Finishing Comb

Abstract

A finishing comb designed to meet the grooming needs of men is disclosed. The finishing comb has an elongated body having three parallel rows of bristles extending from end to end from the bottom surface of the body. The rows of bristles are a combination of natural bristles and synthetic bristles arranged so that the synthetic bristles penetrate the hair pack and the natural bristles distribute the natural sebum of the hair along the lengths of the hair shafts. In one embodiment, the center row of bristles comprises synthetic bristles and the outer rows of bristles comprise tufts of natural bristles. In an alternative embodiment, the inner row of bristles comprises tufts of natural bristles and the outer rows of bristles comprise synthetic bristles.

1 . A finishing comb comprising:
 a body having a top surface, a bottom surface and oppositely disposed end surfaces;   a single row of synthetic bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the single row of synthetic bristles extends from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body;   a first single row of natural bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the first single row of natural bristles extends from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body parallel to the single row of synthetic bristles and is disposed on one side of the single row of synthetic bristles; and   a second single row of natural bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the second single row of natural bristles extends from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body parallel to the single row of synthetic bristles and is disposed on the opposite side of the single row of synthetic bristles from the first single row of natural bristles, wherein at least some of the synthetic bristles extend farther from the bottom surface of the body than the natural bristles, and wherein the body and the rows of bristles cooperatively define the finishing comb.   
   
   
       2 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic bristles are monofilament bristles. 
   
   
       3 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each synthetic bristle comprises a monofilament bristle and an epoxy cap disposed on an end of the monofilament bristle opposite the bottom surface of the body. 
   
   
       4 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic bristles are tapered from a maximum diameter proximate the bottom surface of the body to a minimum diameter at ends opposite the bottom surface of the body. 
   
   
       5 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein ends of all of the synthetic bristles extend beyond ends of all of the natural bristles. 
   
   
       6 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second single rows of natural bristles comprise rows of tufts of natural bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body. 
   
   
       7 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the natural bristles are boar hair bristles. 
   
   
       8 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending outwardly from one of the ends of the body. 
   
   
       9 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:
 a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, oppositely disposed end surfaces, and an inner surface defining a channel having an opening through the bottom surface of the base; and   an insert having a bottom surface with the single row of synthetic bristles extending outwardly therefrom, the insert being received by and slidable within the channel of the base such that the insert slides into the channel and is received therein with the row of synthetic bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body of the finishing comb.   
   
   
       10 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the insert is inserted through the opening in the bottom surface of the base. 
   
   
       11 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the inner surface of the base further defines an opening through one of the ends of the base, and wherein the insert slides into the channel through the opening in the end of the base. 
   
   
       12 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the insert has outwardly extending longitudinal wings disposed on either side of the insert and extending parallel to the single row of synthetic bristles, and wherein the inner surface of the base defines corresponding recesses of the channel configured to slidably receive the wings of the insert when the insert is inserted into the channel through the opening in the end of the base. 
   
   
       13 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the insert has outwardly extending detents on either side of the insert, and wherein the inner surface of the base defines corresponding recesses of the channel configured to receive the detents of the insert when the insert is inserted into the channel to retain the insert within the channel. 
   
   
       14 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the first and second single rows of natural bristles extend outwardly from the bottom surface of the insert. 
   
   
       15 . A finishing comb comprising:
 a body having a top surface, a bottom surface and oppositely disposed end surfaces;   a first row of bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the first row of synthetic bristles extends from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body;   a second row of bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the second row of bristles extends from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body parallel to the first row of bristles and is disposed on one side of the first row of bristles; and   a third row of bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the third row of bristles extends from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body parallel to the first row of bristles and is disposed on the opposite side of the first row of bristles from the second row of natural bristles,   wherein the first row of bristles is one of synthetic bristles and natural bristles, and the second and third rows of bristles are the other of synthetic bristles and natural bristles, and wherein the body and the rows of bristles cooperatively define the finishing comb.   
   
   
       16 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the first row of bristles comprises synthetic bristles and the second and third rows of bristles comprise natural bristles. 
   
   
       17 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the first row of bristles comprises natural bristles and the second and third rows of bristles comprise synthetic bristles. 
   
   
       18 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the synthetic bristles are monofilament bristles. 
   
   
       19 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein ends of the synthetic bristles extend beyond ends of the natural bristles. 
   
   
       20 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the natural bristles are boar hair bristles. 
   
   
       21 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the synthetic bristles are tapered from a maximum diameter proximate the bottom surface of the body to a minimum diameter at ends opposite the bottom surface of the body. 
   
   
       22 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein a row of natural bristles comprises a row of tufts of natural bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body. 
   
   
       23 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the first, second, and third rows of bristles are the only rows of bristles of the finishing comb. 
   
   
       24 . A finishing comb comprising:
 a body having a top surface, a bottom surface and oppositely disposed end surfaces, the body comprising:
 a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, oppositely disposed end surfaces, and an inner surface defining a channel having an opening through the bottom surface of the base, and 
 an insert having a bottom surface, the insert being received by and slidable within the channel of the base such that the insert slides into the channel and is received therein with the bottom surfaces of the base and the insert forming the bottom surface of the body; and 
   three rows of bristles extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the rows of bristles are parallel and extend from one end of the body to the opposite end of the body, wherein the three rows of bristles comprise a center row of bristles and two outer rows of bristles flanking the center row of bristles, wherein the center row of bristles comprises synthetic bristles and extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the insert, wherein the outer rows of bristles comprise natural bristles, and wherein the body and the rows of bristles cooperatively define the finishing comb.   
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the insert is inserted through the opening in the bottom surface of the base. 
   
   
       27 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the inner surface of the base further defines an opening through one of the ends of the base, and wherein the insert slides into the channel through the opening in the end of the base. 
   
   
       28 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the insert has outwardly extending longitudinal wings disposed on either side of the insert and extending parallel to the row of synthetic bristles, and wherein the inner surface of the base defines corresponding recesses of the channel configured to slidably receive the wings of the insert when the insert is inserted into the channel through the opening in the end of the base. 
   
   
       29 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the insert has outwardly extending detents on either side of the insert, and wherein the inner surface of the base defines corresponding recesses of the channel configured to receive the detents of the insert when the insert is inserted into the channel to retain the insert within the channel. 
   
   
       30 . A finishing comb in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the outer rows of bristles extend outwardly from the bottom surface of the insert.