TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to applicators and, in particular to applicators for applying fibers to surfaces.

BACKGROUND

Hair thickening fibers can be used to camouflage baldness and improve one's appearance by providing fuller looking hair. Hair thickening fibers are generally shaken directly from a container onto the hair, scalp and/or face where thinning spots appear and adhere to the hair, scalp and/or face to provide fuller looking hair. It can be difficult to achieve natural looking hair as shaking the fibers can lead to uneven coverage of the thinning spots.

Accordingly, there is a need for a new applicator for applying fibers to surfaces.

SUMMARY

This summary is intended to introduce the reader to the more detailed description that follows and not to limit or define any claimed or as yet claimed invention. One or more inventions may reside in any combination or sub-combination of the elements or process steps disclosed in any part of this document including its claims and figures.

According to one broad aspect, an applicator for applying fibers to a surface is provided. The applicator includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end has a first opening configured to couple to a container housing the fibers and to receive the fibers from the container. The second end has a second opening for dispensing the fibers from the body. The applicator also includes an air flow generating member for creating an air current for propelling the fibers through the second opening as the fibres pass along a pathway between the first opening and the second opening. The fibers are directed along the pathway from the first opening towards the second opening and into the air current by gravity.

The second opening may be perpendicular to the first opening.

The air flow generating member may be a bulb and may be configured to create the air current upon an outer wall of the bulb being depressed.

The bulb may be configured to create the air current upon the outer wall of the bulb being depressed in a direction towards the pathway.

The air flow generating member includes an inlet valve for directing air into the air flow generating member and an outlet valve for directing air out of the air flow generating member.

The applicator may also include a perforated surface positioned along the pathway between the first opening and the second opening, the perforated surface having perforations that are sized and shaped to provide for selective passage of the fibres through the perforated surface.

The perforations may be sized and shaped to provide for passage of at least a portion of the fibres through the perforated surface and into the air current in response to agitation of the body, the fibres being directed through the perforated surface and into the air current by gravity.

The perforated surface may be horizontally oriented and vertically spaced from the air current to support at least a portion of the fibers above the air current.

The perforated surface may be oriented to have an acute angle relative to a bottom surface of the body and is vertically spaced from the air current to support at least a portion of the fibers above the air current.

The perforated surface may be vertically oriented and vertically spaced from the air current to support at least a portion of the fibers above the air current.

The perforated surface may be vertically oriented and positioned within the air current to inhibit passage of the fibres through the second opening in the absence of the air current.

The applicator may also include a second perforated surface vertically oriented and positioned within the air current to inhibit passage of the fibres into the air flow generating member in the absence of the air current.

The body may also include a chamber positioned along the pathway between the first opening and the second opening, the chamber including a perforated surface for retaining the fibers in the chamber.

The applicator may also include a vibrator positioned adjacent to the chamber, the vibrator configured to agitate the chamber to provide for passage of the fibres through the perforated surface.

The vibrator may directly agitate the chamber to provide for passage of the fibres through the perforated surface.

The vibrator may agitate a pathway member positioned adjacent to the chamber to provide for passage of the fibres through the perforated surface.

The pathway member may be positioned adjacent to the chamber and below the perforated surface to receive the fibres as they fall through the perforated surface.

The pathway member may be positioned adjacent to the chamber and above the air current to direct the fibres into the air current as they pass through the pathway.

The applicator may also include a power source to provide power to the vibrator.

The fibers may be hair thickening fibers.

Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.

