Hairbrush that simultaneously dries hair during brushing while also creating an air bearing effect that reduces friction between the hair and the hairbrush bristles

Abstract

A hairbrush is provided that combs and/or dries hair during brushing and/or styling while also producing an air bearing effect that reduces friction between the hair and the bristles of the hairbrush. Each bristle receives, in an interior space of the bristle, air from a flow of air generated by an air flow generator of the hairbrush. Each bristle is made of a highly-porous material. Air received in the interior space of the bristle exits the bristle through the pores and creates an air bearing effect between the bristles and the hair being brushed or styled that reduces or eliminates friction between the bristles and the hair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hairbrush for drying hair as the hair is being brushed or styled with the hairbrush, the hairbrush comprising:
 a hairbrush body, the hairbrush body comprising a handle, a base, and at least one air flow inlet, the handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the base having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the handle being coupled to the proximal end of the base;   an air flow generator disposed in or on the hairbrush body, the air flow generator being configured to generate a flow of air through at least a portion of the hairbrush body by pulling air into the hairbrush body through said at least one air flow inlet when the air flow generator is in an On state and electrical power is being supplied to the air flow generator;   at least one of an electrical power source and an electrical power source connection disposed on at least one of the base and the handle and electrically coupled to the air flow generator for providing electrical power to the air flow generator; and   a plurality of bristles, each bristle having a proximal end that is coupled to a first surface of the base and a distal end that extends away from the first surface of the base, each bristle receiving, in an interior space of the bristle, air from the flow of air generated by the air flow generator, each bristle comprising a highly-porous elongated structure of solid material having a large number of pores therein, and wherein air received in the interior space of the bristle exits the bristle through the pores and creates an air bearing effect between the bristles and the hair being brushed or styled that reduces or eliminates friction between the bristles and the hair.   
     
     
         2 . The hairbrush of  claim 1 , wherein each elongated structure of each bristle comprises a porous tube having a porosity characterized by at least 40% of the porous tube being devoid of the solid material where the pores are located on the porous tube. 
     
     
         3 . The hairbrush of  claim 2 , wherein the porosity of each porous tube is characterized by in between 40% and 90% of the surface of the porous tube being devoid of the solid material where the pores are located on the porous tube. 
     
     
         4 . The hairbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the solid material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and wherein the porosity is preselected by preselecting at least one of 1) at least one characteristic of the PTFE and 2) at least one processing condition used during manufacturing of the PTFE. 
     
     
         5 . The hairbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the PTFE is Expanded PTFE (ePTFE), and wherein the pores range in size from 0.1 micrometers to 10.0 micrometers. 
     
     
         6 . The hairbrush of  claim 5 , wherein the pores range in size from 0.1 micrometers to 5.0 micrometers. 
     
     
         7 . The hairbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the PTFE is Expanded PTFE (ePTFE), and wherein each bristle has at least 10,000 pores therein. 
     
     
         8 . The hairbrush of  claim 7 , wherein each bristle has at least 100,000 pores therein. 
     
     
         9 . The hairbrush of  claim 8 , wherein each bristle has at least 1,000,000 pores therein. 
     
     
         10 . The hairbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the PTFE is Expanded PTFE (ePTFE), and wherein each bristle further comprises:
 a stiffening member having a proximal end disposed near the proximal end of the bristle and a distal end disposed near the distal end of the bristle, the interior space of each bristle near the distal end of the bristle being filled with a securing device or structure that anchors the distal end of the stiffening member in the interior space of the bristle.   
     
     
         11 . The hairbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffening member is shaped like a straight pin or wire having an axis that is substantially coaxial with an axis of the bristle when the distal end of the stiffening member is anchored in the securing device or structure. 
     
     
         12 . The hairbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffening member is shaped like a straight pin or wire having an axis that is substantially coaxial with an axis of the bristle when the distal end of the stiffening member is anchored in the securing device or structure, and wherein the distal end of the stiffening member is curved or bent to facilitate adhesion with the securing device or structure. 
     
     
         13 . The hairbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffening member is shaped like a straight pin or wire having an axis that is substantially coaxial with an axis of the bristle when the proximal end of the stiffening member is anchored in the hairbrush body and the distal end of the stiffening member is anchored in the securing device or structure. 
     
     
         14 . The hairbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the hairbrush comprises the electrical power source, the electrical power source comprising a direct current (DC) battery, the hairbrush further comprising:
 a battery compartment disposed in at least one of the base and the handle for holding the dc battery; and   electrical circuitry disposed in at least one of the base and the handle for conducting a DC electrical signal produced by the DC battery from the DC battery to the air flow generator.   
     
     
         15 . The hairbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the hairbrush comprises the electrical power source connection, the hairbrush further comprising:
 an electrical cable having a first end electrically coupled to the electrical power source connection and a second end having a plug thereon configured to be connected to an external electrical receptacle that is electrically coupled to an external electrical power source.   
     
     
         16 . The hairbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the hairbrush comprises the electrical power source, the electrical power source comprising a direct current (DC) battery, the hairbrush further comprising:
 an electrical connection for electrically coupling an external electrical battery charger with the DC battery for charging the DC battery.   
     
     
         17 . A method for making a hairbrush for drying hair as the hair is being brushed or styled with the hairbrush, the method comprising:
 manufacturing a plurality of bristles, each bristle having a proximal end that is coupled to a first surface of a base of the hairbrush and a distal end that extends away from the first surface of the base, each bristle configured to receive, in an interior space of the bristle, air from a flow of air generated by an air flow generator of the hairbrush, each bristle comprising a highly-porous elongated structure of solid material having a large number of pores therein, and wherein air received in the interior space of the bristle exits the bristle through the pores and creates an air bearing effect between the bristles and the hair being brushed or styled that reduces or eliminates friction between the bristles and the hair   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the porosity of each porous tube is characterized by in between 40% and 90% of the porous tube being devoid of the solid material where the pores are located on the porous tube. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the solid material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and wherein the porosity is preselected by preselecting at least one of 1) at least one characteristic of the PTFE and 2) at least one processing condition used during manufacturing of the PTFE. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the PTFE is Expanded PTFE (ePTFE), and wherein the pores range in size from 0.1 micrometers to 10.0 micrometers, and wherein each bristle has at least 10,000 pores therein.