Hair brush

Abstract

To provide a hair brush using a natural protein as a material, having soft touch with respect to scalp, having moderate hygroscopicity, and having excellent biological safety and biocompatibility.SOLUTION: In a hair brush 10, a plurality of wooden pins 11 having sharp tip ends are embedded in a wooden brush body 12 evenly in five lines in a width direction and four lines in a length direction. The pins 11 are round and sharp, and a silk fibroin layer 13 is formed in a distal end portion. The silk fibroin layer 13 contains anti-fungal agent and an antiseptic agent.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair brush that uses naturally occurring proteins such as silk fibroin, sericin, and keratin, which has a soft feel on the scalp, moderate moisture absorption, and excellent biosafety and biocompatibility. [Background technology]

[0002] Naturally-derived proteins have moderate hygroscopicity compared to synthetic resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and are characterized by excellent biosafety and biocompatibility.

[0003] For example, silk has excellent physical properties such as a pleasant feel, luster, moisture retention, and strength, and is also biocompatible, which is why it is used for surgical sutures. Research into utilizing these excellent properties of silk is being actively conducted.

[0004] As shown in Figure 1, silkworm cocoon thread, the raw material for silk, has a structure in which fibrous silk fibroin 1 is surrounded by sericin 2, and sericin 2 acts as an adhesive to bind the fibers made of silk fibroin 1. During the reeling process, sericin 2 is removed, and the fibers made of silk fibroin 1 are used as silk thread.

[0005] Silk fibroin is poorly soluble in water, but it can be dissolved by breaking the intermolecular hydrogen bonds with a highly concentrated salt solution. Also, a silk fibroin aqueous solution can be prepared by dialyzing a salt solution of silk fibroin against water (Patent Document 1).

[0006] Regenerated silk obtained from silk fibroin aqueous solution has the unique mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability that are characteristic of silk, and research is being conducted into its use as a medical material.

[0007] However, no hair brushes utilizing the above-mentioned excellent properties of silk fibroin are known, nor are any hair brushes made from naturally occurring proteins other than silk fibroin (such as sericin or keratin) as materials. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2007-515391 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and aims to solve the problem of providing a hair brush that uses naturally occurring proteins as its material, feels soft on the scalp, has appropriate moisture absorption properties, and is highly safe and biocompatible. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The hairbrush of the present invention is a hairbrush having a plurality of pins for combing hair and a brush body to which the pins are fixed, characterized in that a layer containing naturally occurring proteins is formed on the surface of at least the tip portions of the pins. Note that the term "hairbrush" as used herein also includes combs with only one row of pins.

[0011] In the hair brush of the present invention, a layer containing naturally occurring proteins is formed on the surface of at least the tip portion of the pin, making it soft to the touch against the scalp, moderately hygroscopic, and highly biosafe and biocompatible. As naturally occurring proteins, silk fibroin, sericin, and keratin derived from silk can be suitably used.

[0012] When using silk-derived silk fibroin, sericin, or keratin as the naturally derived protein, the silk fibroin layer formed on the surface of the tip of the pin comes into direct contact with the scalp when combing hair. Silk-derived silk fibroin, sericin, and keratin are pleasant to the touch and have moisturizing properties, so they can provide the scalp with just the right amount of stimulation and moisture. Furthermore, as evidenced by their use as medical materials, they are highly biocompatible and safe for the human body.

[0013] The pins may be made of materials commonly used in hair brushes (e.g., wood, nylon, elastomer, and other plastics), with wood being particularly preferred from the viewpoint of enhancing adhesion to the silk fibroin layer.

[0014] From the viewpoint of antifungal and antiseptic properties, the layer containing naturally occurring proteins preferably contains an antifungal agent and / or an antiseptic. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a silkworm cocoon thread. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the hair brush of the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hair brush according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1A to 1C are process diagrams showing a method for manufacturing a hair brush according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a photograph of a part of the hair brush of the embodiment taken from the side of the pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0016] Examples will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Example 1 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hairbrush 10 of Example 1 has a plurality of wooden pins 11 with tapered tips evenly embedded in a wooden brush body 12, with five rows in the width direction and four rows in the length direction. The pins 11 are rounded and pointed, and a silk fibroin layer 13 is formed on the tip portion (see Figure 3). The silk fibroin layer 13 contains an antifungal agent and an antiseptic.

[0017] In the hairbrush 10 of Example 1 configured as described above, the silk fibroin layer 13 is formed on the surface of the tip portion of the pins 11 used for combing hair, so that when combing hair, the silk fibroin layer 13 comes into direct contact with the scalp. Silk fibroin feels pleasant to the touch and has moisturizing properties, allowing for comfortable brushing and providing the scalp with appropriate stimulation and moisture. Furthermore, silk fibroin has excellent biocompatibility, making it highly safe for the human body. Furthermore, the brush contains antifungal agents and antiseptics, preventing mold and decay.

[0018] The hairbrush 10 of Example 1 can be manufactured by the method shown in FIG. (Main body preparation process S1) A hairbrush body is prepared. This hairbrush body is a normal wooden brush in the state before the silk fibroin layer 13 of the hairbrush shown in Figure 3 is formed.

[0019] (Soaking process S2) Prepare a silk fibroin solution. Silk fibroin solution can be obtained by dissolving commercially available silk fibroin in a water-organic solvent (e.g., water-ethanol) mixture. Place the silk fibroin solution in a container and immerse the tip of the hairbrush pin in the silk fibroin solution.

[0020] (Evaporation process S3) After the immersion step S2 is completed, the hairbrush body is removed and dried in a dryer. The solvent in the silk fibroin solution adhering to the tips of the pins is evaporated in this manner, yielding the hairbrush 10 of Example 1. Figure 5 shows a photograph of the hairbrush 10 of Example 1 taken from the side of the pin. Figure 5 shows that a silk fibroin layer 13 has been formed on the tips of the pins.

[0021] <Example 2> The hair brush of Example 2 has a protein layer formed by fixing fibroin made from silk, sericin, and keratin with an epoxy resin adhesive, instead of the silk fibroin layer 13 in the hair brush 10 of Example 1. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the hair brush of Example 1, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0022] The hair brush of Example 2 has a protein layer containing fibroin, sericin, and keratin, which have excellent moisturizing properties, formed on the tips of the pins, which provides the effect of providing appropriate moisture and moisturizing the hair when brushed. Furthermore, because protein has the property of adsorbing amino acids, which are components of dirt on the surface of the skin, it also has the effect of adsorbing and removing dirt from the hair. In addition, static electricity is less likely to be generated during friction, preventing hair from standing up due to static electricity and preventing electric shock due to static discharge.

[0023] ·Manufacturing method The hair brush of Example 2 was manufactured by mixing fibroin, sericin, and keratin into an epoxy-based adhesive and fixing it to the tip of a wooden pin, instead of the immersion step S2 in the manufacturing method of the hair brush of Example 1.

[0024] Example 3 The hair brush of Example 3 has a layer containing a protein layer in which fibroin and keratin are fixed with an epoxy resin adhesive, instead of the silk fibroin layer 13 in the hair brush 10 of Example 1. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the hair brush of Example 1, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] The hair brush of Example 3 has a protein layer containing fibroin and keratin, which has excellent moisturizing properties, formed on the tip of the pin. When brushing, the hair comes into contact with the keratin, providing the hair with the appropriate amount of moisture and maintaining its moisture. Furthermore, the protein layer has the property of adsorbing amino acids, which are components of dirt on the skin surface, and therefore also has the effect of adsorbing and removing dirt from the hair. Furthermore, static electricity is less likely to be generated during friction, preventing hair from standing up due to static electricity and preventing electric shock due to static discharge.

[0026] ·Manufacturing method The hair brush of Example 3 was manufactured by mixing fibroin and keratin with an epoxy-based adhesive and fixing it to the tip of a wooden pin, instead of the silk fibroin solution used in the immersion step S2 of the hair brush manufacturing method of Example 1.

[0027] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications within the scope of the claims and within the scope that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1...Silk fibroin, 2...Sericin, 10...Hair brush, 11...Pin, 12...Brush body, 13...Silk fibroin layer, S1...Main body preparation process, S2...Immersion process, S3...Evaporation process,

Claims

1. A hairbrush having a plurality of pins for combing hair and a brush body to which the pins are fixed, The hairbrush has a layer containing naturally occurring protein formed on the surface of at least the tip portion of the pin.

2. 2. The hair brush according to claim 1, wherein the naturally occurring protein is at least one of silk fibroin, sericin, and keratin contained in silk.

3. 3. The hairbrush according to claim 1, wherein the pins are made of a wood material.

4. 3. The hairbrush according to claim 1, wherein the layer containing the naturally occurring protein contains an antifungal agent and / or an antiseptic.

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