Rotating Hook Hair Coloring Device for Precision Variegation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hair color variegation techniques lack precision, consistency, and speed, often resulting in unpredictable and undesirable outcomes due to difficulties in accurately selecting and treating specific hair sections without color bleeding, especially when dealing with high viscosity colors.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held device with a pre-loaded color container and a mechanism that uses a series of hooks to selectively entrain hair sections, allowing for controlled application of color and subsequent deposition of a continuous bead onto the hair, while maintaining gentle contact with the scalp and preventing color leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cap with holes is used to pull out hair sections for coloring, then color bleeding is prevented, but the selection of hair sections becomes unpredictable and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of hair section selectionVSAvoidcontrol over hair section placement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a comb as an intermediary tool between the technician's hand and the hair sections. The comb's teeth provide a structured interface for selecting and isolating specific hair sections, replacing the unpredictable cap-hole method with a controlled combing action that consistently produces desired hair sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cap-hole system with a comb-based mechanical system. Instead of relying on fixed holes in a cap, the comb's movable teeth allow dynamic selection and isolation of hair sections through combing motions, providing both consistency and operator control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If combing methods are used to apply color to large sections of hair, then application speed increases, but color bleeding onto adjacent hair occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of color applicationVSAvoidcolor bleeding
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coloring process into distinct phases: first using the comb to isolate specific hair sections from adjacent hair, then applying color only to the isolated sections. This segmentation prevents color bleeding while maintaining productivity by working with defined sections rather than attempting to color entire large areas at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The comb acts as an intermediary barrier between the color and adjacent hair sections. By using the comb to lift and isolate target hair sections, the system creates a physical separation that prevents color from bleeding onto surrounding hair while allowing efficient color application to the isolated sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the foil method is used for hair coloration, then color bleeding is minimized and natural variegation is achieved, but the process becomes very time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of color applicationVSAvoidduration of coloring process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of the foil method—isolating hair sections to prevent color bleeding—while removing the time-consuming aspect of actual foil application. The comb provides the isolation function without requiring foil placement, significantly reducing process time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using the comb to isolate only the specific hair sections that require coloring, rather than treating all hair uniformly. This localized approach achieves precise color application similar to foil methods but allows for faster processing by working with smaller, comb-isolated sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If repeated pulling of hair through small holes is performed, then color variegation is achieved, but pain is experienced by the recipient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of hair section selectionVSAvoiddiscomfort to recipient
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the painful mechanical action of pulling hair through small holes with a gentler combing motion. The comb's broader teeth distribute force across multiple hair strands rather than concentrating it at single points, significantly reducing discomfort while maintaining effective hair section selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The comb's flexible teeth can adapt to the scalp contour and hair texture, providing a gentler interaction compared to rigid cap holes. The combing action flexibly engages with hair sections, reducing mechanical stress and discomfort on the recipient's scalp and hair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11083270B2Hair coloring variegation device and method of use
Publication Date: 2021.08.10 F G ELLIOTT LLC
  • US11083270B2 patent drawing
  • US11083270B2 patent drawing
  • US11083270B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A device for selectively entraining hair strands from the scalp has at least one hooking applicator, the at least one hooking applicator employing a hook that rotates to entrain the hair strands, a hair color container having hair color therein and a way to apply the hair color to the entrained hair stands. The at least one hooking applicator forms a channel between a surface of the hook and a surface of a body portion of the at least one hooking applicator having a hair color outlet therein to better accommodate high viscosity liquid hair color. The hook and/or the at least one hooking applicator includes a recess to hold entrained hair and permit hair color to fill the recess for application. A trigger mechanism first rotates the hook to entrain hair strands and then squeezes the hair color container to apply hair color to the entrained hair.