US3481326A - Vibratory hat for scalp massaging - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2,' 1969 CHARLES H. M. SCHAMBL/N /NVENmR A TTORNEKS' United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 12S- 24.2 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus in the nature of a hat adapted to be placed on the lhead of a user, including means associated there with to massage the scalp of a user to stimulate the scalp and promote scalp health, while additionally serving to relax the user thereof. The hat preferably has a substantial degree of firmness, with means for regulating weight thereof and therefore variation of application of the massaging effect to the head of a user, and which includes a vibrator unit mounted thereon to impart vibrations to the hat or helmet. Liner or spacer means are included in the interior of the helmet, contoured substantially to the shape of a human head to transmit the vibratory and massaging action to the human head and consequently to a users scalp. I'f desired, warm air can be circulated into and through the helmet to stimulate blood circulation in a users scalp while additionally providing or creating a pleasing effect.

Background of the invention Heretofore, particularly in barberships, following a haircut a man frequently will have his Ihead and/or other parts of his upper anatomy massaged by a barber who,

for this purpose, places a vibrator unit on the back of Summary The present invention teaches the utilization of a pre constructed arrangement in the nature of a hat or helmet which can be placed on the head of a user, and which eliminates the necessity for a hand-operated vibrator. To this end a hat or helmet is utilized having a substantial degree of firmness, and on the top of which is mounted a vibrator unit interconnected with the hat or helmet so that vibrations therefrom are imparted to the hat or helmet. A liner or other means disposed within the interior of the helmet, preferably of a resilient nature such as sponge rubber or the like, and contoured substantially to the shape of a human head, including resiliency of the liner, will impart the vibrations from the vibrating unit to the hat or helmet, and through the resilient liner to a users scalp.

rlhis construction improves the present ringer massaging methods used in rbarbershops, beauty parlors or home use, and can be utilized with a substantially complete absence of utilization of portions of a human body, such as hands with extraneous items affixed thereto, and permits a user complete freedom to perform other desired activities, dependent of course upon the length or extent of electric operating means associated with, or attached to, the vibrator unit mounted on the hat.

In use, if desired, warm air can be circulated into and through the helmet to assist in the resultant action on a 3,481,326 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 users scalp, such as stimulating blood circulation, and creating a pleasing and/or drying effect to the hair of a user. The present invention also contemplates, while not specifically disclosing the same, the possible use of sanitary disposable liners for covering the interior liner of the lhat or helmet, and obviously assist in maintaining a sanitary condition, especially when the device is to be used on a plurality of humans, such as would be anticipated in a barbershop, or a beauty parlor or the like. Such disposable liners might also include materials or preparations for treating or otherwise affecting the hair and/or scalp of a user, and might additionally include means to facilitate or enhance drying effect of hair previously subjected to washing or other treatments.

Additional objects and/or advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the mechanism of the present invention as applied to the head of a user;

IFIG. 2 is a sectional view through the hat or helmet device of FIG. l, disclosing some of the details of construction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the interior of the hat or helmet, together with resilient means for applying vibratory forces to the head or scalp of a user of the device;

FIG. 4 is an elevationalview, portions thereof being broken away, and portions being in section, disclosing a possible form of an interior construction for imparting to the head and -scalp of a user the vibratory action from the overall device; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective View, partially fragmentarily shown, of weighting means of a different form from that shown in FIG. 2, which can be utilized for applying pressure of the hat or helmet to the head of a user.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in FIG. l there is schematically shown a vibrator hat, generally designated 10, as applied to the head of a user 12. The vibrator hat 10, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, consists of a relatively stiff material and has operatively mounted thereon, and attached thereto, a vibrator unit 14 similar in construction to commonly known units adapted to be fastened on the back of a hand of a person with associated securing means, whereby vibrations from the unit can be imparted through the lingers of an operator to apply a massaging effect to the head or any other part or portion of a human anatomy. A chin strap, generally designated 16, can be secured to the vibrator hat, although under some circumstances not being necessary, but adapted for securely positioning the hat on the head of a user.

An opening 18 may be'provided in the hat into which an end of a hose or tube 20 is connected, and which at its opposite end is associated with a heater and blower unit 22. This construction is adapted to flow a stream of warmed air, which can, if desired, additionally include hair treating preparations, into the hat to not only give a pleasing effect, but to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp of a user and/or treat the scalp and/or hair to obtain beneficial results.

The construction of the hat will be' more readily understood from a study of FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The hat includes a frame 24, preferably constructed of a relatively stiff and heavy material such as metal or a heavy plastic material, the latter being for example in the nature of safety helmets as currently used in many industries to minimize damage to heads of workers from falling or impelled objects or materials. The vibrator unit 14 is attached to the frame 24 by means of screws or the like 26, and can include an interposed resilient layer which additionally serves in the nature of an electrical insulating means. A flattened portion 28 is preferably provided in the top region of frame 24 to facilitate mounting of the vibrator unit 14 on the frame. If the hat has configurations other than as specifically shown in the drawings, the resilient means referred to above can be so configured as to facilitate a positive interconnection of the vibrator unit with the hat.

Interiorly of the fra-me 24 of vibrator hat 10 there is secured resilient material adapted for direct contact with the head of a user. This construction can have different configurations and can consist of different materials. Asl shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the head contacting means, generally designated 30, consists of an external portion 32 having a configuration generally in the nature of a concave configuration, with a depending side and rear portion 34 and a top portion 36, the overall configuration being in the nature of a semi-hat or head covering member. The screws 26 pass through openings 38 in the top portion 36, through openings 40, and thence are screw-threadably engaged in the vibrator unit 14. A shield 42 of resilient material is afiixed to the interior of top portion 36 by any desired means, such as an adhesive along the juncture area 44 between the shield 42 and top portion 36.

A plurality of holes 46 are provided in the depending side and rear portion 34, and a plurality of holes 48 extend through the shield 42 and the top portion 36 of head contacting means 30 to provide for air circulation and greater resiliency of the head contacting member. Obviously if warmed or treating mixture air is to be utilized these openings substantially facilitate a flow of the air under the hat into contact with the head of a user.

The chin strap 16 includes side webs 50 appropriately secured to the cap at an area generally designated 52, and preferably externally of the head contacting means. The lower ends or extremities 54 of side webs 50 preferably extend into and through adjusting ears 56 secured to a chin rest 58, and the Iwebs are so adjustable as to permit proper engagement with the chin of a user of the hat.

It has been found desirable to utilize weight means in order to increase hat pressure on the head of a user to enhance the vibratory and massaging effect. As shown in FIG. 2 for example, the frame 24 has an outwardly extending ange 60 on which is removably supported a ring 62 consisting, in this embodiment, of a metal ring. Rings of greater cross-sectional area, as indicated in broken lines at 62a can be used to provide increased weight, or if desired a plurality of superimposed rings of appropriate diameters (not shown) can be used to obtain a similar effect. Other types of weighting means can be used, and one very desirable structure consists of a roller chain 64, schematically shown in FIG. 5, in the nature of a drive chain utilized in bicycles or the like which can be appropriately adjustably dimensioned to serve the same purpose as the ring 62.

Electrical connecting means, generally designated 66, are operatively connected with the vibrator unit 14 for electrical energization thereof in a known manner. The vibrator can, if desired, include Ventilating slots or openings 68, depending upon the exact vibrator unit used. A selectively controllable switch, generally designated 70, is operatively connected to vibrator unit 14 in a usual manner to control operation of the vibrator.

Bracket means, generally designated 72, are connected by means of bolts 74 or the like, surrounding the opening 18 and adapted for connection of the hose 20 to the frame 24.

While the head contacting means 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is considered as constituting a preferred construction, manifestly specifically different constructions can be utilized within the interior of the vibrator hat for resiliently imparting vibrations and the massaging effect to the head of a user. One such construction is shown fragmentarily in FIG. 4, and consists of a foam rubber liner 76, substantially covering the interior of vibrator hat 10a and which is operatively attached therein by any desired means, such as an adhesive for example (not shown), and this modification can also include holes 46a for the same purpose as in the previously described embodiment. An opening 18a can be included in this structure for the same purpose as in the preceding embodiment, and a vibrator unit 14a is operatively connected to this embodiment of the vibrator hat 10a.

Operation and use of the vibrator hat of the present invention will be obvious from the foregoing description. Upon actuation of the vibrator unit, the vibrations will be transmitted through the head contacting or engaging means to the head and scalp of a user, and create, due to the rapid vibrating action, a massaging effect to the head. This has been found to stimulate the scalp of a user and, as previously pointed out, can also include use of a flow of warm air and/ or treating materials to enhance the attained results. Additionally use of the present invention results in a soothing effect due to the -massaging action.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for imparting a massaging effect to the head of a human including a hollow, head encompassing member of substantial weight and firmness; a vibrator unit connected to said head encompassing member and adapted to impart a vibratory motion thereto; a liner of resilient material interiorly disposed and connected to said head encompassing member to receive vibrations from said vibrator unit, said liner being contoured substantially to conform to the entire scalp area of a user and including a first cup-shaped portion having depending rear and side portions adapted to engage the rear and side portions of the head of a user and a second portion adapted to contact the top of the scalp portion of the head of a user with actuation of said vibrator unit imparting to said liner, through said head encompassing member, a massaging effect, said head encompassing member having an external lower flange outwardly extended therefrom, an encircling band of a material of substantial weight positioned on and supported by said flange, said encircling band being susceptible of different cross sectional areas and weights to affect the action imparted to the scalp or head of a user.

2. In apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said band comprising a roller chain of dimensions adapted to be supported by said flange.

3. In apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said liner consisting of a layer of foamed material substantially err compassing the entire interior area of said head encornpassing member, and adapted to provide a massaging resilient action, upon actuation of the vibrating unit, to the scalp of a user.

4. In apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said liner including a plurality of openings therethrough, an opening into said head encompassing member, conduit means connected to said opening, air warming means, said conduit being operatively connected with said air warming means and adapted to create a ow of warm air over substantially the entire scalp area of the user, upon actuation thereof, said openings provided in the liner facilitating flow of warmed air.

5. In apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said vibrator unit being resiliently attached to the upper surface of said encompassing member and being electrically insulated therefrom and adapted to impart a resilient vibratory motion to said encompassing member and therethrough to the resilient interior head contacting portion, to thereby create the vibratory actuated massaging effect to the head of a user.

6. In apparatus as claimed in claim 5, adjustable means for securing said encompassing member to the head of a user including a ilexible strap having upper ends afxed to said member and depending therefrom in a loop, a chain cup operatively associated with, and connected to said ilexible strap, and adjustable means for adjusting the disposition of the chin cup and adapted for pressure adjustment of the member with respect to the head of a user.

7. An apparatus for use in applying a treatment to a human head comprising a cover member adapted to be placed on a head, and including means adapted for intimate association with the scalp of a user, said cover having a substantial weight, and including additional extraneous weight members to provide desired vibratory transmission to the head, said weight members including a relatively symmetrical frame of heavy material, an inner liner connected to the interior of said cover comprising resilient material generally configured to the shape of a human head, said liner being adapted for transmission of vibratory motions associated with the cover to transmit a vibratory and massaging action to the head of a user, a Vibrating mechanism associated with the cover exteriorly thereof and adapted to vibrate the entire cover and therefore impart a vibratory movement to said liner, said liner including a plurality of openings therethrough, adapted for passage of warmed treatment air, means comprising a chin contacting member to hold said cover in proper position with respect to the head of a user, said extraneous weights externally disposed with respect to the cover being adapted to increase or decrease the pressure of the liner on the head of a user.

8. An apparatus for imparting a massaging effect to the head of a human comprising a head encompassing member of substantially rigid material having a lower annular flange; a vibrator unit connected to said head encompassing member; a liner of resilient material mounted within said head encompassing member and being contoured substantially to conform to the entire scalp area of a user for receiving vibrations from said vibrator unit through said head encompassing member; and an annular band of a predetermined weight releasably mounted on said annular flange of the head encompassing member in circumscribing relation thereto and being interchangeable with similar bands of different weights in order to vary the vibrations imparted to said liner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,113,444 4/ 1938 Erickson 128-36 2,204,035 6/1940 Decker 12S-41 2,347,554 4/ 1944 Gothers 128-36 2,566,600 9/1951 Colon 12S-65 2,569,795 10/1951 Avery.

LAWRENCE W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner

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