CN103415227A - Hair styling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair styling device comprising a handle member and a hair receiving member extending longitudinally from the handle member and adapted to allow hair to be wound around a contact surface of the hair receiving member, wherein the contact surface is substantially non-straight in a longitudinal direction.

Description

hair styling device

technical field

The present invention relates to hair styling appliances. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to hair ironing devices.

Background technique

There are many known devices for creating artificial curls on human hair. Examples include curling irons and curlers, curling irons, curling rollers, and curling irons. Likewise, straighteners can be used to curl hair or have the opposite effect - straighten hair with natural (or previously created) curls - or remove kinks, frizz, static, or create smoother hair Exterior.

Primarily, the shape of the hair-receiving portion of the device determines the hair effect produced. Many existing devices require a grip to hold the hair in place and prevent slippage during treatment. This is inconvenient for the user and increases the time required to style the hair.

The hair straightener includes two hinged jaws, each with a flat surface. Hair is inserted between the jaws, but remains straight and does not wrap around the jaws (which would be ineffective since only the inner surface of each jaw is heated to treat the hair). Curling irons are similar, but each jaw has a flat yet undulating or wavy surface (and the hair is again inserted between the jaws).

Curling irons, curling rollers, etc. have a substantially straight cylindrical portion around which hair is wound. They may have straight or helical separating projections extending outwardly from the cylindrical portion. However, these protrusions serve to separate the hair and hold it in place, and the shape of the hair effect produced is substantially determined by the cylindrical portion rather than the separating protrusions.

There is a general and continuing desire to create new and fashionable hairstyles, but styles may not be limited to those that can be produced using existing devices. A curling iron, etc. creates a circular spiral effect. An example of a new shape would be an elliptical spiral, but this is not possible with existing devices.

Contents of the invention

It would be desirable to provide a hair styling device capable of creating new styles.

It would be desirable to provide a hair styling device that maintains the hair naturally while the hair is treated for results.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hair styling device comprising:

handle member;

A hair receiving member extending longitudinally from the handle member and adapted to allow hair to wrap around a contact surface of the hair receiving member, wherein the contact surface is substantially non-straight in the longitudinal direction.

The hair receiving member may be a plate member having two main contact surfaces. The second contact surface may be substantially non-straight in the longitudinal direction.

The hair receiving member may have an undulating or undulating profile in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the hair receiving member may be helical in the longitudinal direction. The helical hair receiving member can be considered to be undulating or undulating in two planes.

The concave portion of each undulation may be adapted to receive a portion of hair to be styled. When the hair receiving member is a plate member, the hair receiving member may be adapted to receive hair in alternating upper and lower recesses defined by the first and second contact surfaces.

The undulations may have a zigzag configuration. Alternatively, the undulations may have a square wave profile. Alternatively, the undulations may be substantially sinusoidal in shape. The term "sinusoidal" is not intended to be interpreted using a strict mathematical definition.

At least one of amplitude and wavelength of the undulations may vary along the length of the hair receiving member.

The hair receiving member may comprise a straight section between one, more or each of the undulations.

The hair receiving member may be removably attached to the handle member. Multiple hair receiving members may be provided. Each hair receiving member of the plurality of hair receiving members is variable in at least one of: amplitude and wavelength of undulations; presence or absence and length of straight segments between undulations; and The width, thickness or length of the contact surface.

The hair receiving member may comprise one or more apertures or slots adapted to receive at least a portion of hair wrapped around the contact surface.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the hair styling device may be adapted to apply heat to the hair in order to at least temporarily maintain the created curls of the hair.

The hair styling appliance may comprise heating means for heating at least the first contact surface. The heating device may be powered eg by mains power or batteries.

The heating device may include a resistive member. The hair styling appliance may comprise thermostatic control means for varying the operating temperature.

The hair receiving member may be constructed of a thermally conductive material, such as aluminium.

The hair receiving member may have a laminated construction. The hair receiving member may comprise a layer of silicon material such as rubber. The hair receiving member may comprise a silicon layer and a thermally conductive layer, the two layers being attached together by an attachment method. The attachment method may include bonding. Alternatively, the attachment method may include at least one of pressing and securing.

The hair receiving member may include a third layer, which may be thermally conductive. The two heat conducting layers may be interposed by a silicon layer. The silicon layer may be encapsulated by a thermally conductive layer.

The hair receiving member may include a covering. The coating can consist of a ceramic material.

Alternatively, the heating means may comprise resistive wires. The wire may be wrapped around the hair receiving member.

The hair receiving member may comprise a frame member. One or more frame parts are anti-electric to provide heating means.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the hair styling device may be adapted to at least assist in the application of the chemical substance to the hair in order to at least temporarily maintain the created curls of the hair.

The hair receiving member may include a frame member to assist in the flow of the chemical. Alternatively, the hair receiving member may include holes to assist the flow of chemicals.

Description of drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a hair perm device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a front view of the device of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the hair receiving member of the hair ironing device.

Detailed ways

1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of a hair styling appliance 10 comprising a handle 20 and a hair receiving member 30 extending longitudinally from the handle 20 . The hair receiving member 30 is formed as a plate and has a first contact surface 32 and a second contact surface 34 . As is evident in the drawings, the hair receiving member 30 has a zigzag profile defining a number of undulations 36 . Thus, the contact surface is non-straight in the longitudinal direction.

The hair receiving member 30 is formed of a thermally conductive material capable of being heated using electrical power supplied by the power source via the cable 22 .

In use, the user is able to wrap hair around the hair receiving member 30 and the undulations 36 assist in holding the hair in place. The heat transferred from the contact surface conditions the hair to create a wavy effect.

Hair receiving member 30 can include one or more holes or slots (not shown) to receive a portion of hair. This can be used to help hold the hair and/or to different effects.

In other embodiments, the amplitude and/or wavelength of the undulations can vary along the length of the hair receiving member 30 to produce different effects. Additionally, the hair receiving member 30 can include straight sections disposed between undulations 36 . In practice, the hair styling device 10 can be provided as a kit having a number of different hair receiving members 30 each removably attachable to the handle 20 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the hair receiving member 30 has a laminated construction. A heating pad 40 (0.9 mm thick) is bonded to an aluminum layer 42 (2 mm thick). Since the outer skin of the heating pad 40 is silicone based rubber, the ceramic coating (20 microns thick) may not adhere properly to the heating pad directly. Therefore, a 0.3 mm thick aluminum layer 44 is laminated over the heating pad 40 so that the subsequent ceramic coating process adheres to the aluminum (top and bottom) and effectively "sandwiches" the heating pad 40 between the 2 mm thick aluminum Between layer 42 and a 0.3 mm thick top aluminum cladding 44 with an effective "all over" ceramic skin 46 .

The ceramic coating 46 is wear-resistant and aesthetically pleasing. Heat is transferred from the heating mat 40 to the aluminum layer 42 and extracted to the outer layer of the ceramic cladding 46 . The heating mat 40 is applied to only the top section of the aluminum layer 42 . The aluminum layer 42 can also continue to cover the bottom undulation section if heat transfer is ineffective at transferring heat to the bottom section of the aluminum layer 42 (rear ceramic cladding). The heating pad 40 is wired to a thermostat (not shown) to vary the operating temperature, and is wired to a power cable 22 in the handle 20 for connection to mains power. Application of a supply current in the heating pad 40 generates heat for transfer into the aluminum layer 42 and out to the outer layer 46 of the ceramic cladding.

The aluminum layer 42 is bent into a contoured profile before the heating pad 40 is bonded to the aluminum layer 42 .

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), rather than bonding the heating pad 40 to the aluminum layer 42 , the heating pad 40 is pressed against the aluminum layer 42 by a thin gauge stainless steel skin or cladding. This cladding forms two distinct top and bottom sections, and the top and bottom sections are screwed together with small fasteners, compressing the heating mat 40 against the aluminum layer 42 . The screws may be replaced by any permanent joining method such as aluminum welding. The assembly is then fully ceramic coated as in a bonded arrangement.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the heating pad 40 is encapsulated within a hollow aluminum extrusion without the use of glue. Then, without damaging the heating pad 40, the extrusion is compressed until the heating pad 40 is compressed at both sides. The pressure on the heating mat 40 ensures good mechanical contact between the heating mat 40 and the aluminum wall, and thus heat transfer. For heating pads 40 encapsulated within an aluminum skin, the "sandwich" assembly is then bent into the desired wave profile. The curved components are then ceramic coated.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the heating pad 40 can be omitted by choice of material. For example, the hair receiving member 30 can be formed from a thermally conductive polymer such as the E-series or D-series materials offered by Coolpolymers Corporation. Electric current is passed through the material to heat it to the desired temperature. The hair receiving member 30 would be an injection molded part and this would exclude any heating pads, gluing process or encapsulation process. Strengthening members can be included if desired.

In another alternative embodiment (not shown), a heating element is wrapped around the hair receiving member 30 to provide the desired heat. The assembly is then fully ceramic coated as in the previous embodiment. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the hair receiving member 30 can comprise a frame which is anti-static to accommodate the heating means.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), hair styling appliance 10 can be non-electrical. The device 10 can be adapted to assist in the application of chemicals to the hair to maintain the created curls of the hair.

The hair receiving member 30 can include a frame to assist the flow of the chemical, or include holes to assist the flow of the chemical, or the like.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (35)

1. A hair styling device comprising: handle member; A hair receiving member extending longitudinally from the handle member and adapted to allow hair to wrap around a contact surface of the hair receiving member, wherein the contact surface is substantially non-straight in the longitudinal direction. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hair receiving member is a plate member having two main contact surfaces. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second contact surface is substantially non-straight in the longitudinal direction. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member has an undulating or undulating profile in the longitudinal direction. 5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member is helical in the longitudinal direction. 6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the concave portion of each undulation is adapted to receive a portion of hair to be styled. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the hair receiving member is adapted to receive hair in alternating upper and second recesses defined by the first and second contact surfaces. In the concave part. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the undulations have a zigzag configuration. 9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the undulations have a square wave profile. 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the undulations are substantially sinusoidal in shape. 11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein at least one of amplitude and wavelength of the undulations varies along the length of the hair receiving member. 12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the hair receiving member comprises a straight section between one, more or each of the undulations. 13. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member is removably attached to the handle member. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of hair receiving members is provided and each hair receiving member of said plurality of hair receiving members varies in at least one of the following respects: said relief The amplitude and wavelength of ; the presence or absence and length of straight sections between the undulations; and the width, thickness or length of the contact surface. 15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member comprises one or more holes or slots adapted to receive hair curled around the contact surface. Wind around at least part of the hair. 16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving means is adapted to apply heat to the hair to at least temporarily maintain the created curls of the hair. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising heating means for heating at least said first contact surface. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heating means is electric. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the heating means comprises a resistive member. 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or 19 including thermostatic control means for varying the operating temperature. 21. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member is constructed of a thermally conductive material. 22. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member is of laminated construction. 23. The device of claim 22, wherein the hair receiving member comprises a layer of silicon material. 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the hair receiving member comprises a silicon layer and a thermally conductive layer, the two layers being attached together by an attachment method. 25. Apparatus according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the hair receiving member comprises a third layer, the third layer being thermally conductive. 26. The device of claim 25, wherein the two thermally conductive layers are intermediated by the silicon layer. 27. The device of claim 26, wherein the silicon layer is encapsulated by the thermally conductive layer. 28. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving member comprises a coating. 29. The device of claim 28, wherein the coating is comprised of a ceramic material. 30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heating means comprises a resistive wire. 31. The device of claim 30, wherein the wire is wrapped around the hair receiving member. 32. The device of claim 17, wherein the hair receiving member comprises a frame member and one or more frame portions are antistatic to provide the heating means. 33. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the hair styling device is adapted to at least assist in the application of a chemical to the hair to at least temporarily maintain the created curl of the hair . 34. The device of claim 33, wherein the hair receiving member includes a frame member to assist flow of the chemical. 35. The device of claim 33, wherein the hair receiving member includes a plurality of holes to facilitate flow of the chemical.

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