Dome Comb System with Interchangeable Screen for Hair Coils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair care products for African-American hair fail to create long-lasting, natural hair coils, particularly for short curly hair, due to their longitudinal and comb-like configurations, excessive mechanical complexity, high costs, and unsanitary issues with sponge materials.
Innovation Solution
A comb system comprising a dome body, locking ring, and interchangeable inserts with a screen, designed for easy handling and secure grip, providing a coupled and decoupled state for efficient curl creation without mechanical complexities or sanitation issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If longitudinal and comb-like configurations with heating or steaming elements are used, then curl retention is improved, but the product fails to provide adequate solutions for short naturally curly hair and creates excessive mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a handle portion and a head portion that can be separated. The head portion contains the screen insert for curl creation, while the handle provides grip and can be detached. This segmentation eliminates complex heating/steaming mechanisms while maintaining curl retention through the screen's physical structure and user-applied heat/steam.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex heating and steaming elements are extracted from the device entirely. Instead, the patent uses a simple screen insert that works with user-applied heat or steam, eliminating the need for built-in thermal systems and their associated mechanical complexity.
2Ease of operation
If brushes and combs with various types and shapes of bristles and teeth are used, then hair strand separation is improved, but the product fails to provide compact twist or coil of hair
Solution Approach 1:
The screen insert provides a uniform mesh structure that locally guides hair strands through its openings, creating consistent coil patterns. This localized guidance through the screen's uniform structure achieves compact twists without requiring varied bristle shapes or complex comb teeth configurations.
3Reliability
If rotating elements powered by electric motors with cords or batteries are used, then effectiveness with African-American hair is improved, but costs and mechanical complexities increase with multiple potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be manually operated without motors, batteries, or cords. The user's hand movements through the screen insert create the curling action, eliminating all motorized components and their associated failure points while maintaining effectiveness for African-American hair types.
4Quantity of substance
If sponge or sponge like material is used, then moisture maintenance is improved, but the material becomes dirty resulting in unsanitary applications
Solution Approach 1:
The screen insert can be removed and cleaned, and its color or appearance can indicate when cleaning is needed. The uniform mesh structure allows for thorough cleaning and sanitization that is not possible with porous sponge materials, eliminating the accumulation of dirt and bacteria.
Data Source
AI summary
A dome comb system and method of manufacture can include: a dome body comprising: a dome peripheral support extending out from a dome inner surface toward a dome center, and a dome coupling element extending up from the bottom surface and along the dome outer surface; a locking ring comprising: a locking ring coupling element extending down from a locking ring top surface along the locking ring inner surface, and the dome coupling element together with the locking ring coupling element enabling the dome comb system to be in a coupled state or a decoupled state; and an insert comprising: a circular body, a screen.