Hair Massage Device

Abstract

The device combines the detangling capability of a comb or brush with the ability to massage lotions and other hair treatments into the hair follicles and through the entire length of each hair strand. A two-jaw clamping or clamshell design is provided with an interchangeable brush or comb element attached to one of the jaws and a pair of soft rollers extending from the other jaw element. The two jaws are detachable from one another in order to permit the user to operate the comb or brush portion separate from the rollers. When fully assembled, the comb or brush protrudes through the pair of rollers when the jaws of the device are clamped together. There may be an additional mechanism within the device to provide internal vibrations in the housing to propagate through the entire device and into the user's hair in order to aid in the detangling, smoothing and treatment application processes. One or more additional versions may also include vibrating or oscillating rows of bristles in the brush or comb element. Another embodiment provides a combination motor and offset weight on the end of the upper jaw assembly. In another form, the upper housing and jaw assembly are separable from the lower jaw assembly and housing, so as to provide a vibrating comb/brush without the need to use the rollers on the lower jaw assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair treatment device, comprising:
 a first arm assembly comprising an upper housing and an upper jaw assembly extending therefrom, said upper jaw assembly defined by an upper jaw housing having an upper face and an opposing lower face, said lower face defined by an elongate channel along substantially the length of said lower face;   a first hair treatment element detachably attached to said elongate channel; and   a vibration generating assembly enclosed within and associated with said first arm assembly whereby activation of said vibration generating assembly causes said first arm assembly to vibrate.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first hair treatment element is selected from the group of a fine-toothed comb element, a wide-toothed comb element having teeth of varying lengths, and a wide-toothed comb having teeth that are partially coated with a pliable material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second arm assembly comprising a lower housing and a lower jaw assembly extending therefrom, said lower jaw assembly defined by a pair of elongate arms in relative spaced relation; and   a hinge element interconnecting said first arm assembly and said second arm assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said elongate arms comprise:
 a pair of elongate roller armatures in relative spaced relation; and   a roller element encircling each said roller armature.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  further comprising an end cap attached to the distal ends defined by each said elongate roller armature. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said vibration generating assembly comprises a drive motor driving a rotatable shaft and an offset weight attached to the end of said shaft, wherein said drive motor is located within said upper housing and said offset weight is located within said upper jaw housing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said vibration generating assembly comprises a drive motor driving a rotatable shaft and an offset weight attached to the end of said shaft, wherein said drive motor, rotatable shaft and said offset weight are all located within said upper jaw housing. 
     
     
         8 . A device for massaging a user's hair, comprising:
 a first arm assembly comprising an upper housing and an upper jaw assembly extending therefrom, said upper jaw assembly defined by an upper jaw housing having an upper face and an opposing lower face; and   a first hair treatment element attached to said lower face.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said first hair treatment element comprises three rows of bristle elements extending substantially along the length of said upper jaw housing. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a drive assembly attached to one of said three rows of bristle elements to operatively cause said one row to oscillate back and forth relative to said other two of said three rows of bristle elements. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a drive assembly attached to two of said three rows of bristle element to operatively cause said two rows to oscillate back and forth relative to said other of said three rows of bristle elements. 
     
     
         12 . A convertible hair massage device, comprising:
 an upper arm assembly, comprising:
 an upper housing having power interface portion at one end and a distal opposing end; 
 an upper jaw assembly extending from said distal end and terminating in an opposing tip housing portion; and 
 a hair treatment element extending from said upper jaw assembly; and 
   a cap assembly attachable to said power interface portion, said cap assembly selected from the group of:
 an end cap configured to attach to said power interface portion; and 
 a lower arm assembly, comprising:
 a lower housing having a first end terminating in a hinge element at one end and in a distal end opposite thereto; 
 a lower jaw assembly extending from said lower housing distal end and terminating in a pair of roller assemblies extending therefrom; and 
 an end cap extending from said hinge element, said end cap configured to attach to said power interface portion. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising
 a vibration generating assembly enclosed within and associated with said upper arm assembly whereby activation of said vibration generating assembly causes said upper arm assembly to vibrate.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said first hair treatment element is selected from the group of a fine-toothed comb element, a wide-toothed comb element having teeth of varying lengths, and a wide-toothed comb having teeth that are partially coated with a pliable material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said roller assemblies comprise:
 a pair of elongate roller armatures in relative spaced relation; and   a roller element encircling each said roller armature.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising an end cap attached to the distal ends defined by each said elongate roller armature. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said vibration generating assembly comprises a drive motor driving a rotatable shaft and an offset weight attached to the end of said shaft, wherein said drive motor is located within said upper housing and said offset weight is located within said upper jaw housing. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said vibration generating assembly comprises a drive motor driving a rotatable shaft and an offset weight attached to the end of said shaft, wherein said drive motor, rotatable shaft and said offset weight are all located within said upper jaw housing.