Shampoo applicator and remover for cleansing hair to near dry conditions

Abstract

A device for application of hair formulation includes a body structure having one or more tines at a front end, wherein a tip of each tine includes a first and second opening, a nebulizer with an outlet connected to the first opening, a vacuum system with an inlet connected to the second opening, and a handle extending from the body structure at an obtuse angle with respect to the front end of the body structure.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A device for application of a hair formulation, comprising:
 a body structure having one or more tines at a front end, wherein a tip of a tine includes a first and second opening;   a nebulizer with an outlet connected to the first opening;   a vacuum system with an inlet connected to the second opening; and   a handle extending from the body structure at an obtuse angle with respect to the front end of the body structure.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a cartridge containing a hair formulation, wherein the cartridge fits at a back end of the body structure, wherein the cartridge is connected to the nebulizer. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a momentary switch that operates the nebulizer, wherein the momentary switch is located on an upper front side of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a selector switch that operates the vacuum system, wherein the selector switch is located on a back side of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of a tine includes a chamfer on the bottom side, wherein the first and second openings are placed on the chamfer. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein all tines are arranged to lie in one plane. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the plane is a horizontal plane with respect to top and bottom sides of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tine has a conical shape that decreases in diameter with forward length. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising more than one tine, wherein adjacent tines are separated by a lengthwise space between the tines that is approximately the same as the average width of a tine or greater. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the tine is a truncated round shape with a flat chamfer at the bottom side. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a device for cleansing hair, comprising:
 assembling a device to have a body structure having one or more tines at a front end, wherein a tip of a tine includes a first and second opening; a nebulizer with an outlet connected to the first opening; a vacuum system with an inlet connected to the second opening; and a handle extending from the body structure at an obtuse angle with respect to the front end of the body structure.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising placing a cartridge containing a hair formulation at a back end of the body structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising placing the first and second openings on a chamfer on the bottom side of the tip of a tine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising placing more than one tine in a horizontal plane at the front end of the body structure. 
     
     
         15 . A method for cleansing hair, comprising:
 with a device, applying a hair formulation to hair or scalp or both;   with the device, agitating the hair formulation; and   with the device, vacuuming used hair formulation to remove any debris or oils from the hair or scalp.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising before applying the hair formulation, starting a vacuum system on the device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein no external water is mixed with the hair formulation after applying. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the applying step further comprises generating a mist from the hair formulation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the agitating step further comprises contacting the hair or scalp with more than one tine provided on the device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising, before the applying step, placing a cartridge at a back end of the device, wherein the cartridge contains the hair formulation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the device includes:
 a body structure having one or more tines at a front end, wherein a tip of a tine includes a first and second opening;   a nebulizer with an outlet connected to the first opening;   a vacuum system with an inlet connected to the second opening; and   a handle extending from the body structure at an obtuse angle with respect to the front end of the body structure.