hairbrush

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 Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional hairbrush. This hairbrush has a head portion and a plurality of rod-shaped protrusions standing upright from the brush surface in the head portion. The plurality of protrusions have a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion is arranged at the central portion in the width direction on the brush surface. The second protrusions are arranged on both sides in the width direction sandwiching the region where the first protrusions are arranged. The second protrusion is provided with a shorter length than the first protrusion. Therefore, at the time of brushing, the resistance caused by the contact between the second protrusion and the hair can be reduced.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, there is a desire to use a hairbrush by applying the tip of a protrusion to the scalp for the purpose of scalp cleaning or massage. In this case, it is preferable that more protrusions can contact the scalp and the brush can be closely attached to the scalp. However, when there are relatively short protrusions on both sides of relatively long protrusions as in Patent Document 1, the long protrusions hit the scalp and stick out, so the contact of other protrusions with the scalp is inhibited.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a hairbrush capable of improving the degree of adhesion to the scalp.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The hairbrush of the present invention comprises a main body and a brush portion having a plurality of pins erected from the surface of the main body, wherein the virtual surface connecting the tips of the plurality of pins is recessed toward the surface of the main body, and the brush portion has a non-contact portion in which the tips of the pins do not touch the scalp when in use, and contact portions provided on both sides of the non-contact portion in which the tips of the pins touch the scalp when in use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The hairbrush of the present invention has a shape in which a virtual surface formed by connecting the tips of multiple pins is recessed toward the surface of the main body. Furthermore, a non-contact area is provided where the tips of the pins do not touch the scalp, and contact areas are provided on both sides of this non-contact area where the tips of the pins touch the scalp. With this configuration, the hairbrush of the present invention can reliably make contact with the scalp at the contact areas on both sides of the non-contact area. In addition, the pins on both sides of the non-contact area tend to contact the curved surface of the scalp at an oblique angle (not in the direction of the normal). In this case, the pins that have come into contact with the scalp tend to bend outward when further pressed against the scalp. As a result, many pins at the contact area can come into contact with the scalp. Furthermore, as the pins bend, not only the tips of the pins but also the sides of the pins on the tip side can come into contact with the scalp. In this way, the hairbrush of the present invention can improve the degree of contact with the scalp. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing a hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 2] This is a rear view showing the hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing a hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing a hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 5] This is a bottom view showing the hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 6]This is an exploded perspective view showing the hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 1. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 1. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the virtual surface according to Example 1. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the brush portion according to Example 1. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of using the hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of using the hairbrush according to Example 1. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram (part 1) showing the contact state between the pins and the scalp. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram (part 2) showing the contact state between the pins and the scalp. [Figure 15] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the brush portion according to Example 2. [Figure 16] These are photographs showing the condition of the scalp, with (A) before washing, (B) after hand washing, and (C) after washing with a hairbrush. [Figure 17] This graph shows the results of the sensory evaluation. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the hairbrush of the present invention, the contact portion, which is the portion where the tip of the pin contacts the scalp, can be provided around the non-contact portion, which is the portion where the tip of the pin does not contact the scalp. In this case, brushing can be performed without directional constraints. For example, assume a case where the non-contact portion is provided linearly and the contact portions are arranged on both sides of such a non-contact portion. In this case, in order to perform brushing effectively, it is necessary to avoid brushing in the direction along the extension direction of the non-contact portion, which is the portion where the tip of the pin does not contact the scalp. On the other hand, when the contact portion is provided around the non-contact portion, brushing can be performed by bringing the pins in the contact portion into contact with the scalp regardless of the brushing direction. Therefore, compared with the case where the contact portions are arranged on both sides of the non-contact portion, the degree of freedom of the brushing direction can be increased.

[0010] In the hairbrush of the present invention, the brush portion can have a plurality of regions where a plurality of pins stand and have different tactile sensations of hardness. In this case, brushing with different actions due to different tactile sensations of hardness can be performed. For example, assume a case where two regions, a region with a relatively hard tactile sensation and a region with a soft tactile sensation, are provided. In this case, different brushing actions can be imparted, such as strongly contacting the tip of the pin with the scalp in the region with a relatively hard tactile sensation and entering and lifting the roots of the hair sticking to the scalp, or loosening the knotted hair with the pins in the region with a relatively soft tactile sensation.

[0011] In the hairbrush of the present invention, the plurality of regions can include an inner region and an outer region located outside the inner region and having a harder tactile sensation than the inner region. In this case, different brushing actions can be effectively imparted, such as lifting and raising the hair by the pins in the outer region, loosening the entanglement of the hair caused in the inner region in the inner region, and in the outer region, strongly contacting the scalp at the roots of the raised hair by the pins to impart a washing and massaging action.

[0012] <Example 1> Next, the hairbrush of Example 1 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for convenience, the directions in the hairbrush are defined as follows. That is, the direction parallel to the protruding direction of the plurality of pins in the hairbrush is defined as the front-rear direction, the protruding end side of the pins is defined as the front side, and the base end side is defined as the rear side. Also, the longitudinal direction of the hairbrush orthogonal to the front-rear direction is defined as the up-down direction, and the width direction of the hairbrush orthogonal to each of 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 figure indicate the respective directions, with the positive direction of the X-axis being the front side, the positive direction of the Y-axis being the left side, and the positive direction of the Z-axis being the upper side. Note that these directions do not define the actual directions during the use of the hairbrush.

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

[0014] The handle 30 has an overall long shape in the up-down direction. The handle 30 has an upper handle main body 31 at one end side in the longitudinal direction and a lower handle portion 32 at the other end side. The handle 30 is formed by integrally molding the handle main body 31 and the handle portion 32 with a thermoplastic resin such as ABS resin. The outer surface of the handle 30 is plated with metal. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, etc., on the rear surface of the handle 30, a plurality of ridge-shaped ribs that undulate outward are formed from the rear end edge of a notch portion 31B, which will be described later, on the right side of the handle main body 31 to the lower end of the handle portion 32. Also, such ridge-shaped ribs are formed on the front surface of the handle portion 32. These ridge-shaped ribs contribute not only to the anti-slip function when gripping the handle 30 but also to the improvement of the design.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle body 31 has an elongated oval shape along the longitudinal direction of the handle 30. As shown in Figure 3, the outer surface of the handle body 31 is flat on the front side. In detail, the front surface of the handle body 31 is a flat surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The rear surface of the handle body 31 is a gently curved surface that is convex towards the rear. As shown in Figure 3, in a side view from the left and right directions, the handle body 31 is formed in a wedge shape, with the thickness in the front-rear direction increasing towards the bottom. As shown in Figure 4, in a plan view from above, the handle body 31 has the greatest thickness in the central part in the left-right direction.

[0016] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, an opening 31A is formed on 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 occupies most of the front surface of the handle body 31, excluding the peripheral edges.

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

[0018] The handle portion 32 is connected to the lower end of the handle body 31. As shown in Figure 3, the handle portion 32 has a shape that curves gently forward from the lower end of the handle body 31. The front end of the handle portion 32 is located in front of the front surface of the handle body 31. The width of the handle portion 32 is smaller than the width of the handle body 31. The handle portion 32 has a curved outer surface that is convex outward as a whole. As shown in Figure 3, the rear surface of the handle portion 32 forms a curved surface that is continuous with the curved surface of the rear surface of the handle body 31. As shown in Figure 5, the front surface of the handle portion 32 is formed by a curved surface with a larger curvature than the rear surface.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the handle 30 has a first constriction 33 and a second constriction 34. The first constriction 33 and the second constriction 34 are provided at the connection point between the handle body 31 and the handle portion 32. The first constriction 33 is provided on the front side of the handle 30. The first constriction 33 is a groove-shaped section with an arc cross-section that extends in the left-right direction between the flat surface of the front of the handle body 31 and the curved surface of the front of the handle portion 32. The second constriction 34 is provided on the left and right sides of the handle 30. The second constriction 34 is a concave curved surface that smoothly connects the left and right sides of the handle body 31 and the left and right sides 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 made by injection molding a thermoplastic resin such as polyacetal (POM). In a front view, the brush base 40 has an oval shape similar to the oval shape formed by 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 a resin such as ABS resin or polypropylene, but from the viewpoint of resistance to shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, etc., it is preferable to make it from POM.

[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. Multiple bristle holes 41 are formed on the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. In this embodiment, the multiple bristle holes 41 are arranged in nine rows in the left-right direction, with the vertical arrangement forming one row. Except for the portion corresponding to the non-contact portion 21 described later, the bristle holes 41 are formed at equal intervals in the vertical direction in each row. Each row of bristle holes 41 is arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. In addition, the bristle holes 41 in each row are arranged in a staggered pattern with respect to the bristle holes 41 in adjacent rows. Multiple pins 50 constituting the brush portion 20 are individually planted in the multiple bristle holes 41. The multiple bristle holes 41 are bottomed holes with a circular cross-section. Each bristle hole 41 is formed to the same depth. The multiple bristle holes 41 are formed so that their axes are parallel to each other. The axes of the multiple bristle holes 41 all extend along the front-back direction.

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

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the brush base 40 has through holes 40B that penetrate in the front-to-back direction. The through holes 40B are formed in the center of the brush base 40 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The through holes 40B have an oval cross-section with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction. An ion plate 60, which will be described later, is placed in the through holes 40B. In the brush base 40, no bristle holes 41 are formed around the through holes 40B.

[0024] As shown in Figure 7, the brush base 40 has claw portions 42 and 43. The claw portions 42 and 43 are provided at the upper and lower ends on the rear side of the brush base 40 and snap-fit ​​engage with the engaging portions 31C and 31D formed on the periphery of the opening 31A, respectively. Also, as shown in Figure 8, the brush base 40 is attached to the back surface of the opening 31A at both the left and right ends on the rear side using double-sided tape T. The brush base 40 is fixed to the handle body 31 by the engagement of these claw portions 42 and 43 and the adhesion of the double-sided tape T.

[0025] The ion plate 60 is a molded body containing a substance that contributes to ion generation in a base material such as ceramics or resin. The ion plate 60 can generate ions from the substance that contributes to ion generation without applying a voltage. As shown in Figure 6, the ion plate 60 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate when viewed from the front. The ion plate 60 is positioned on the rear side of the brush base 40 and is exposed on the front side 40A of the brush base 40 through a through hole 40B. The ion plate 60 is sandwiched between the brush base 40 and the handle body 31 via an intervening member 61 positioned 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 fixes the ion plate 60 and acts to bias the ion plate 60 forward by elastic force, pressing it against the brush base 40.

[0026] The brush section 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 this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, each pin 50 is planted in a plurality of bristle holes 41 formed on 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 straight in its natural state. The tip of each pin 50 is processed into a spherical shape with a diameter larger than the diameter of the linear portion. The arrangement of each pin 50 in a front view is equivalent to the arrangement of the bristle holes 41.

[0027] The pins 50 are erected by bending a linear material cut to a predetermined length and then implanting the bent portion into the flocking hole 41. Therefore, in this embodiment, one pair (two) of pins 50 are erected for each flocking hole 41. The pair of pins 50 consists of two types: a first pin 51 with a relatively long protrusion length from the front surface 40A, and a second pin 52 with a relatively short protrusion length. Of these two types of pins 51 and 52, the first pin 51 is an example of the pin according to the present invention. The protrusion length of each first pin 51 is set to the same length. The protrusion lengths of each second pin 52 are also the same. The protrusion length of the second pin 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 this invention, it is not essential to provide other pins that are shorter than the multiple pins, such as the second pin 52 in relation to the first pin 51 as part of the multiple pins according to the present invention. If other pins are provided, their lengths may be one type or three or more types. The other pins may be erected from the same hair implantation holes as the pins according to the present invention, or they may be erected independently from different hair implantation holes.

[0028] As shown in Figure 9, in the brush section 20, the virtual surface V formed by connecting the tips of the multiple first pins 51 is concave toward the front surface 40A of the brush base 40. In other words, the virtual surface V has a concave shape toward the base end side of the first pins 51. In this embodiment, the virtual surface 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 from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40 for the same length. The mesh-like surface M shown in Figure 9 is represented by connecting the tips of adjacent first pins 51 with straight lines. The virtual surface V can be approximately represented as such a mesh-like surface M. The virtual surface V is most concave toward the brush base 40 side (rear side) in the central part of the brush section 20, and gradually rises toward the opposite side of the brush base 40 (front side) toward the periphery of the brush section 20. Such a virtual surface V has a continuous concave curved shape as a whole, without any local irregularities. The tip of the second pin 52, which is another pin, is located on the brush base 40 side (rear side) of this virtual surface V.

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

[0030] The brush portion 20 has multiple regions that provide different tactile sensations of hardness. These multiple regions are areas on the brush portion 20 where multiple pins 50 are erected. "Different tactile sensations of hardness" refers to the subjective difference in the magnitude of resistance received from each pin that contacts the scalp when the brush portion 20 is applied to the scalp. As shown in Figure 10, the brush portion 20 has an inner region R1 and an outer region R2 as multiple regions. The inner region R1 and the outer region R2 are each parts of the regions that constitute the contact portion 22.

[0031] As shown in Figure 10, the inner region R1 is located in the left-right center of the brush portion 20. The inner region R1 is a region that feels softer in terms of hardness compared to the outer region R2. The inner region R1 is a vertically elongated region where the three rows of pins 50 are erected in the left-right center. The inner region R1 is located on the vertically outer side, flanking the non-contact portion 21.

[0032] The outer region R2 is located further out (closer to the outer edge) than the inner region R1. Specifically, the outer region R2 is located adjacent to the left-right outer side of the inner region R1 in the brush portion 20. The outer region R2 is a region that feels harder to the touch compared to the inner region R1. In this embodiment, the difference in tactile sensation between 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 and R2. Specifically, the thickness of the linear material used for the pins 50 in the inner region R1 is thinner than that of the pins 50 in the outer region R2. In addition, the pins in the inner region R1 are softer than the pins 50 in the outer region R2 because they contain an antistatic agent.

[0033] The function of hairbrush 1, as described above, will be explained along with its usage. Here, we will explain how to use hairbrush 1 when washing your hair.

[0034] First, lightly brush your scalp and hair. This brushing should be done before wetting your hair. When performing this brushing, it is best to hold the handle portion 32 of the handle 30, as shown in Figure 11. The handle portion 32 is located below the brush portion 20. Therefore, brushing while holding the handle portion 32 is suitable for brushing a wide area using a snapping motion of the hand. In addition, since the handle portion 32 is formed in a curved shape that is convex outwards, it can be wrapped around the palm and held firmly. Furthermore, when the handle portion 32 is wrapped around the palm, the thumb and index finger rest on the constricted portions 33 and 34, allowing for a more secure grip on the hairbrush 1.

[0035] Next, wet the scalp and hair, lather up shampoo or other detergent, and apply it. Then, brush so that the detergent is evenly distributed across the entire scalp. When brushing in this manner, it is best to grip the handle body 31 by placing your thumb, index finger, and middle finger on the left and right notches 31B, as shown in Figure 12. The handle body 31 is located behind the brush part 20. Therefore, brushing while gripping the handle body 31 makes it easier to apply force to keep the brush part 20 in close contact with the scalp. In addition, since the notches 31B are formed by cutting out the sides of the handle body 31, it is easy for your fingers to get a grip even with wet hands that have detergent on them. As a result, slippage is suppressed, and you can firmly grip the handle body 31. Furthermore, when the handle body 31 is gripped by hooking the thumb, index finger, and middle finger into the notch 31B, at least one of the ring finger and little finger can be placed on the constricted portions 33 and 34, allowing for a more secure grip on the hairbrush 1. In addition, since the notch 31B and the constricted portions 33 and 34 are provided symmetrically, the hairbrush can be gripped similarly regardless of whether the user is using their right or left hand.

[0036] In the hairbrush 1, the brush portion 20 has a virtual surface V formed by connecting the tips of multiple first pins 51, which is recessed on the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which is the surface of the main body. This makes it easy to bring the tips of each first pin 51 in the brush portion 20 into close contact with the scalp.

[0037] Furthermore, the brush portion 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 on 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 Figure 13, when the brush portion 20 is placed facing the scalp, the pins 50 on the contact portions 22 on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 tend to contact the curved surface of the scalp at an oblique angle. The first pins 51 that have come into contact with the scalp are bent outward by being pressed further against the scalp. This allows the outermost first pins 51 to come into contact with the scalp. As a result, many pins on the contact portion 22 can come into contact with the scalp.

[0038] In contrast, consider, for example, a brush section B where pins P similar to the first pin 51 are provided throughout, as shown in Figure 14. That is, the brush section B shown in Figure 14 does not have a non-contact portion. In this case, the pin P that first contacts the scalp is likely to contact the scalp in the direction normal to the scalp. Because the pin P that contacts in the direction normal to the scalp becomes stiff against the scalp, the other pins P located outside of it will have difficulty contacting the scalp.

[0039] Compared to such a brush section B, the brush section 20 in this embodiment has a non-contact section 21, resulting in superior adhesion to the scalp as a whole. Furthermore, the brush section 20 has a shape in which the virtual surface V, formed by connecting the tips of the first pins 51, is recessed toward the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, thus providing even better adhesion to the scalp. As a result, brushing can be performed with more of the tips of each first pin 51 in contact with the scalp, effectively providing cleansing and massage effects to the scalp. Moreover, since the brush section 20 has second pins 52 that are shorter than the first pins 51, even more of the tips of the pins 50 can come into contact with the scalp, resulting in particularly superior adhesion to the scalp.

[0040] When brushing with the hairbrush 1, it is best to brush in a direction parallel to the left and right, that is, in a direction in which the outer region R2 and inner region R1 of the brush part 20 pass sequentially. In this embodiment, the outer region R2 is located to the left and right of the outer region R1, which has a softer feel than the outer region R2. When brushing is performed so that the brush part 20 moves parallel to the left and right, one of the outer regions R2 passes first. The pins 50 in this outer region R2 play the role of getting into the gaps in the hair that covers the scalp and lifting it. The pins 50 in the inner region R1, which are passed next, untangle the hair that has been lifted from the scalp. Finally, in the outer region R2, which is passed last, each pin 50 can make suitable contact with the scalp from the gaps in the lifted hair. By improving the degree of contact between the scalp and the tip of each pin 50 in this way, it is possible to suitably scrape off dirt attached to the scalp surface and suitably provide a massage effect to the scalp.

[0041] Furthermore, since the tip of each pin 50 is shaped like a sphere, it can trap and remove dirt attached to the scalp during shampooing, and during massage, it can apply a larger surface area to the scalp compared to when the tip is not shaped like a sphere, thus providing a wider massage effect. Also, because the tip of each pin 50 is shaped like a sphere, the dirt-removing action can be maintained even when the side surface of the tip of each pin 50 is in contact with the scalp. In other words, when the tip of a pin is shaped like a sphere, one of the surfaces of the sphere is created that faces the direction of brushing, allowing dirt to be removed.

[0042] Furthermore, the hairbrush 1 is equipped with an ion plate 60. This allows the effects of ions generated from the ion plate 60 to be applied to the scalp and hair. For example, since sebum has a negative potential, a scalp with sebum attached becomes predominantly positive in potential, resulting in an imbalance of ions. In this case, the sebum and scalp are attracted to each other by their respective potentials, strengthening the bond between them. By releasing ions from the ion plate 60 towards such a scalp, it is expected that the ion balance will be restored, the bond between the sebum and scalp will weaken, and an environment will be created where dirt can be easily removed.

[0043] After using the hairbrush 1, store it upright in the stand S (see Figure 1). Storing the hairbrush 1 upright in the stand S allows for proper draining of water after washing hair, keeping it clean. Furthermore, because the hairbrush 1 is stored upright in the stand S, deformation of each pin 50 in the brush section 20 is suppressed.

[0044] As described above, the hairbrush 1 according to Embodiment 1 comprises a main body portion 10 and a brush portion 20. The brush portion 20 has a plurality of first pins 51. The plurality of first pins 51 are erected from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which is the surface of the main body portion. The virtual surface V formed by connecting the tips of the plurality of 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 the part in which the tips of the first pins 51 do not touch the scalp when in use. The contact portion 22 is provided on both sides of the non-contact portion 21 of the brush portion 20 and is the part in which the tips of the first pins 51 touch the scalp when in use.

[0045] Therefore, the hairbrush 1 can reliably make contact with the scalp using the first pins 51 on the contact parts 22 on both sides of the non-contact part 21. In addition, the first pins 51 on both sides of the non-contact part 21 tend to contact the curved surface of the scalp at an oblique angle (not in the direction of the normal). In this case, the first pins 51 that have come into contact with the scalp tend to bend outward when further pressed against the scalp. As a result, more pins on the contact parts can come into contact with the scalp. Thus, the hairbrush 1 can improve its degree of contact with the scalp. Furthermore, the first pins 51 that have bent outward will come into contact with the scalp not only at the tip but also on the sides of the tip. Therefore, a larger area can come into contact with the scalp, further improving the degree of contact with the scalp.

[0046] Furthermore, in the hairbrush 1, the contact portion 22 is provided around the non-contact portion 21. Therefore, brushing can be performed without directional constraints, increasing the degree of freedom in brushing direction.

[0047] Furthermore, in the hairbrush 1, the brush portion 20 has multiple regions, namely an inner region R1 and an outer region R2. These inner region R1 and outer region R2 have multiple first pins 51 erected on them, and the tactile sensation of hardness differs. Therefore, different brushing actions can be performed due to the different tactile sensations of hardness.

[0048] Furthermore, in the hairbrush 1, the inner region R1 and the outer region R2 are such that the outer region R2 is located further out than the inner region R1, and the outer region R2 has a harder feel than the inner region R1. As a result, the first pin 51 lifts and straightens the hair in the outer region R2, the inner region R1 loosens the tangles of the hair that has been straightened in the outer region R2, and the first pin 51 makes strong contact with the scalp at the roots of the straightened hair in the outer region R2, providing a cleansing and massaging effect. Thus, different brushing actions can be effectively provided in each region R1 and R2.

[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 Figure 15, the outer region R2 of the brush portion 220 is provided around the inner region R1. The other components are the same as those of Example 1, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0050] A hairbrush equipped with such a brush section 220 can perform brushing without directional constraints, while providing different effects in each region where the tactile sensation of hardness differs. For example, in the configuration of Embodiment 1, when brushing in the vertical direction, there are parts where only one of the inner region R1 or the outer region R2 is in contact. In contrast, with the brush section 220, since the outer region R2 is provided around the entire perimeter of the inner region R1, both the inner region R1 and the outer region R2 can be passed through regardless of the direction of brushing. Therefore, different brushing effects can be applied to each region R1 and R2 without directional constraints.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. (1) In Examples 1 and 2, the contact portion is provided around the non-contact portion as an example, but the contact portion may be provided outside the non-contact portion in either direction, such as outward in the left-right direction or outward in the up-down direction. (2) In Examples 1 and 2, examples were given in which no pins were erected in the non-contact portion, but this is not essential. The non-contact portion may have pins such that, for example, the pins are shorter than the length of the pins in the contact portion, or the tips are located on the surface side of the main body of the contact portion, rather than the tip of the pin that is closest to the surface of the main body of the contact portion. In this case, the pins in the non-contact portion may come into contact with the scalp when the brush portion is brought into contact with the scalp, after the pins in the contact portion have come into contact with the scalp at the tip and are further pressed and bent outward so that the side of the tip comes into contact with the scalp. That is, if pins are provided in the non-contact portion, it is preferable that the pins do not obstruct the side of the tip of the pins in the contact portion from coming into contact with the scalp. In this case, the pins provided in the non-contact portion may be in a form that does not come into contact with the scalp until, for example, the pins in the contact portion have come into contact with the scalp at the tip and are further pressed and bent outward so that the side of the tip comes into contact with the scalp. The tip position of the pins provided in the non-contact portion can be positioned at a distance of 0.5 times the length of the reference pin or more from the tip position of the reference pin, for example, when the pin closest to the surface of the main body in the contact portion is designated as the reference pin. (3) In Examples 1 and 2, a brush section was illustrated in which multiple pins are erected and multiple regions have different hardness levels. However, this is not essential. The brush section may, for example, have only one region with the same hardness level. If there are multiple regions with different hardness levels, the number of such regions may be three or more. (4) In Examples 1 and 2, the main body was shown to have a handle and a brush base, but this is not essential. The main body may have the handle and brush base parts formed integrally beforehand. Also, it is not essential to have a gripping part. If the main body has a gripping part, the shape of the gripping part is not limited to a curved shape. The shape of the gripping part is not particularly limited as long as it is a shape that is easy to hold when gripped. (5) In Examples 1 and 2, the pins were shown as being implanted in the bristles of the main body, but this is not essential. The pins are not limited to those implanted in the main body, but may also be integrally molded with the main body. (6) In Examples 1 and 2, when forming the virtual surface V in a concave shape, the front surface 40A of the brush base 40, which is the surface of the main body, is formed in a concave shape, and the first pins 51, which are a plurality of pins, are erected from the front surface 40A of the brush base 40 at the same length. However, this is not essential. The form in which the virtual surface V is provided in a concave shape may also be achieved by making the lengths of each pin different. In this case, a concave virtual surface can be realized without forming the surface of the main body in a concave shape. That is, the "surface of the main body" according to the present invention may be a flat surface, or it may be formed in a convex shape in the direction of the pin protrusion. (7) In Examples 1 and 2, the thickness and material of the pins were varied in each region as an example of a form to make the tactile sensation of hardness different, but this is not essential. In addition to the thickness and material of the pins, the number of pins per unit area and the length of the pins may be varied in each region as an example of a form to make the tactile sensation of hardness different, or two or more of these may be combined. Furthermore, the tactile sensation of hardness can also be made different by providing other pins that have a shorter protrusion length from the surface of the main body than the multiple pins according to the present invention, such as the second pin exemplified in each of the above examples. In this case, the tactile sensation of hardness can be easily adjusted by changing the difference between the protrusion length of the pin according to the present invention and the protrusion length of the other pins. (8) When additional pins are provided whose protrusion length from the surface of the main body is shorter than that of the multiple pins according to the present invention, the protrusion length of these pins can be in the range of approximately 0.7 to 0.9 times the protrusion length of the multiple pins according to the present invention. Within this range, when the first pin is brought into contact with the scalp and tilted, the second pin can be easily brought into contact with the scalp, and an improvement in the degree of adhesion to the scalp can be easily achieved. (9) In Examples 1 and 2, a configuration was shown in which a through hole was formed in the brush base constituting the surface of the main body according to the present invention, and an ion plate was placed behind it. However, this configuration is not essential for the ion plate arrangement. When ion plates are to be arranged, for example, a recess may be formed by indenting the surface of the main body, and the ion plate may be placed in this recess. Alternatively, for example, the ion plate may be placed directly on the surface of the main body. Furthermore, instead of or in combination with the 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, for example, be equipped with a component that performs other functions in place of the ion plate. Examples of other functional components include a protruding functional component that has an acupressure function, and a functional component that has a function to improve the design, such as a logo. Furthermore, if functional components are provided, these functional components may have two or more different functions, such as ion generation function, acupressure function, and design improvement function.

[0052] An experiment was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the hairbrush according to the present invention. The experiment involved cleaning the scalp. The experiment was conducted using a hairbrush with the same configuration as that of Example 1 above as the hairbrush according to the present invention. As a comparative example, it was also compared with scalp cleaning by hand. In each experiment, a simulated dirt mixture of sebum and impurities was applied to the test area of ​​the scalp beforehand, and the scalp was cleaned for 1 minute using each method, and the condition of the scalp was observed using a microscope. The results are shown in Figure 16.

[0053] As shown in Figure 16, (A), which shows the condition before washing, reveals that simulated dirt is attached to the scalp. In (B), which shows the condition after hand washing as a comparative example, some of the simulated dirt has disappeared, but some areas remain unwashed, as indicated by the circles and arrows. In particular, in (B), there is a lot of unwashed simulated dirt at the base of the hair (near the hair follicles) on the scalp. This suggests that the fingertips are not making contact with the scalp at the base of the hair during hand washing.

[0054] In contrast, in (C), which shows the state after washing using the hairbrush according to the present invention, no pseudo-dirt was observed adhering to the scalp, including the root ends of the hair. This is thought to be because the pins make good contact with the scalp and scrape out the pseudo-dirt adhering to the scalp. In other words, it is thought that the tips of each pin of the hairbrush according to the present invention are able to make good contact with the scalp.

[0055] A sensory evaluation was conducted regarding the user experience of the hairbrush according to the present invention. The sensory evaluation involved washing hair using a hairbrush with the same configuration as in Example 1 above, and then evaluating each of the following on a 3-point scale: (1) scalp freshness, (2) hair manageability, and (3) hair smoothness. The evaluation was conducted by 48 subjects who used the hairbrush for one week. The results are shown in Figure 17. According to this, more than 80% of the subjects felt the effects of the hairbrush according to the present invention for each of the items (1) to (3). In particular, more than 90% of the subjects felt the effects of (1) scalp freshness and (2) hair manageability. [Explanation of Symbols]

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

Claims

1. A hairbrush comprising a main body and a brush section having a plurality of pins erected from the surface of the main body, The main body comprises a handle and a brush base from which the plurality of pins are erected from the front. The handle comprises a handle body connected to the brush base and a handle portion connected to the lower end of the handle body. The handle portion has a curved surface that forms a convex shape on the front surface of the lower end. The handle has, at the connection point between the handle body and the hilt portion, a first constricted portion that is concave to the rear and a second constricted portion that is concave in the left-right direction and is narrower than the maximum left-right width of the curved surface, formed above the curved surface. The first constricted portion has an arc shape in a cross-section extending in the left-right direction, The front end of the curved surface is located in front of the front surface of the brush base. In a plan view, the handle body has the greatest thickness in the central part in the left-right direction. The curved surface is curved outward from the lower end of the handle to the front end of the curved surface above and in front, in a hairbrush.

2. The plurality of pins include a first pin and a second pin whose protrusion length from the front surface of the brush base is relatively shorter than that of the first pin. The hairbrush according to claim 1, wherein the virtual surface formed by connecting the tips of the plurality of first pins is recessed toward the front surface of the brush base.

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