Stepped Comb Teeth for Uniform Backcombing Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combs used for backcombing fail to provide sufficient tension and uniformity in backcombed hair, often resulting in limited volume, local compactness, and hair damage due to inadequate hair catching mechanisms and uneven resistance.
Innovation Solution
A comb design featuring stepped parts on comb teeth with tapered sections and varying tip end heights and tooth bottom depths, along with different intervals and arrangements, to create multi-stage resistance and dispersion, enhancing hair catching and reducing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional combs with uniform comb teeth are used for backcombing, then the comb structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the hair tension is insufficient and the backcombed hair is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The comb teeth are designed with different structures in different sections: the tip end portion has a first comb tooth structure for initial hair engagement, while the intermediate portion has a second comb tooth structure with different spacing and orientation for creating uniform backcombed effect. This local differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally, achieving uniform backcombed hair without requiring complex overall redesign
Solution Approach 2:
Each comb tooth is divided into multiple sections along its length, with each section having different geometric characteristics (spacing, angle, depth). This segmentation allows the comb to provide multi-stage resistance to hair during backcombing, creating uniform volume and texture throughout the hair bundle rather than concentrated compression at single points
2Ease of operation
If comb teeth with large intervals are used, then hair can easily enter between teeth, but the tension and catching ability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The comb tooth interval parameter is varied along the length of each tooth and across different teeth. The tip end portion has larger intervals for easy hair entry, while the intermediate portion has smaller intervals for increased catching ability. This parameter variation allows the comb to provide progressive resistance - easy entry followed by gradual tension buildup - achieving both ease of operation and sufficient hair tension
3Ease of manufacture
If comb teeth with constant depth are used, then the comb structure is simple, but the resistance is uneven causing local compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The comb teeth depth is differentiated by location: tip end teeth have one depth characteristic for initial engagement, while intermediate teeth have different depths optimized for creating uniform backcombed volume. This local depth variation ensures that resistance is distributed evenly across the hair bundle, preventing local compactness while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through systematic design
4Device complexity
If single-row comb teeth are used, then the comb structure is simple, but the hair catching coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The comb design utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of teeth rather than simple two-dimensional rows. Teeth are positioned at different depths, angles, and lateral positions to create multi-level hair engagement. This dimensional approach increases hair catching capacity without requiring proportional increases in comb size or tooth count, maintaining structural simplicity while enhancing functionality
Data Source
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AI summary
Backcombed hair can easily be formed uniformly. A comb 1 includes total of three rows of outer comb teeth 7 and 8 and inner comb teeth 20, and a pitch dimension of the inner comb teeth 20 is narrower than pitch dimensions of the outer comb teeth 7 and 8. In the inner comb teeth 20, each comb tooth is formed with a stepped part at an intermediate position of the comb tooth in a protruding direction thereof, and a height of a tip end of each comb tooth are different from each other and a depth of a tooth bottom are also different from each other. By providing the three rows of comb teeth, hair is easily caught with each comb tooth entirely. Further by providing the stepped part in the inner comb teeth 20, hair is easily caught. As a result, resistance when using the comb can be increased, suitable tension can be obtained when backcombing hair, and backcombed hair can easily be formed. Moreover, the height of each tip end and the depth of each tooth bottom of the inner comb teeth 20 are differentiated to distribute the resistance, sweater-pill-like portions are generated less within the formed backcombed hair, and backcombed hair can be formed uniformly.