USOO591.3315A United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,913,315 Todd (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 22, 1999 54). HAIR TATTOO APPARATUS AND METHOD 3.433.232 3/1969 Garrett. 3,898.357 8/1975 Miller et al.. 76 Inventor: Mark D. Todd, 1815 Lake Rd., 4,169,169 9/1979 Kitabatake. Webster, N.Y. 14580 4,261,375 4/1981 Anderson ................................ 132/224 4,522,836 6/1985 Humason et al.. 4,594,276 6/1986 Relyea. 21 Appl. No.: 09/059,874 4,739,151 4/1988 Small ....................................... 132/225 1-1. 5,421,765 6/1995 Lehmann et al.. 22 Filed: Apr. 14, 1998 5,470,351 11/1995 Ross et al.. Related U.S. Application Data FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 63 Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/901,815, Jul. 28, 341869 2/1931 United Kingdom. 1997, Pat. No. 5,848,599, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/926,347, Sep. 9, 1997, Pat. No. 5,823, Primary Examiner-Gene Mancene 204, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/005, 734, Jan. 12, 1998. ASSistant Examiner Pedro Philogene Attorney, Agent, or Firm Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, (51) Int. Cl. ................................................. A61K 7/13 LLP 52 U.S. Cl. .................. 132/208; 132/206; 132/211 58 Field of Search ..................................... 132/206, 207, 57 ABSTRACT 132/208, 221, 223, 224, 225, 319; 606/116 In accordance with this invention, there is provided an image transfer sheet to transfer a colored image to hair. The image 56) References Cited transfer sheet comprises at least a first gel layer, a color U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS layer, and a second gel layer. The present invention includes a process to use the image transfer sheet. The proceSS entails D. 315,968 4/1991 Rizzuto et al.. contacting the sheet to hair and applying Sufficient heat 1,591,207 7/1926 Berthelsen .............................. 132/225 and/or preSSure to the sheet and hair So the colored image 1,696,823 12/1928 Walsh ...................................... 132/225 1,709,981 4/1929 Headington. transferS to the hair. 2,274,170 2/1942 Stanley. 2,705,499 4/1955 Breeeze. 32 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets 8.area ar ar area Cara ar ar 306 U.S. Patent Jun. 22, 1999 Sheet 1 of 6 5,913,315 U.S. Patent Jun. 22, 1999 Sheet 2 of 6 5,913,315 U.S. Patent Jun. 22, 1999 Sheet 3 of 6 5,913,315 29 26 27 s: lessessex,28 33 57 28 FIG 7 39 34 44 40 42 38 544 40 59 42 46 su f 36 FIG. 8 28 27 28 27 N7(ZNS, 25. 16 38 FIG. 9 U.S. Patent Jun. 22, 1999 Sheet S of 6 5,913,315 CUT TRANSFER APPLY COLORING FABRIC TO SIZE AGENT 102 DRY COATED TRANSFER FABRIC 104 CONTACT ALIGNED APPLY SETTING ALIGN HAIR HAIR WITH FABRIC SPRAY TO BE TREATED 108 107 106 HEAT COOL REMOVE FABRIC HAIR/FABRIC HAIR/FABRIC FROM HAIR 110 112 114 APPLY SETTING SPRAY 116 FIG. 14 U.S. Patent Jun. 22, 1999 Sheet 6 of 6 5,913,315 O''' b C 'd 'e ',f g a - - 210 FIG. 15(a) 250 ?/ :212 A As A A FIG. 15(b) FIG. 15(c) 252 as 214 /1 7 20at V VJ7 i? 7. FIG. 15(a) FIG. 15(e) O C d e f O C d 225 f : it, , , FIG. 15(f) FIG. 15(g) 5,913,315 1 2 HAR TATTOO APPARATUS AND METHOD The present invention includes a process for transferring an image to a user's hair. The process includes Steps for CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT contacting the transfer sheet of the image wafer to hair and APPLICATION applying Sufficient heat and/or preSSure to the transfer sheet This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's 5 or image wafer and the hair to transfer the image to the hair. patent applications U.S. Ser. No. 08/901,815, filed on Jul. The invention contemplates an apparatus, a method, trans 28, 1997, Pat. No. 5,848,599, Ser. No. 08/926,347, filed fer sheets and image wafers for two and three dimensional Sept. 9, 1997, Pat. No. 5,823,204 and 09/005,734 filed Jan. images. A further embodiment of the invention comprises a 12, 1998, pending, all of which are incorporated by refer kit for applying a wet image to hair. CCC. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is illustrated by reference to the specifica The invention relates to image transfers, and, in particular, tion and the following drawings, in which like numerals to a transferable image comprising a colored image wherein 15 refer to like elements, and in which: the image transferS to hair and an apparatus and a process to FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred crimping do the same. iron for this invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the crimped image BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION produced by the crimping iron of FIG. 1; Des. Pat. No. 315,968 discloses a hair crimping appliance FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the top jaw of the crimping comprising a male portion and a female portion. The male portion of the device depicted comprises a protruding heart iron of FIG. 1; shaped die. The female portion of the device comprises a FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the bottom jaw of the heart-shaped receSS which extends through the entire thick crimping iron of FIG. 1; ness of the female die plate. However, that device does not 25 FIG. 5 is a top view of the female die plate of the crimping produce a durable image or a sharply-defined colored image iron of FIG. 1; in hair and does not transfer an image to hair. FIG. 6 is a top view of the male die plate of the crimping An object of this invention is to provide a device and an iron of FIG. 1; image sheet that produces a durable, colored, sharply FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along the defined, crimped hair image. lines 7-7; Another object of this invention is to provide a process to FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along the transfer a colored image from an image sheet to hair. lines 8-8; Another object of the present invention is to provide an FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating how a user's hair image sheet that transferS a colored image to hair. is engaged when the male and female dies are engaged with 35 each other; SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are top views of two different In accordance with this invention, there is provided an thermal transfer fabrics used in the device of FIG. 1; image transfer sheet to transfer a durable or colored image FIG. 11 is a Schematic representation illustrating the or both a durable and colored image to hair. The image 40 interaction of the male die plate, the female die plate, the transfer sheet comprises an image release Substrate and one thermal transfer material, and the hair to be treated. or more Superior to layers. In one embodiment the Substrate has one Superior layer that comprises a gel for holding a FIG. 12 is a top view of one female die plate of this crimped image in the hair. The gel may be clear or colored, invention; including one or more colors. The image may be two or three FIG. 13 is a top view of one male die plate of this dimensional, depending upon the apparatus used to apply 45 invention; the image to the hair. The invention also contemplates an FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating one preferred image wafer comprising one or more layerS Separate from process of this invention; and the transfer sheet. FIGS. 15 (a)-15(g) illustrate a process to fabricate image The two layer embodiment has a transfer substrate, a first 50 transfer sheets and image wafers. gel layer and a color layer. The gel may be clear or colored. The color layer comprises one or more colors. The color DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED layer also comprises a gel. The first layer may be water EMBODIMENTS Soluble or may comprise one or more permanent or Semi FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred device 10 of permanent materials. For example, the pigment used for 55 this invention. The device 10 comprises a top jaw 12, a color in the Second layer may be of water durable or water bottom jaw 14, removable male and female dies 16, 18, an repellent material. If the hair becomes wet, the water durable orifice 19, first and second backing plates 28, 26, and an or water repellent material will protect the underlying first electrical source 17. A hinge or pivot 8 attaches jaw 12 to layer and extend the life of the image in the user's hair. The jaw 14. Hinged jaws 12, 14 move in the respective direction three layer embodiment comprises a first gel layer, a Second 60 of arrows 30, 32. The other reservoir holds color material. or color layer, and a third, gel layer. The third layer protects Since jaws 12, 14 are hinged the direction of arrows 30, 32, the color layer and provides added thickneSS for handling. they are not necessarily linear and parallel with each other The Superior layerS may include one or more auxiliary when jaws 12, 14 are moved.