comprising a main body portion and a brush portion having a plurality of pins standing upright from the surface of the main body portion, wherein an imaginary surface connecting the tips of the plurality of pins is concave toward the surface of the main body portion, and the brush portion has a non-contact portion where the tips of the pins do not come into contact with the scalp when in use, and contact portions provided on both sides of the non-contact portion and where the tips of the pins come into contact with the scalp when in use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The hairbrush of the present invention has a configuration in which an imaginary surface connecting the tips of multiple pins is recessed toward the surface of the main body. Furthermore, a non-contact portion is provided where the tips of the pins do not contact the scalp, and contact portions are provided on both sides of the non-contact portion where the tips of the pins contact the scalp. With this configuration, the hairbrush of the present invention can reliably contact the scalp with the pins at the contact portions on both sides of the non-contact portion. Furthermore, the pins on both sides of the non-contact portion tend to contact the scalp in an oblique direction (a direction other than the normal direction) relative to the curved surface of the scalp. In this case, the pins that contact the scalp tend to collapse outward due to further pressing against the scalp. As a result, many pins at the contact portions can come into contact with the scalp. Furthermore, by collapsing the pins, not only the tips of the pins but also the side portions of the pins near the tips can come into contact with the scalp. In this way, the hairbrush of the present invention can improve its adhesion to the scalp. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a hairbrush according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the hairbrush according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a hairbrush according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a hairbrush according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the hairbrush according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a hairbrush according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a virtual surface according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating a brush part according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of use of the hair brush according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of how to use the hair brush according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram (part 1) showing a schematic diagram of the contact state between the pin and the scalp. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) showing a schematic diagram of the contact state between the pin and the scalp. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating a brush part according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] Photographs showing the condition of the scalp: (A) before washing, (B) after hand washing, and (C) after washing with a hair brush. [Figure 17] 1 is a graph showing the results of a sensory evaluation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the hairbrush of the present invention, the contact portion, where the tip of the pin contacts the scalp, can be arranged around the non-contact portion, where the tip of the pin does not contact the scalp. In this case, brushing can be performed without directional restrictions. For example, consider a case where the non-contact portion is arranged linearly and contact portions are arranged on both sides of such a non-contact portion. In this case, to brush effectively, it is necessary to avoid brushing in a direction along the extension direction of the non-contact portion, where the tip of the pin does not contact the scalp. In contrast, when the contact portion is arranged around the non-contact portion, brushing can be performed with the pins in the contact portion in contact with the scalp regardless of the direction of brushing. Therefore, the degree of freedom in brushing direction can be increased compared to when contact portions are arranged on both sides of the non-contact portion.

[0010] In the hair brush of the present invention, the brush section may have multiple pins standing upright and multiple regions with different tactile sensations. In this case, different brushing actions can be achieved by the different tactile sensations. For example, consider a case where two regions are provided: a relatively hard region and a soft region. In this case, different brushing actions can be achieved, such as the tips of the pins in the relatively hard region coming into strong contact with the scalp to penetrate and lift the roots of hair stuck to the scalp, or the pins in the relatively soft region loosening tangled hair.

[0011] In the hairbrush of the present invention, the multiple regions may include an inner region and an outer region located outside the inner region and having a harder feel than the inner region. In this case, the pins in the outer region lift and raise the hair, the inner region untangles the raised hair, and the outer region firmly contacts the scalp at the roots of the raised hair to provide a cleansing and massaging action, thereby effectively providing different brushing actions.

[0012] Example 1 Next, a hairbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for convenience, directions in the hairbrush are defined as follows: The direction parallel to the direction in which the pins of the hairbrush protrude is defined as the front-rear direction, with the protruding end of the pins defined as the front side and the base end defined as the rear side. The longitudinal direction of the hairbrush, which is perpendicular to the front-rear direction, is defined as the up-down direction, and the width direction of the hairbrush, which is perpendicular to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, is defined as the left-right direction. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis in each drawing indicate the respective directions, with the positive X-axis direction being the front side, the positive Y-axis direction being the left side, and the positive Z-axis direction being the top side. Note that these directions do not define the actual directions of the hairbrush when in use.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, the hairbrush 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a main body 10 and a brush head 20. In this embodiment, the main body 10 comprises a handle 30 and a brush base 40. The brush head 20 comprises a plurality of pins 50. The pins 50 stand upright from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which is the surface of the main body according to the present invention.

[0014] The handle 30 has an overall elongated shape extending vertically. The handle 30 has an upper handle body 31 at one longitudinal end and a lower handle portion 32 at the other longitudinal end. The handle 30 is formed by integrally molding the handle body 31 and the handle portion 32 from a thermoplastic resin such as ABS resin. The outer surface of the handle 30 is metal-plated. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rear surface of the handle 30 has multiple ridge-like ridges that undulate outward from the rear edge of a notch 31B (described later) on the right side of the handle body 31 to the lower end of the handle portion 32. Similar ridge-like ridges are also formed on the front surface of the handle portion 32. These ridge-like ridges not only provide a non-slip function when gripping the handle 30, but also contribute to improving the design.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle body 31 has an oval outer shape that is long along the longitudinal direction of the handle 30. As shown in Figure 3, the outer surface of the handle body 31 is formed flat on the front side. Specifically, the front side of the handle body 31 is a flat surface that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The rear side of the handle body 31 is formed into a gently curved surface that convex rearward. As shown in Figure 3, in a side view from the left and right, the handle body 31 is formed into a wedge shape whose thickness in the front-to-rear direction increases downward. As shown in Figure 4, in a plan view from above, the handle body 31 is formed so that its thickness is greatest at the center in the left-to-right direction.

[0016] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, an opening 31A is formed in the front surface of the handle body 31. The opening 31A has an oval inner shape that follows the oval shape of the handle body 31. The brush base 40 is fitted into the opening 31A. The opening 31A is formed to occupy most of the front surface of the handle body 31 excluding the peripheral edge portion.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, notches 31B are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the handle body 31. The notches 31B are formed by cutting the side surfaces of the handle body 31 from the front edge diagonally downward and rearward into groove shapes with an arc-shaped cross section. Two notches 31B are provided, side by side in the vertical direction. The notches 31B are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the handle body 31, symmetrically with respect to the left-right center of the handle body 31.

[0018] The handle 32 is connected to the lower end of the handle body 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 32 is gently curved forward from the lower end of the handle body 31. The front end of the handle 32 is located forward of the front face of the handle body 31. The left-to-right width of the handle 32 is smaller than the left-to-right width of the handle body 31. The handle 32 has an outer circumferential surface that is curved outward as a whole. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear face of the handle 32 forms a curved surface that is continuous with the curved surface formed by the rear face of the handle body 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the front face of the handle 32 is formed with a curved surface with a greater curvature than the rear face.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the handle 30 has a first constricted portion 33 and a second constricted portion 34. The first constricted portion 33 and the second constricted portion 34 are provided at the connection between the handle body 31 and the handle portion 32. The first constricted portion 33 is provided on the front side of the handle 30. The first constricted portion 33 forms a groove with an arc-shaped cross section that extends in the left-right direction between the flat surface formed by the front surface of the handle body 31 and the curved surface formed by the front surface of the handle portion 32. The second constricted portions 34 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the handle 30. The second constricted portions 34 form concave curved surfaces that smoothly connect the left and right side surfaces of the handle body 31 and the left and right side surfaces of the handle portion 32.

[0020] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the brush base 40 is plate-shaped. In this embodiment, the brush base 40 is formed by injection molding a thermoplastic resin such as polyacetal (POM). When viewed from the front, the brush base 40 has an oval shape similar to the oval shape of the opening 31A in the handle body 31. The brush base 40 fits snugly into the opening 31A in the handle body 31. The brush base may be made of resin such as ABS resin or polypropylene, but is preferably made of POM from the standpoint of resistance to shampoos, rinses, hair styling products, etc.

[0021] The front surface 40A of the brush base 40 is an example of the "surface of the main body" according to the present invention. A plurality of tufting holes 41 are formed in the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. In this embodiment, the tufting holes 41 are formed in nine rows in the left-right direction, with each row being a vertical row. The tufting holes 41 are formed at equal intervals in the up-down direction in each row, except for the portion corresponding to the non-contact portion 21, which will be described later. Each row of the tufting holes 41 is also arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the tufting holes 41 in each row are staggered relative to the tufting holes 41 in adjacent rows. A plurality of pins 50 constituting the brush unit 20 are individually inserted in the tufting holes 41. The tufting holes 41 are bottomed holes with a circular cross section. Each tufting hole 41 is formed to the same depth. The tufting holes 41 are formed so that their axes are parallel to one another. The axes of the tufting holes 41 all extend along the front-rear direction.

[0022] In this embodiment, the front surface 40A of the brush base 40 is recessed toward the rear. Specifically, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the front surface 40A has a dish-like surface shape that is most recessed at the center in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0023] 6 to 8, the brush base 40 has a through-hole 40B that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The through-hole 40B is formed in the center of the brush base 40 in the up-down and left-right directions. The through-hole 40B has an elliptical cross section with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction. An ion plate 60, which will be described later, is disposed in the through-hole 40B. The brush base 40 does not have tufting holes 41 formed around the through-hole 40B.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 7, the brush base 40 has claws 42 and 43. The claws 42 and 43 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the rear surface of the brush base 40, and are snap-fitted to engagement portions 31C and 31D formed on the periphery of the opening 31A, respectively. As shown in Fig. 8, the brush base 40 is attached to the inner surface of the opening 31A at both left and right ends of the rear surface with double-sided tape T. The brush base 40 is fixed to the handle body 31 by the engagement of the claws 42 and 43 and the adhesion of the double-sided tape T.

[0025] The ion plate 60 is a molded body made of a ceramic, resin, or other base material containing a substance that contributes to ion generation. The ion plate 60 can generate ions from the substance without applying voltage. As shown in FIG. 6 , the ion plate 60 is formed into a rectangular plate when viewed from the front. The ion plate 60 is disposed on the rear side of the brush base 40 and is exposed on the front surface 40A of the brush base 40 through the through-hole 40B. The ion plate 60 is sandwiched between the brush base 40 and the handle body 31 via an intervening member 61 disposed on the rear side. The intervening member 61 is made of an elastic member of a predetermined thickness with double-sided tape attached to both the front and rear surfaces. The intervening member 61 not only secures the ion plate 60 but also acts to urge the ion plate 60 forward by its elastic force, pressing it against the brush base 40.

[0026] The brush unit 20 has a plurality of pins 50. The plurality of pins 50 are erected from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, each pin 50 is planted in a plurality of tufting holes 41 formed in the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. Each pin 50 is made of a linear resin material such as nylon. Each pin 50 is elastically bendable. Each pin 50 is linear in its natural state. The tip of each pin 50 is machined into a spherical shape with a diameter larger than the diameter of the linear portion. The arrangement of each pin 50 when viewed from the front is the same as the arrangement of the tufting holes 41.

[0027] The pins 50 are erected by bending a linear material cut to a predetermined length and implanting the bent portion into the implantation hole 41. Therefore, in this embodiment, a pair (two) of pins 50 are erected per implantation hole 41. The pair of pins 50 consists of two types of pins: a first pin 51 that protrudes relatively long from the front surface 40A, and a second pin 52 that protrudes relatively short. Of the pins 51 and 52 with these two different lengths, the first pin 51 is an example of the pin according to the present invention. The protrusion lengths of the first pins 51 are set to the same length. The protrusion lengths of the second pins 52 are also set to the same length. The protrusion length of the second pins 52 from the front surface 40A is approximately 0.8 times the protrusion length of the first pin 51. Specifically, in this embodiment, the protrusion length of the first pin 51 from the front surface 40A is 21 mm, and the protrusion length of the second pin 52 from the front surface 40A is 16 mm. In the present invention, it is not essential to provide other pins that are shorter than the multiple pins, such as second pins 52 relative to first pins 51 as the multiple pins of the present invention. When other pins are provided, the length may be one type only, or three or more types. The other pins may be erected from the same tufting hole as the pins of the present invention, or may be erected independently from different tufting holes.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 9 , in the brush unit 20, an imaginary plane V connecting the tips of multiple first pins 51 is recessed toward the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. In other words, the imaginary plane V is recessed toward the base end of the first pins 51. In this embodiment, the imaginary plane V is a surface that approximates the curved surface formed by the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. This is because each first pin 51 is erected at the same length from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. Note that the mesh-like plane M shown in FIG. 9 is represented by connecting the tips of adjacent first pins 51 with straight lines. The imaginary plane V can be approximately represented as this mesh-like plane M. The imaginary plane V is recessed most toward the brush base 40 (rear side) at the center of the brush unit 20 and gradually rises toward the opposite side of the brush base 40 (front side) as it approaches the peripheral edge of the brush unit 20. Such imaginary surface V forms a continuous concave curved surface as a whole without local unevenness. The tip of the second pin 52 as another pin is located closer to the brush base 40 (rearward) than this imaginary surface V.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 10 , the brush unit 20 has a non-contact portion 21 and a contact portion 22. The non-contact portion 21 is the portion where the tips of the pins 50 do not touch the scalp when in use. The contact portion 22 is the portion where the tips of the pins 50 touch the scalp when in use. The contact portions 22 are provided on both sides of the non-contact portion 21. The use state is a state in which the front of the brush unit 20 is in contact with the scalp when in use. In this embodiment, the non-contact portion 21 corresponds to the portion of the brush unit 20 where the pins 50 are not erected. The contact portion 22 corresponds to the portion of the brush unit 20 where the pins 50 are erected. The non-contact portion 21 is provided in the central portion of the brush unit 20. In this embodiment, the contact portion 22 is provided around the entire periphery of the non-contact portion 21.

[0030] The brush unit 20 has multiple regions that experience different tactile sensations of hardness. These multiple regions are areas where multiple pins 50 are erected on the brush unit 20. "Different tactile sensations of hardness" refers to the sensory difference in the magnitude of the resistance force experienced by each pin that comes into contact with the scalp when the brush unit 20 is placed against the scalp. As shown in FIG. 10, the brush unit 20 has multiple regions: an inner region R1 and an outer region R2. The inner region R1 and the outer region R2 are each part of the region that constitutes the contact unit 22.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 10, the inner region R1 is located in the left-right center of the brush head 20. The inner region R1 is a region that feels softer than the outer region R2. The inner region R1 is a vertically long region in the left-right center where three rows of pins 50 are erected. The inner region R1 is located on the outside in the up-down direction, sandwiching the non-contact portion 21 therebetween.

[0032] The outer region R2 is located outside (closer to the outer edge) than the inner region R1. Specifically, the outer region R2 is located adjacent to the outer side of the inner region R1 in the left-right direction of the brush part 20. The outer region R2 is a region that feels harder than the inner region R1. In this embodiment, the difference in the feel of the inner region R1 and the outer region R2 is created by using different thicknesses and materials for the pins 50 erected in each region R1, R2. Specifically, the pins 50 in the inner region R1 are made of a thinner linear material than the pins 50 in the outer region R2. Furthermore, the pins in the inner region R1 are softer than the pins 50 in the outer region R2 due to the inclusion of an antistatic agent.

[0033] The operation of the hair brush 1 having the above-described configuration will be described together with how to use it. Here, how to use the hair brush 1 when washing hair will be described.

[0034] First, lightly brush the scalp and hair. This brushing should be done before wetting the hair. When brushing in this manner, it is recommended to grasp the handle 30 by the handle portion 32, as shown in FIG. 11. The handle portion 32 is located below and away from the brush head 20. Therefore, brushing by grasping the handle portion 32 is suitable for brushing a wide area with a snap of the hand. In addition, because the handle portion 32 is curved outward, it can be wrapped around and firmly gripped in the palm of the hand. Furthermore, wrapping the handle portion 32 in the palm of the hand allows the thumb and index finger to rest on the constricted portions 33 and 34, allowing for a more secure grip of the hairbrush 1.

[0035] Next, wet the scalp and hair, lather up a detergent such as shampoo, and apply it. Then, brush the scalp thoroughly to distribute the detergent. When brushing, as shown in FIG. 12, hold the handle body 31 with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger in the left and right notches 31B. The handle body 31 is located behind the brush head 20. Therefore, when brushing while holding the handle body 31, it is easy to apply force to bring the brush head 20 into close contact with the scalp. Furthermore, because the notches 31B are formed by cutting out the side of the handle body 31, your fingers can easily catch on them even with wet hands that are covered in detergent. As a result, slippage is reduced, allowing you to firmly grip the handle body 31. Furthermore, when the thumb, index finger, and middle finger are hooked into the notch portion 31B to grip the handle body 31, at least one of the ring finger and little finger can be hooked into the constricted portions 33 and 34, allowing for a more secure grip of the hairbrush 1. In addition, the notch portion 31B and the constricted portions 33 and 34 are provided symmetrically, so the hairbrush can be gripped in the same way regardless of whether it is held with the right or left hand.

[0036] In the hairbrush 1, the brush section 20 has an imaginary plane V connecting the tips of the multiple first pins 51 recessed toward the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which serves as the surface of the main body. This makes it easy to bring the tips of the first pins 51 of the brush section 20 into close contact with the scalp.

[0037] Furthermore, the brush unit 20 has a non-contact portion 21 and contact portions 22 on both sides of the non-contact portion 21, so that the first pins 51 in the contact portions 22 on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 can be reliably brought into contact with the scalp. As shown in FIG. 13, when the brush unit 20 is placed facing the scalp, the pins 50 in the contact portions 22 on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 tend to come into contact at an angle to the curved surface of the scalp. The first pins 51 that come into contact with the scalp are further pressed against the scalp and fall outward. This allows the further outer first pins 51 to come into contact with the scalp. As a result, many pins in the contact portions 22 can come into contact with the scalp.

[0038] In contrast, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, consider a brush part B in which pins P similar to the first pins 51 are provided all over the brush part B. That is, the brush part B shown in FIG. 14 does not have a portion corresponding to a non-contact portion. In this case, the pin P that first contacts the scalp tends to contact the scalp in a normal direction. Since the pin P that contacts the scalp in the normal direction is stretched against the scalp, the other pins P arranged outside of it have difficulty contacting the scalp.

[0039] Compared to such a brush unit B, the brush unit 20 according to this embodiment has a non-contact portion 21, which allows the brush unit 20 as a whole to have a superior degree of adhesion to the scalp. Furthermore, the brush unit 20 has an imaginary plane V connecting the tips of the first pins 51 that is recessed toward the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which provides even superior adhesion to the scalp. This allows brushing with more of the tips of the first pins 51 in close contact with the scalp, effectively providing scalp cleansing and massaging effects. Furthermore, the brush unit 20 has second pins 52 that are shorter than the first pins 51, which allows even more of the tips of the pins 50 to come into contact with the scalp, resulting in particularly excellent adhesion to the scalp.

[0040] When brushing using the hairbrush 1, it is recommended to brush in the direction in which the outer region R2 and inner region R1 of the brush unit 20 pass sequentially, i.e., parallel to the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the outer region R2 is located on the left and right outside of the inner region R1, which has a softer feel than the outer region R2. When brushing is performed so that the brush unit 20 moves parallel to the left-right direction, one of the left and right outer regions R2 passes first. The pins 50 in this outer region R2 penetrate into the gaps in the hair covering the scalp and lift it up. The pins 50 in the inner region R1, which pass next, untangle the hair lifted from the scalp. Then, in the outer region R2, which is passed last, each pin 50 can be suitably attached to the scalp through the gaps in the raised hair. By improving the degree of contact between the scalp and the tips of each pin 50 in this way, it is possible to suitably scrape off dirt adhering to the scalp surface and to suitably massage the scalp.

[0041] Furthermore, because the tip of each pin 50 is spherical, it can pick up and scrape away dirt adhering to the scalp during hair washing, and can provide a massage effect over a wider area by contacting a larger area with the scalp compared to when the tip is not spherical. Also, because the tip of each pin 50 is spherical, it can maintain its dirt scraping action even when the side portion of the tip of each pin 50 is in contact. In other words, when the tip of the pin is spherical, one of the surfaces of the spherical part faces the brushing direction, allowing dirt to be scraped away.

[0042] The hairbrush 1 also includes an ion plate 60. This allows the action of ions generated from the ion plate 60 to be applied to the scalp and hair. For example, sebum dirt has a negative potential, so a scalp with sebum dirt attached to it has a dominant positive potential, resulting in an imbalance of ions. In this case, the two potentials attract each other, strengthening the bond between the sebum dirt and the scalp. By emitting ions from the ion plate 60 toward such a scalp, the ion balance can be adjusted, weakening the bond between the sebum dirt and the scalp, and creating an environment that makes it easier to remove dirt.

[0043] After use, the hairbrush 1 is stored upright in the stand S (see Figure 1). Storing the hairbrush 1 upright in the stand S allows the hairbrush 1 to be properly drained after washing and keeps it clean. Furthermore, since the hairbrush 1 can be stored upright in the stand S, deformation of the pins 50 in the brush part 20 can also be suppressed.

[0044] As described above, the hairbrush 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a main body portion 10 and a brush portion 20. The brush portion 20 has first pins 51 as multiple pins. The multiple first pins 51 stand upright from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which is the surface of the main body portion. An imaginary plane V connecting the tips of the multiple first pins 51 is recessed toward the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. The brush portion 20 also has a non-contact portion 21 and a contact portion 22. The non-contact portion 21 is a portion where the tip of the first pin 51 does not come into contact with the scalp when in use. The contact portions 22 are provided on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 in the brush portion 20, and are portions where the tip of the first pin 51 comes into contact with the scalp when in use.

[0045] Therefore, the hairbrush 1 can reliably bring the first pins 51 in the contact portions 22 on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 into contact with the scalp. Furthermore, the first pins 51 on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 tend to come into contact in an oblique direction (a direction other than the normal direction) with respect to the curved surface of the scalp. In this case, the first pins 51 that come into contact with the scalp tend to be pushed further against the scalp and fall outward. As a result, many pins in the contact portions can come into contact with the scalp. Therefore, the hairbrush 1 can improve its adhesion to the scalp. Furthermore, the first pins 51 that fall outward come into contact with the scalp not only at their tips but also on the sides of their tips. Therefore, a larger area can come into contact with the scalp, further improving its adhesion to the scalp.

[0046] Furthermore, in the hairbrush 1, the contact portion 22 is provided around the non-contact portion 21. This allows brushing without any restriction on direction, increasing the degree of freedom in the brushing direction.

[0047] Furthermore, in the hairbrush 1, the brush head 20 has multiple regions, an inner region R1 and an outer region R2. The inner region R1 and the outer region R2 have multiple first pins 51 standing therein, and the tactile sensations they provide are different in hardness. This allows for different brushing effects due to the different tactile sensations.

[0048] Furthermore, in the hairbrush 1, the outer region R2 is located further outward than the inner region R1, and the outer region R2 feels harder than the inner region R1. As a result, different brushing actions can be effectively imparted in each region R1, R2, such as the first pins 51 lifting and raising the hair in the outer region R2, the inner region R1 untangling the raised hair in the outer region R2, and the first pins 51 firmly contacting the scalp at the roots of the raised hair in the outer region R2 to provide a cleansing and massaging action.

[0049] <Example 2> Next, a hairbrush according to Example 2 will be described. The hairbrush of Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that, as shown in Fig. 15, the outer region R2 of the brush head 220 is provided around the inner region R1. The other configurations are the same as those of Example 1, and the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0050] A hairbrush equipped with such a brush head 220 can brush hair without directional restrictions, while exerting the effects of each region with a different tactile sensation. For example, in the configuration of Example 1, when brushing in the up-and-down direction, there will be areas where only one of the inner region R1 and the outer region R2 comes into contact. In contrast, the brush head 220 has the outer region R2 provided around the entire periphery of the inner region R1, so that both the inner region R1 and the outer region R2 can be passed through regardless of the direction of brushing. Therefore, different brushing actions can be imparted to each region R1 and R2 without directional restrictions.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. (1) In Examples 1 and 2, the contact portion is provided around the non-contact portion, but the contact portion may be provided on the outside of the non-contact portion in either direction, such as on the outside in the left-right direction or the outside in the up-down direction. (2) In Examples 1 and 2, a configuration in which no pins are provided in the non-contact portion is exemplified, but this is not required. The non-contact portion may have pins whose tips are located closer to the surface of the main body portion than the tips of the pins in the contact portion that are closest to the surface of the main body portion in the contact portion, for example, having pins shorter than the pins in the contact portion. In this case, the pins in the non-contact portion may contact the scalp when the pins in the contact portion contact the scalp with their tips and are then further pressed outward so that the side surfaces of the tips come into contact with the scalp when the brush portion is brought into contact with the scalp. In other words, when pins are provided in the non-contact portion, it is preferable that the pins do not prevent the side surfaces of the pins in the contact portion from contacting the scalp. In this case, the pins provided in the non-contact portion may be configured not to contact the scalp until, for example, the pins in the contact portion contact the scalp with their tips and are further pressed outward so that the side surfaces of the tips come into contact with the scalp. For example, if the pin closest to the surface of the main body part in the contact part is used as the reference pin, the tip position of the pin provided in the non-contact part can be positioned at a distance of 0.5 times or more the length of the reference pin from the tip position of this reference pin. (3) In Examples 1 and 2, the brush part is exemplified as having multiple pins standing upright and multiple regions with different tactile hardnesses, but this is not essential. The brush part may, for example, have only one region with the same tactile hardness. When the brush part has multiple regions with different tactile hardnesses, the number of regions may be three or more. (4) In Examples 1 and 2, the main body has a handle and a brush base, but this is not essential. The main body may have parts corresponding to the handle and brush base formed integrally in advance. It is also not essential that the main body has a grip. If the main body has a grip, the shape of the grip is not limited to a curved shape. The shape of the grip is not particularly important as long as it is easy to hold. (5) In Examples 1 and 2, the pins are implanted in implantation holes in the main body, but this is not essential. The pins are not limited to those implanted in the main body, and may be integrally formed with the main body. (6) In Examples 1 and 2, the imaginary surface V is formed concavely by forming the front surface 40A of the brush base 40 as the surface of the main body portion into a concave shape, and by providing multiple first pins 51 of the same length from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. However, this is not essential. The imaginary surface V may be formed concavely by varying the length of each pin. In this case, a concave imaginary surface can be achieved without forming the surface of the main body portion into a concave shape. In other words, the "surface of the main body portion" according to the present invention may be a flat surface or may be formed convexly in the direction in which the pins protrude. (7) In Examples 1 and 2, the pin thickness and material were varied in each region as an example of varying the perceived hardness sensation. However, this is not essential. In addition to the pin thickness and material, other variations in the perceived hardness sensation may be achieved by varying the number of pins per unit area or the pin length in each region, or by combining two or more of these variations. Furthermore, the perceived hardness sensation can also be varied by providing other pins, such as the second pins exemplified in each of the above examples, that protrude from the surface of the main body shorter than the multiple pins according to the present invention. In this case, the perceived hardness sensation can be easily adjusted by, for example, changing the difference between the protruding length of the pin according to the present invention and the protruding length of the other pins. (8) When other pins are provided that protrude from the surface of the main body by a shorter length than the pins of the present invention, the protruding length can be, for example, in the range of about 0.7 to 0.9 times the protruding length of the pins of the present invention. If the protruding length is within this range, the second pin can easily come into contact with the scalp when the first pin is brought into contact with the scalp and then tilted down, and this makes it easy to improve the degree of adhesion to the scalp. (9) In Examples 1 and 2, a through-hole is formed in the brush base constituting the surface of the main body according to the present invention, and an ion plate is disposed behind the through-hole. However, this is not a required ion plate disposition. For example, an ion plate may be disposed in a recess formed by recessing the surface of the main body. Alternatively, the ion plate may be disposed directly on the surface of the main body. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to an ion plate, a substance that contributes to ion generation may be directly incorporated into the material constituting the main body or pins. (10) The hairbrush according to the present invention may include, for example, a component that performs another function instead of the ion plate. Examples of other functional components include a protruding functional component that functions as an acupressure point, or a functional component that functions to improve the design by, for example, displaying a logo. Furthermore, when a functional component is included, the functional component may have two or more different functions, such as an ion generating function, an acupressure point pressing function, and a design improving function.

[0052] Experiments were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the hair brush according to the present invention. Scalp cleansing experiments were conducted. A hair brush with the same configuration as in Example 1 was used as the hair brush according to the present invention. As a comparative example, a comparison was also made with hand-washing of the scalp. In each experiment, simulated soiling containing a mixture of sebum and impurities was applied to a test area of ​​the scalp in advance, and the scalp was cleaned for one minute using each method. The condition of the scalp was then observed using a microscope. The results are shown in Figure 16.

[0053] As shown in Figure 16, (A) shows the state before washing, and the state of artificial soil attached to the scalp can be seen. In (B) showing the state after hand washing, which is a comparative example, some of the artificial soil can be seen to have disappeared, but there are still areas that are not washed away, such as the areas indicated by the circles and arrows. In particular, in (B), there is a large amount of artificial soil that is not washed away at the base of the hair on the scalp (near the pores). This is thought to indicate that when washing by hand, the fingertips are not able to contact the scalp at the base of the hair.

[0054] In contrast, in (C) showing the state after washing using the hair brush of the present invention, no artificial dirt was observed on the scalp, including the base end of the hair. This is thought to be because the pins make good contact with the scalp and scrape off the artificial dirt that has adhered to the scalp. In other words, it is thought that the hair brush of the present invention allows the tips of each pin to adhere well to the scalp.

[0055] A sensory evaluation was conducted on the feel of using the hairbrush according to the present invention. After washing hair using a hairbrush with the same configuration as in Example 1, the sensory evaluation consisted of rating (1) scalp refreshment, (2) hair manageability, and (3) hair smoothness on a three-point scale. The evaluation was conducted by 48 subjects who used the hairbrush for one week. The results are shown in Figure 17. According to the results, more than 80% of the subjects felt that the hairbrush according to the present invention was effective in all three categories (1) to (3). In particular, more than 90% of the subjects felt that the hairbrush according to the present invention was effective in (1) scalp refreshment and (2) hair manageability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1. Hairbrush 10...Main body 20,220...Brush section 21...Non-contact part 22...Contact part 51...1st pin (pin) R1: inner region R2…outer area V...Virtual plane

Claims

1. A hair brush comprising a main body and a brush part having a plurality of pins standing upright from a surface of the main body, an imaginary plane connecting the tips of the plurality of pins is recessed toward the surface of the main body; The brush part of the hairbrush has a non-contact part where the tips of the pins do not come into contact with the scalp when in use, and contact parts on both sides of the non-contact part where the tips of the pins come into contact with the scalp when in use.

2. The hairbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is provided around the non-contact portion.

3. 3. The hair brush according to claim 1, wherein the brush portion has a plurality of regions in which a plurality of the pins are erected and which have different tactile hardnesses.

4. 4. The hairbrush according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of regions include an inner region and an outer region located outside the inner region and having a harder feel than the inner region.

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