Oil absorbing comb

Abstract

This invention relates to an oil absorbing comb and methods for its use. The novel comb of this invention is capable of absorbing significant amounts of oil from mammalian hair or other substrates and methods of using said comb.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A comb capable of absorbing oily residue from hair comprising:
 (a) A body comprising at least one row of at least three comb teeth said teeth being spaced apart from each other and having a distal end and a proximal end in relation to said body;   (b) Said body comprising an elongated body member to which said comb teeth are attached:   (c) Said body and comb teeth comprising an absorbent material having a density of less than about 8 gm/mL; and a porosity of from about 0.3 to about 0.7 (100 μm to 5 μm, ml/g).   
     
     
         2 . A comb according to  claim 1  wherein said comb teeth have a bending angle of no greater than 65%. 
     
     
         3 . A comb according to  claim 1  wherein said comb teeth are spaced at their proximal ends from about 1 to about 5 mm and at their distal ends from about 4 to about 15 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A comb according to  claim 1  wherein the proximal end of the teeth of the comb are separated by from about 1 to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A comb according to  claim 4  wherein the proximal end of the teeth of the comb are separated by from about 1 and about 3 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A comb according to  claim 1  wherein said teeth are tapered from their proximal to their distal ends at an angle a of from about 2 to about 5 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A comb according to  claim 6  wherein said teeth are tapered at an angle a of from about 2 to about 3 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . A comb according to  claim 7  wherein said teeth are tapered at an angle a of about 3 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . A comb according to  claim 3  wherein the distal ends of said teeth are separated by from about 4 to about 8 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A comb according to  claim 9  wherein the distal ends of said teeth are separated by from about 4 to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A comb according to  claim 1  wherein said teeth are from about 1 to about 5 mm in thickness. 
     
     
         12 . A comb according to  claim 11  wherein said teeth are from about 2 to about 4 mm in thickness. 
     
     
         13 . A comb according to  claim 12  wherein said teeth are from about 2.5 to about 3 mm in thickness. 
     
     
         14 . A comb according to  claim 1  wherein said porosity is from about 0.4 to about 0.6 gm/mL. 
     
     
         15 . A comb according to  claim 14  wherein said porosity is from about 0.4 to about 0.5 gm/mL. 
     
     
         16 . A comb according to  claim 1  comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: cellulose, composite board, balsa wood, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylidine difluoride, ethylene vinyl acetate, hermoplastic polyurethane, cotton, rice protein, paper, talc, cornstarch, silica, nylon, clay, diatomite, sponge, bamboo, bran, starch, oat, kaolin, rice powder, hemp, silk, pulp, cotton powder and materials containing a high percentage of starch. 
     
     
         17 . A method of removing oil from mammalian hair comprising stroking said hair with an oil absorbing comb comprising
 (a) A body comprising at least one row of at least three comb teeth said teeth being spaced apart from each other and having a distal end and a proximal end in relation to said body;   (b) Said body comprising an elongated body member to which said comb teeth are attached:   Said body and comb teeth comprising an absorbent material having a density of less than about 8 gm/mL; and a porosity of from about 0.3 to about 0.7 (100 μm to 5 μm, ml/g).