Soft Roller With Honeycomb Core And Hydrophobic Casing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair rollers are either too stiff, causing discomfort and misshaping of hair, or too soft, leading to compression issues like kinks, tangling, and moisture loss, which can result in dry and brittle hair ends.

Innovation Solution

A soft roller with a firm but flexible center support grid and a hydrophobic fabric casing that retains moisture, combined with a smoothing band to secure and protect hair ends, preventing unwanted exposure and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the roller uses soft foam to provide cushioning, then comfort is improved, but the foam compresses and causes kinks and misshaping of hair

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidhair shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The roller is divided into distinct functional layers: a firm central support core, surrounding foam cushioning layer, and outer fabric casing. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the core maintains shape while the foam provides comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The roller combines multiple materials with different properties: firm support material (core), soft compressible material (foam), and hydrophobic fabric (casing). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that simultaneously provide firmness for shape maintenance and softness for comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the roller uses soft foam to cushion pressure, then comfort is improved, but hair ends become tangled and exposed to damaging elements

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidhair damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outer fabric casing acts as a protective shell that encloses the foam and hair. This flexible barrier prevents hair ends from contacting damaging elements like pillows and fabric while maintaining the cushioning benefits of the foam interior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The fabric casing serves as an intermediary layer between the foam roller and hair ends. It protects hair from direct contact with potential harmful elements while allowing the roller to maintain its cushioning function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the roller uses traditional covering fabric, then cushioning is provided, but moisture is absorbed and hair becomes dry and brittle

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecushioningVSAvoidmoisture loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric material parameter is changed from moisture-absorbing to moisture-repelling (hydrophobic) properties. This parameter change allows the fabric to maintain cushioning while preventing moisture absorption, thereby protecting hair from dryness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fabric that would normally absorb moisture (causing harm to hair) is instead designed to repel moisture (benefiting hair). This converts the potential harmful absorption property into a beneficial protective property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Shape

If the roller is made firm to prevent compression, then hair shape is maintained, but comfort is reduced and causes pain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair shapeVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The roller structure is segmented into a firm central core and a soft outer foam layer. The core provides firmness for shape maintenance, while the outer foam layer provides softness for comfort, resolving the contradiction through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By combining firm support material with soft foam material in a composite structure, the roller simultaneously achieves both firmness for shape stability and softness for comfort, eliminating the need to choose one property over the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution maintains a natural curl pattern, reduces the need for frequent conditioner application, and protects hair ends from damage and dryness, while being comfortable to sleep on without heat application.

Implementation Method 1

a soft fabric casing, with extending wings/flaps, surrounding said foam layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

a supporting center grid that is substantially cylindrical and having a porous and firm but flexible structure through a plurality of vertical and horizontal supports resulting in a plurality of apertures therebetween

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS9826811B1Smoothing soft roller

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 GREENLAW ZARA R

AI summary

A soft roller system that provides for a moisture retaining outer casing that keeps hair from drying out, a firm, yet flexible honeycomb type core that allows the foam roller to keep its shape under compression that is caused by the pressure of the head during sleep, and a moisture retaining band to secure the ends of a tress of hair between the soft fabric casing and smoothing band to secure the ends of the hair and protect the hair from breakage and ware.