Hairbrushes, combs, or the like having a cleaning plate

Abstract

This invention relates to hairbrushes, combs, or other like hairdressing implements, that have a cleaning plate to remove debris, such as hair, dandruff, or other material, that collects between the bristles during use. The preferred embodiment of this invention provides for a hairbrush having a base and a plurality of bristles extending away from the base. A cleaning plate is provided having a cleaning element that can be slideably disposed near the base between adjacent pairs of bristles so that it can be displaced away from the base to remove hair, dandruff or other debris that collects between the bristles during use of the hairbrush. A releasable lock is also provided to releasably secure the cleaning plate to the base of the hairbrush. The releasable lock includes a first locking part on at least one of the plurality of bristles, and a complimentary second locking part to the first locking part on the cleaning plate. This complementary second locking part is positioned to releasably engage the first locking part when the cleaning element is slideably disposed near the base between adjacent pairs of bristles. In the preferred embodiment, the first locking part on at least one of the plurality of bristles is a stem which the complimentary second locking part releasably engages. In particular, the complimentary second locking part comprises a channel having a sufficient width to releasably engage in snug fit the stem of the first locking part. Moreover, the first locking part includes a stop located on the stem above where the complimentary second locking part releasably engages the stem. The stop engages the second locking part from above to prevent the cleaning plate from being displaced away from the base when the channel releasably engages in snug fit the stem of the first locking part. In the preferred embodiment, the stem and the stop of the first locking part are integrally formed with the respective bristles of the hairbrush.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.