US20120312319A1

US20120312319A1 - Vibrating Hair Iron With Noncontact Switch

Info

Publication number: US20120312319A1
Application number: US13/157,236
Authority: US
Inventors: Izumi Uwano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-09
Filing date: 2011-06-09
Publication date: 2012-12-13

Abstract

A vibrating hair styling device for straightening and smoothing hair is disclosed. The vibrating hair styling device comprises a pair of arms extending from a pair of arms, a magnet, a noncontact switch, a power on/off switch, a vibrating motor, a control circuit and a power cord. The pair of arms includes an upper arm and a lower arm. An upper heating plate is attached at a distal end of an inner surface of the upper arm and a lower heating plate is attached at a proximal end of an inner surface of the lower arm. The noncontact switch is arranged in magnetic communication with the magnet. The on/off switch turns on when the magnet and the noncontact switch approach each other and transfer vibrations to the upper heating plate and the lower heating plate thereby allowing a user to straighten the hair.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hair styling devices and, more particularly to a vibrating hair-styling device with a non contact switch for straightening human hair.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Presently, a wide variety of hair-styling devices has been developed in the art for improving the appearance of human hair. The hair-styling devices are used for providing a variety of styling effects to the hair. Among the hair-styling devices, hair irons play a vital role in smoothing, streamlining and providing a ‘sleek’ appearance to the hair. In most hair irons, heating and vibrating mechanisms are used for straightening human hair.
One prior art taught in U.S. Pat. Application No. 20090044823 published to Overend discloses an electric hair iron comprised of at least one heating element controlled by a temperature sensor and a control circuit. The temperature sensor and control circuit are configured so that power is supplied to the heating element or elements only when the temperature reaches or exceeds a predetermined minimum temperature. Also provided are methods for straightening hair. However, the temperature sensor activates only after a predetermined minimum temperature, causing the hair iron to take a long time to heat and straighten the hair.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,206 issued to Lee discloses a hair iron that includes a pair of arms opened and closed by a pivot, and each arm has a gripping portion and a hair treatment portion. The hair treatment portions are provided with respective hair treatment members between which the desired amount of hair is held and pressed to style the hair. The hair treatment members are comprised of planar top surfaces, or undulating top surfaces. An image marker of concave and convex images are provided on the opposing surfaces of the hair treatment members, which are also supported by supporting protrusions formed on the arms. When the arms are closed, the hair is held between the hair treatment members and part of the hair is also held between the image marker so that an image is imparted with the part of the hair by the pressure and temperature applied to the hair. However, for creating a desired hairstyle, a user wants to pull down the hair iron by pressing the arms after holding the hair between the forming plates. This may cause damage to hair and therefore the device is often ineffective for straightening the human hair without harming the hair.
Another prior art discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,694 issued to Tsuji provides a hair styling iron for hair straightening or curling, the device includes a generally circular cross-section electrically heated barrel. An arm is movable relative to the barrel for selectively clamping a strand of hair between the tongue and the peripheral surface of the barrel for curling hair. The barrel comprises first and second pipes each having a generally semi-circular cross section with a top rounded outer surface and a flat bottom outer surface. The pipes are movable relative to each other between a closed position where the flat bottom surfaces are kept in closed relation to each other and an open position where the bottom surfaces are spaced away from each other. However, the device is not secure because of the electrical power from the contact switch may cause for occurring defects on human body while straightening the human hair.
Therefore, there is a need for a hair iron for straightening the human hair with a vibrating mechanism. Such a needed device would have a noncontact on/off switch for controlling the vibrator. The noncontact on/off switch would be more durable than a mechanical switch and would last for a longer period of time. The noncontact switch would be capable of reducing the chance of occurring defects on human body when the vibrating hair-iron is in use. The needed device would be easy-to-use, reliable with the capability to straighten human hair with a smooth, silky, and luscious shine. Such a needed device would have a shorter heat-up time and a user would be able to straighten hair within minutes. Finally, the needed device would have high quality, ceramic tourmaline plates to prevent hair from drying out from use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a vibrating hair-styling device with a noncontact switch for straightening human hair. The vibrating hair-styling device comprises a pair of arms pivotally arranged as an upper arm and a lower arm, an upper heating plate, a lower heating plate, a magnet, a non-contact switch, a power on/off switch, a vibrating motor, a control circuit, a power cord and a Light Emitting Display (LED). The upper heating plate is attached at a distal end of an inner surface of the upper arm. The lower heating plate is attached at a distal end of an inner surface of the lower arm. The noncontact switch is arranged in magnetic communication with the magnet and the noncontact switch being at a slot on the inner surface of the lower arm. The power on/off switch is arranged at a middle portion of the inner surface of the lower arm. A vibrating motor is operatively arranged inside a middle portion of the upper arm. The power cord is connected to the control circuit through a joining end of the upper arm and the lower arm.
The noncontact switch may be a magnetic sensor which does not require a physical contact and thereby reduces chance for occurring defects on human body. The noncontact switch has a hysteresis that allows the stable operations without the chattering malfunctions. The upper heating plate and the lower heating plate adopt a floating style to make the vibration easier and to vibrate in three different axial directions.
The power on/off switch turns on when the magnet and the noncontact switch approach each other in the closed position and transfer vibrations to the upper heating plate and the lower heating plate. The user can place the hair in between the upper heating plate and the lower heating plate and slide the device over the hair for straightening and smoothing the hair. The user can repeat the process until he/she is satisfied with straightness and smoothness of hair. Further, the present invention is having a fast heat up time and the user can straighten the hair within minutes. Finally, the device is having a high quality ceramic tourmaline plates for retaining the moisture in the hair. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating a pair of arms of a vibrating hair styling device in open position;

FIG. 4 is a front cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating the pair of arms of the vibrating hair styling device in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a vibrating motor of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation illustrating the working of a control circuit of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention illustrating a vibrating hair-styling device 10. The vibrating hair-styling device 10 comprises a pair of arms 12 pivotally arranged as an upper arm 14 and a lower arm 16, an upper heating plate 18, a lower heating plate 20, a magnet (not shown), a noncontact switch 24, a power on/off switch 26, a vibrating motor (not shown), a control circuit (not shown), a power cord 32 and a Light Emitting Display (LED) 34, a pair of arms pivotally arranged as an upper arm and a lower arm, an upper heating plate. The upper heating plate 18 is attached at a distal end of an inner surface 38 of the upper arm 14. The lower heating plate 20 is attached at a distal end of an inner surface 40 of the lower arm 16. The noncontact switch 24 is arranged in magnetic communication with the magnet (not shown) and the noncontact switch 24 being at a slot on the inner surface 42 of the lower arm 16. The power on/off switch 26 is arranged at a middle portion of the inner surface 44 of the lower arm 16. A vibrating motor (not shown) is operatively arranged inside a middle portion of the upper arm 14. The power cord 32 is connected to the control circuit (not shown) through a joining end of the upper arm 14 and the lower arm 16.
The pair of arms 12 may be made of flat iron which is made of ceramic material. The noncontact switch 24 may be a magnetic sensor and does not require a physical contact and thereby reduces chance for occurring defects on human body. The noncontact switch 24 has a hysteresis that allows the stable operations without the chattering malfunctions. The upper heating plate 18 and the lower heating plate 20 adopt a floating style to make the vibration easier and to vibrate in three different axial directions. The LED screen 34 is arranged for displaying time and temperature.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention illustrating the vibrating hair-styling device 10. The vibrating hair-styling device 10 comprises the upper arm 14, the lower arm 16, the upper heating plate 18, lower heating plate 20, the magnet 22, the noncontact switch 24, power on/off switch 26, the vibrating motor 28, the control circuit (not shown), the power cord 32 and the LED display 34. The upper heating plate 18 comprises an upper steel-leaf spring bar, an upper heating bar 48, an upper heater cover 50 and an upper heater plate 52. The lower heating plate 20 comprises a lower steel-leaf spring bar 54, a lower heating bar 56, a lower heater cover 58 and a lower heater plate 60. A plurality of screws 62 utilizes to attach the upper heating plate 18 and the lower heating plate 20 with the upper arm 14 and the lower arm 16 respectively. The lower arm 16 also comprises a lower PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 64, lower inner cover 66, a switch cover 68, a switch frame 70, and the magnet 22. The upper arm also includes an upper inner cover 70, upper PCB 72 and a vibration motor 74. The magnet 22 is positioned on a protruding member 74 at a proximal end of the inner surface 76 of the upper arm 14. The upper arm 14 and the lower arm 16 of the device 10 are pivotally arranged and secured using a right hinge cover 78 and a left hinge cover 86 connected by a screw 80 a screw nut 82, and a shaft 84. The proximal end of the lower arm 16 includes a tail cover 88, a plurality of screws 90, a ring 92 and a power receptacle 94. The pivoting mechanism of the upper arm and the lower arm is achieved by means of a spring 94 which is affixed with the pair of arms 12 utilizing a right spring fixture 96 and a left spring fixture 98. The power cord 32 comprises a power plug 100, a soldering receptacle 102, a cylinder 104, a reinforcement unit 106 and a reinforcing rubber 108.
FIG. 3 is a front cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating a pair of arms 12 of a vibrating hair-styling device 10 in open position. When the device 10 is in the open position, the magnet 22 and the noncontact switch 24 does not contact each other. In open position, the power on/off switch 22 being in off state and the control circuit (not shown) is in inactive state so that the vibration motor 74 does not turn on and no vibration transmits to the upper heating plate 18 and the lower heating plate 20.
FIG. 4 is a front cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating a pair of arms 12 of a vibrating hair-styling device 10 in closed position. The power on/off switch 26 turns on when the magnet 22 and the noncontact switch 24 approach each other in the closed position and transfer vibrations to the upper heating plate 14 and the lower heating plate 16. Thereby a user can place the hair in between the upper heating plate 14 and the lower heating plate 16 and sliding the device 10 over the hair for straightening and smoothing the hair. The user can repeat the process until he/she is satisfied with straightness and smoothness of hair.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a vibrating motor 74 operatively arranged inside a middle portion of the upper arm 14. The vibration motor 74 is affixed in between an upper cradle 110 and a lower cradle 112. An eccentrically damper 114 is connected with one end of the vibration motor 74. The vibration motor 74 is electrically connected to the control circuit (not shown) utilizing a plurality of wires 116. The vibration motor 74 is controlled by means of the control circuit (not shown). The vibration motor 74 activate only when the magnet (not shown) and the noncontact switch (not shown) approach each other. It is possible to attach the vibration motor 74 inside the middle portion of the upper arm 14 either horizontally or vertically. The vibrations can be altered depending on the user's choice by changing the direction.
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation illustrating the working of a control circuit 118. When the pair of arms 12 closes each other, the noncontact switch 24 senses magnetic voltages from the magnet 22 and the control circuit 118 causes to activate. The vibration motor 74 is electrically connected to the control circuit 118 and the vibration motor 74 is controlled by means of the control circuit 118. The on/off state of the vibrating motor 74 is controlled by the control circuit 118.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vibrating hair styling device for straightening hair, the device comprising:

a pair of arms extending from a pivot point, the pair of arms includes an upper arm and a lower arm;

an upper heating plate attached at a distal end of an inner surface of the upper arm;

a lower heating plate attached at a proximal end of an inner surface of the lower arm;

a magnet positioned on a protruding member that extends from a proximal end of the inner surface of the upper arm;

a noncontact switch arranged in magnetic communication with the magnet, the noncontact switch being at a slot on the inner surface of the lower arm;

a power on/off switch arranged at a middle portion of the inner surface of the lower arm;

a vibrating motor operatively connected inside a middle portion of the upper arm;

a control circuit arranged inside a middle portion of the lower arm; and

a power cord connected to the control circuit through a joining end of the upper arm and the lower arm;

whereby the on/off switch turns on when the magnet and the noncontact switch approach each other in the closed position and transfer vibrations to the upper heating plate and the lower heating plate thereby allowing a user to straighten the hair.

2. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the vibration motor is controlled by means of the control circuit.

3. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the noncontact switch may be a magnetic sensor switch.

4. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the noncontact switch does not contact physically and reduces chance for occurring defects on human body.

5. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the noncontact has a hysteresis that allows the stable operations without the chattering malfunctions.

6. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein a light emitting diode (LED) display screen is arranged on the inner surface of the lower arm for displaying time and temperature.

7. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the pair of arms may be made of flat iron.

8. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the flat iron may be made from ceramic material.

9. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the hair styling device may be made from variety of colors and sleek designs.

10. A method for straightening and smoothing hair utilizing a hair styling device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the vibrating hair styling device;

b) connecting a power cord of the device to an external power supply;

c) enabling the vibrating hair styling device by switching on the external power supply;

d) activating power on/off switch on the hair styling device;

e) placing human hair in between an upper arm and a lower arm of the device;

f) providing the upper arm proximate to the lower arm device for activating vibrating effect; and

g) sliding the device over the hair for straightening and smoothing the hair.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the steps (f) through (g) can be repeated until the user satisfied with straightness and smoothness of hair.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the upper heating plate and the lower heating plate allow the hair to slide more smooth and straight.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the vibrating hair styling device allows for straightening hair with a smooth, silky and luscious shine in minutes.