Head Towel with Standoff Array for Curl Definition During Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hair drying methods, such as using towels or blowers, often flatten wavy and curly hair, remove hair care products, and are time-consuming, with no effective solution to maintain hair shape and pattern during drying.

Innovation Solution

A head towel with an absorbent base and a standoff array, designed to fit a user's hand, allowing for targeted application of hair care products and gentle drying while maintaining curl definition, using a combination of absorbent materials and non-absorbent silicone beads to push products into hair.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional towels are used to dry hair, then drying efficiency is improved, but hair shape and curl pattern are flattened and lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidhair curl pattern

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The towel features a dual-sided structure with a first surface made of absorbent material for drying and a second surface made of non-absorbent material for maintaining hair shape. This local differentiation allows each surface to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between drying efficiency and curl pattern preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If highly absorbent towel material is used, then drying speed is improved, but hair care products are unintentionally removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying speedVSAvoidhair care products

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The towel employs different material properties on each surface: the first surface uses highly absorbent material for rapid drying, while the second surface uses non-absorbent material that does not strip hair care products. This localized material differentiation allows the towel to provide fast drying without the harmful side effect of product removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If blow drying is used to dry hair quickly, then drying time is reduced, but hair is straightened and may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying timeVSAvoidhair straightening

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The towel's second surface is specifically designed with non-absorbent material that maintains hair shape and curl pattern during the drying process. This allows rapid drying to occur without the heat and mechanical action of blow dryers that cause straightening and damage, thus reducing drying time while preserving hair shape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Shape

If ambient air drying is used to preserve hair shape, then hair shape is maintained, but drying time becomes excessive and hair remains wet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair shape maintenanceVSAvoiddrying time

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The towel combines two previously separate functions into a single device: the absorbent first surface provides rapid drying capability, while the non-absorbent second surface maintains hair shape. This merging allows the user to achieve both fast drying and shape maintenance simultaneously, eliminating the need to choose between the two approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Ease of manufacture

If conventional single-material towels are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but functionality for wavy and curly hair is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfunctionality for wavy and curly hair

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The towel uses a dual-sided construction with different materials on each surface, where the first surface is made of absorbent material and the second surface is made of non-absorbent material. This localized differentiation provides specialized functionality for wavy and curly hair care while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through standard textile production techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The head towel effectively dries hair while maintaining curl shape and definition, preventing product removal and reducing drying time, making it suitable for wavy and curly hair types.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent base and a standoff array. The absorbent base has an application side and a grip side opposite the application side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

using a combination of absorbent materials and non-absorbent silicone beads to push products into hair

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20230078472A1Head towel for wavy and curly hair

Publication Date: 2023.03.16 VERA MONA LLC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to head towel for wavy and curly hair. Aspects of the present disclosure further relate to a mechanism and methods to help curl and shape wavy and curly hair while drying. Embodiments of the present disclosure may help make wavy and curly hair strands tighter as well and giving them a more defined curl.