GB1601883A

GB1601883A - Hair-curler

Info

Publication number: GB1601883A
Application number: GB8122/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-03-01
Filing date: 1978-03-01
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: ES243465U; ES243465Y; CA1103120A; DE2807797A1; JPS53135786U; FR2382212A1; IT1108826B; IT7820230A0; CH607679A5

Description

(54) HAIR-CURLER (71) I, GEMMA BRENN, a Swiss citizen, of Bellinzona, Via Ghiringhelli 55, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a hair-curler, intended temporarily to support a lock of hair (wetted) wound thereon, during the drying of the hair mass.

Curlers of this kind are known, in the most varied forms, and, even though they are comparatively simple articles, the problems connected with such curlers are many and the suggestions hitherto provided to solve such problems are equally numerous.

The hair curlers must adapt themselves well to the configurations of the wearer's head, so that they must be, at least partially, pliable and flexible. Each curler must provide a fair aeration of the hair wound thereon in order to facilitate the drying of the hair, so that the roller must be composed by a hollow body, the sidewall of which must be abundantly apertured so as to permit the flow of air therethrough.

One of the most serious problems, however, is to retain the hair wound on the curler body. While, on the one hand, it is desirable that the air swatches wound on the respective curlers remain firmly held on, and retained by, the outer surface of the curler body, it is likewise important that, at any desired instant, the hair can be easily unwound again and removed from the curler outer surface without causing annoying pulls and, above all, without being entangled. Such a problem is more acute with thinner and longer hair, since thin and long hair can be removed from the curler surface only with difficulty.

In order that the hair wound on the surface of a curler may be retained, it is necessary that retaining means protrude radially outwards from such a surface. These retaining means may take, according to the conventional art, a number of conformations, such as tiny teeth, bristles, crooks, pincers and the like. Tiny teeth which are merely pointed have proven unsuitable on account of their poor ability to grip the hair reliably.

It has been suggested to introduce in the hollow body of a hair-curler a brush having radial bristles which peep outwardly through the apertures of the curler body. This is not an acceptable approach from a hygienic standpoint since, generally, the brush cannot be satisfactorily cleaned and sterilized.

According to another conventional sug gestion, there is applied, on a longitudinal flattened area of the hollow cylindrical body of the curler, a strip of fabric fitted with a number of flexible jutting crooks which are intended to retain the hair swatch ends to be wound onto the curler. Not even this suggestion has proven to be satisfactory due to the inadequate holding force imparted to the hair.

A curler is also known which is formed by an apertured hollow cylindrical body on which is wound, so as to wrap it completcly, a strip of fabric having on side thereof a number of jutting crooks and having close-meshed-fabric areas arranged alternately with unwoven areas providing open passages. However, in such a curler, insuffi cient aeration is experienced through the mesh passageways of the fabric and the holes of the supporting body and, in addition, the hair-retaining force exerted by the crooks which jut from the fabric surface has proven to be too strong: thus, the release of the hair is difficult, especially in the case of long and/ or very thin hair. Moreover, only a small hair length of hair can be wrapped around a curler of this kind.

What has concisely been set forth in the foregoing shows that, in spite of the numerous suggestions proposed heretofore, none of the conventional approaches is completely satisfactory. As a matter of face, no conventional contrivance has bodily solved the manifold problems which have been outlined in the foregoing.

I have sought to provide a hair-curler which combines in itself all the advantages of the curlers known heretofore and which can solve in a satisfactory manner, the awkward problem of retaining reliably any kind of lock of hair, no matter how long and thin it may be, on the surface of the curler and, concurrently, affords the opportunity of a conventional release thereof.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hair-curler comprising a hollow, cylindrical, at least partially flexible body formed by a helical element, the spirals of which are at least partially spaced apart in in the axial direction, means for preventing the free widening of the spirals of the helix from one another, passages between the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow body provided at least between the spirals of the helix, and a hair-retaining means comprising a narrow strip wound helically on the outer surface of the hollow body and having on its outer surface a plurality of hair-retaining members.

Said strip carrying the hair-retaining means can be coiled between the spirals or on the spirals of the helical element which forms the hollow cylindrical body and the spirals can provide a tiny helical channel as a seat for receiving the strip.

The spirals of the helical element can be held duly spaced apart, at least partially, in various ways which are known in themselves. Thus, for example, flexible transversal interconnection strips can be provided for the spirals, such strips being formed as an entity with such spirals. Appropriately, such strips can be wavy, or arranged in zigzag formation or in diamond-shaped arrangement so as to provide a sort of connection net which allows for a restricted expansion and bending of the hollow body.

The helical element, however, can also be composed by an adequately strong ribbon wound in a helical pattern and the ribbon itself can be fitted with appropriate perforations.

Instead of strips for interconnecting the spirals of the helical element, there can also be provided a thin tubular net slipped onto the hollow body; this thin net has the task of preventing the individual spirals of the helix freely becoming spaced apart from one other.

The hair-retaining members carried on a surface of the strip can take a number of shapes which are themselves known: for example, they can consist of tiny crooks, pincers, bristles, possibly with enlarged heads or deformed heads or any other component part which is adapted to hold the hair not too tightly entangled.

The present invention is further illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section; of a first embodiment of the hair-curler according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a closeup cross-sectional view, taken along a plane passed through the curler axis, of a restricted peripheral area of the curler.

FIGURE 3 is a closeup cross-sectional view, taken along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curler, of a restricted peripheral area of the curler.

FIGURES from 4 to 6 inclusive show, in a way similar to that of FIGURES from 1 to 3, a second embodiment of the curler, and FIGURES from 7 to 9 and from 10 to 12 show views similar to those of FIGURES from 1 to 3, a third and fourth embodiment of the curler, respectively.

With reference to FIGURES 1 to 3, it can be seen that the curler is substantially composed of a hollow cylindrical body 10 and by a ribbon-like strip 11, the strip 11 being helically wound onto the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical body 10.

More detailedly the hollow cylindrical body 10, is composed by a helically wound member 12, for example of a iplastics material, which has a certain stiffness and the ends of which are integrally connected to end hoops, 13, 14: these latter can be of the same material as member 12 or also of a material other than that of member 12.

The outside diameter of the hoops 13 and 14 is, appropriately, the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical body as defined by the helical member 12. The spirals of member 12 are interconnected to each other by strips 15 of a wavy configuration, having a cross-section narrower than that of member 12 and a certain flexibility so as to latch the spirals of member 12 to each other but without preventing a limited bending and expansion of the hollow cylindrical body 10 in virtually any direction. The strips 15 can be integrally connected to the spirals of member 12 and can be made of the same material as that of member 12 or, also, of a material having a greater flexibility than that of member 12.

It is also possible to provide either a central section of body 10, or the opposite end zones of body 10, with connecting strips 15 which have a stiffness greater than the interconnecting strips of other areas: a hollow body can thus be obtained, which has, either in the central section, or in the end sections, a reduced flexibility and pliability, In addition, the connection strips 15 can be equipped, as in the example shown in FIGURES from 1 to 3, with pegs 16 which are formed integrally with the strips 15 and which project radially towards the outside of the body 10. These pegs 16 are intended to be ancilliary members adapted to distribute the hair strands wound onto the curler but without being susceptible to holding them firmly and, also, without obstructively preventing the release of the hair switch from the curler.

In order that the hair may be retained in the desired manner on the outer surface of the curler hollow body 10, the retaining function is mainly entrusted to the ribbon shaped strip 11: this is helically wound on the hollow body 10 between the spirals of members 12, the strip end being appropriately latched by the end hoops 13, 14.

The strip 11 is made of a fabric narrow ribbon 17, for example of textured interlacing of plastics material threads and from a face of which project hair-retaining members 18: these, in the example shown, have the form of tiny crooks. The manufacture of such a ribbon having tiny crooks which protrude from a surface thereof is conventional and does necessitate any detailed disclosure. It is apparent that the strip 1 1 is helically wrapped onto the body 10 in such a way that the face, or the surface, of the ribbon 17 which has the crooks 18, is placed at the outside of body 10.

The number of the hair-retaining members 18 in the cross-section of 17 can be varied according to necessity: in the example shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, in every crosssection a single retaining member 18 is provided, but two or more of these retaining members could be provided for each crosssection.

It has been surprisingly ascertained that such a ribbon-like strip having hair-retaining members and wound helically on the outer surface of the hollow body of the curler solves in the best possible way the problem of ensuring, on the one hand, the desired adequate retention of the hair, and, on the other hand, permits a convenient release of even long and very thin hair without pulls and without any undesirable too intense grasping action on the hair. By virtue of the helical coiling of the strip and by properly selecting the helix pitch, the hair is gripped over the entire surface of the curler, but with narrower or wider zones which are free of any retaining members, the zones being also such as to afford an efficient aeration during the hair-drying operation. In addition the flexible body of the curler can hold even bulky hair swatches.

The curler embodiment shown in FIG URES from 4 to 6 is akin to that which has been described in the foregoing. In this case, there is a hollow body 20, and a ribbonlike strip 21, helically wound onto the body 20. The body 20 is composed by a component part 22 helically wound and having its ends fastened to end hoops 23, 24. The component part 22 has, in cross-section, a channel-like outline with side edges 29 which project radially outwards. Strips 25 arranged in zigzag formation between the coils of the component part 22 mutually retain the coils while concurrently allowing the body 20 to be bent.

Within the channel space confined by the edges 29 of 22, is arranged the ribbon-like strip 21 which is formed by a fabric ribbon 27 from which project, radially outwards, the retaining members 28: the latter, in this case, are threads having deformed tips.

The ends of the ribbon 27 are gripped between pairs of pegs 26.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGURES from 7 to 9 inclusive, which substantially corresponds to that shown in FIGURES from 4 to 6, hollow cylindrical body 30 is formed by a component part 32 which is helically wound and its ends are fastened to end hoops 33, 34. The component part 32 has a cross-sectional outline in the shape of a channel but the side edges 39 do not jut outwardly but have their borders on the peripheral surface as defined by the connecting strips 35, the latter being arranged in a losenged pattern between the spirals of the component part 32. The channel-like space provided between the edges 39 of 32 are, also in this case, the seating for the strip 31: the latter is a woven ribbon 37 from which hair-retaining, pincer-like members 38 protrude.The zones between the spirals of the member 32 have wide openings between the connection strips 35 so as to permit air to flow therethrough.

Both in this case and in that of FIGURES from 4 to 6, previously described, the member 32 can be equipped, if so desired, with additional openings for allowing additional air to flow also through the woven ribbon 37.

FIGURES from 10 to 12 illustrate still another embodiment of the the hair-curler according to the invention.

In this case, hollow body 40, is formed by a component part 42 having a solid rectangular cross-section (if desired, it can be apertured) and which is helically wound.

The component part 42 can be made of a plastics material, or it can also be metallic: there is applied, on 42, for example by glueing on the external surface of 42, a woven ribbon 47 from which project, still towards the outside, hair-retaining members 48: these have in the example now shown, a mushroom shape. The end spirals of 42 provide closed hoops 43, 44. Thus, 42 defines a tubular flexible, self-supporting body. To prevent an excessive widening and bending of 40, there is slipped thereon a thin net 45, which is wide-meshed and thus has wide openings through which peep radially outwards, the tips of the hair-retaining members 48.

As outlined above, the hollow cylindrical body of the curler, instead of having substantially the same flexibility throughout its length, can also be only partially flexible, for example in correspondence with the end areas, the central shank being stiffer, or, preferably partially flexible in the central shank with stiffer end zones. It can easily be understood that such a variable flexibility can be obtained, for example, by bringing the spirals of the helical member closer to each other in the areas where more stiffness is desired and spacing the spirals wider apart in those areas in which greater flexibility is desirable.

The hair-curler according to the invention has the advantage of affording improved aeration by virtue of the wide openings of its tubular body, so that quick drying of the hair wound thereon becomes possible. The curler of this invention matches the shape of the head very well by virtue of its flexibility and, because the interior of its tubular body is entirely empty, it is highly hygienic and easy to clean.

Its principal advantage, however, is its high capability of retaining the hair wound thereon, even when bulky, long and very thin, without, however, hindering the convenient release of the hair on completion of drying.

The latter advantage is due to the fact that, even though the retaining members are distributed over the entire surface of the curler, the hair wound on such a surface predominantly on planes which are perpendicular to the axis of the curler, finds narrow hair-engaging zones interspaced with wide free areas, by virtue of the helical arrangement of the hair-retaining members.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A hair-curler comprising a hollow, cylindrical, at least partially flexible body formed by a helical element, the spirals of which are at least partially spaced apart in the axial direction, means for preventing the free widening of the spirals of the helix from one another, passages between the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow body provided at least between the spirals of the helix, and a hair-retaining means comprising a narrow strip wound helically on the outer surface of the hollow body and having on its outer surface a plurality of hair-retaining members.

2. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the strip is wound helically between the spirals of the helical element which forms the hollow body and on a meshed structure which connects the spirals of such helical element.

3. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the strip is wound on the spirals on the helical element which forms the hollow body of the curler.

4. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the spirals of the helical element form a helical channel in which is seated the strip.

5. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the helical channel has two side edges which project radially.

6. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the helical channel is formed in the helical element which forms the hollow body.

7. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the helical element has a rectangular cross-section.

8. A hair-curler as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the strip is glued to the helical element.

9. A hair-curler as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, wherein a net is slipped onto the helical element and at least the tips of the hair-retaining members project radially through the meshes of the net.

10. A hair-curler substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying Drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. is desired and spacing the spirals wider apart in those areas in which greater flexibility is desirable. The hair-curler according to the invention has the advantage of affording improved aeration by virtue of the wide openings of its tubular body, so that quick drying of the hair wound thereon becomes possible. The curler of this invention matches the shape of the head very well by virtue of its flexibility and, because the interior of its tubular body is entirely empty, it is highly hygienic and easy to clean. Its principal advantage, however, is its high capability of retaining the hair wound thereon, even when bulky, long and very thin, without, however, hindering the convenient release of the hair on completion of drying. The latter advantage is due to the fact that, even though the retaining members are distributed over the entire surface of the curler, the hair wound on such a surface predominantly on planes which are perpendicular to the axis of the curler, finds narrow hair-engaging zones interspaced with wide free areas, by virtue of the helical arrangement of the hair-retaining members. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A hair-curler comprising a hollow, cylindrical, at least partially flexible body formed by a helical element, the spirals of which are at least partially spaced apart in the axial direction, means for preventing the free widening of the spirals of the helix from one another, passages between the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow body provided at least between the spirals of the helix, and a hair-retaining means comprising a narrow strip wound helically on the outer surface of the hollow body and having on its outer surface a plurality of hair-retaining members.