Branched Hairbrush Tines And A Hairbrush Incorporating Branched Tines

Abstract

A hairbrush has a plurality of molded tines, each with a main shaft and a first branch extending from the shaft. The first branch extends at a point between the base of the shaft and the free end of the shaft, and is oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair. The tines may be arranged such that the first branch of one tine is randomly oriented relative to the first branch of adjacent tines. The tines may have a second branch extending from the shaft at a point between the base of the shaft and the first branch. The first and second branches extend in a radial direction from the shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

1 . A hairbrush comprising:
 a base adapted to be secured to a handle;   a plurality of molded tines extending from the base, each of at least some of the plurality of molded tines having:
 a main shaft having a first end secured to the base, and an opposite free end, the main shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a length taken from the first end to the free end; and 
 a first branch extending from the main shaft at a point between the first end and the free end, the first branch extending in a radial direction from the main shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft, the first branch being oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  further comprising a second branch extending from the main shaft at a point between the first end and up to and including a height of the first branch on the shaft, the second branch extending radially from the main shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis, the second branch being oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair. 
     
     
         3 . The hairbrush of  claim 2  wherein the first branch extends from the main shaft in a first radial direction and the second branch extends from the main shaft in a second radial direction. 
     
     
         4 . The hairbrush of  claim 3  where in the second radial direction is opposite the first radial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The hairbrush of  claim 2  wherein the angle of the first branch is the same as the angle of the second branch. 
     
     
         6 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the first branch has a length that is at least 5% of the length of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The hairbrush of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the first branch or the second branch has a length that is at least 5% of the length of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines are made from a material selected from one of silicone elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, vinyl elastomer, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, Nitrile and EPDM. 
     
     
         9 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines are made from a material having a hardness of from about 35 MPa to about 1180 MPa. 
     
     
         10 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines are made from a material having a hardness of from about 95 MPa to about 570 MPa. 
     
     
         11 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines are made from a material having a hardness of from about 200 MPa to about 280 MPa. 
     
     
         12 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines have an average height ranging from about 1 mm to about 30 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines have an average height from about 5 mm to about 25 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines have an average height from about 10 mm to about 18 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines have an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines have an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The hairbrush of  claim 1  wherein the at least some of the plurality of molded tines have an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         18 . A tine for a hairbrush with a base, the tine comprising:
 a main shaft having a first end adapted to be secured to the base, and an opposite free end, the main shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a length taken from the first end to the free end; and   a first branch extending from the main shaft at a point between the first end and the free end, the first branch extending in a radial direction from the main shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft, the first branch being oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair.   
     
     
         19 . A hairbrush comprising:
 a base adapted to be secured to a handle;   a plurality of molded tines extending from the base, at least some of the plurality of molded tines having:
 a main shaft having a first end secured to the base, and an opposite free end, the main shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a length taken from the first end to the free end; 
 a first branch extending from the main shaft at a point between the first end and the free end, the first branch extending in a radial direction from the main shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft, the first branch being oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair; and 
 a second branch extending from the main shaft at a point between the first end and up to and including a height of the first branch on the shaft, the second branch extending radially from the main shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis, the second branch being oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair. 
   
     
     
         20 . A hairbrush comprising:
 a base adapted to be secured to a handle;   a plurality of molded tines extending from the base, each of the plurality of molded tines having:
 a main shaft having a first end secured to the base, and an opposite free end, the main shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a length taken from the first end to the free end; and 
 a first branch extending from the main shaft at a point between the first end and the free end, the first branch extending in a radial direction from the main shaft at an angle of 5° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft, the first branch being oriented on the shaft and dimensioned such that the tine is adapted to comb and separate tangled or matted hair; 
   wherein the first branch on one of the plurality of tines is randomly oriented with respect to the first branch on adjacent ones of the plurality of tines.