HK1082164B - Hair styling device - Google Patents

Description

Hair shaping device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hair styling device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair curling and/or straightening iron.

Background

Hair straighteners and hair crimpers are well known in the market place. Typically, these devices have two pivotally connected arms, at least one of which has a heating surface that is in direct contact with the user's hair. These devices may be configured to provide a variety of different effects to the hair. For example, when twisted hair is pinched between the two arms, the hair may be straightened, curled or curled, depending on the configuration of the heating surface.

It has been found that a disadvantage associated with these conventional devices is the pivot intersection between the two arms. Because the arms are connected about a common axis, the angle between the arms often varies depending on the distance of separation. Thus, the two arms will only follow the shape of the hair kinks (locks) one after the other and thus prevent the user from effectively and efficiently obtaining the desired shape or design effect.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair styling device that enables a user to selectively tailor the bending effect of the hair style to accommodate variations in hair thickness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a hair styling device with a fastening means for selectively securing the arms in one or more hair-engaging positions.

The hair styling device comprises: a handle portion; at least two arms extending from the handle portion; and a central member positioned between the handle portion and the at least two arms, wherein the central member enables the at least two arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that a gap is formed between the at least two arms when the at least two arms are in a closed, relatively parallel state, wherein the central member is a rotary actuator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a hair styling device with a selectively removable heating design element to allow the user to vary the effect of hair styling.

The hair styling device comprises: a central element positioned between a handle portion and at least two arms extending from said handle portion, wherein said central element facilitates pivotal movement between said at least two extension arms and enables said at least two extension arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that a gap is formed therebetween when said at least two extension arms are in said closed relatively parallel state, wherein said central element is a rotary actuator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a hair styling device which is configured to assist or improve the styling of hair in conjunction with a variety of different accessories.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a hair styling device having a handle portion, at least two arms extending from the handle portion, each arm having one or more heating elements removably connected thereto. Advantageously, the hair styling device further has a central element located between the handle portion and the at least two arms. The central element is used as an adjustment structure for the arms, whereby various types of hair having different thicknesses and regularity can be accommodated by adjusting the arms.

The present invention also provides a method for designing a hair style, comprising the steps of:

providing a hair styling device having a handle portion, a central element for coupling with the handle portion and at least two arms extending from the handle portion, the central element facilitating pivotal movement between the at least two extension arms and enabling the at least two extension arms to be selectively adjustable relative to each other such that when the at least two extension arms are in the closed relatively parallel state, substantially uniformly parallel gaps are formed therebetween;

adjusting the width of the gap through the central member such that a desired amount of hair strands remains closely gathered and held between at least a portion of the at least two arms when the at least two extending arms are in the closed position;

using the at least two arms to selectively engage one or more hairs such that the one or more hairs can occupy at least a portion of the gap when the at least two arms are in the closed state; and

-causing said hair or hairs to interact with at least a part of said at least two arms so as to thereby change said hair or hairs.

Wherein the at least two extension arms have selectively removable and interchangeable heating elements.

Wherein further comprising the step of removing and interchanging said selectively removable and interchangeable heating elements to achieve a desired hair styling effect.

Wherein each of said removable and interchangeable heating elements has a different configuration to allow a user to tailor the design effect of said hair style.

Drawings

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a first side view of a hair styling device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the device in a closed state;

fig. 2 is a second side view of the hair styling device of fig. 1, showing the device in an open state;

FIG. 3 is a first end elevational view of the hair styling device of FIG. 1 showing one exemplary heating element configuration;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary comb attachment for use in conjunction with the hair styling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a third side view of the hair styling device of FIG. 1 showing the hair styling device in combination with the comb attachment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a first side cross-sectional view of a central element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the central element in a first state relative to a central rotational axis;

fig. 7 is a second end elevational view of the hair styling device of fig. 1, showing the device in a first state corresponding to the central element of fig. 6;

FIG. 8 is a second side cross-sectional view of the central element of FIG. 6, showing the central element in a second state relative to the central rotational axis; and

fig. 9 is a third end view of the hair styling device of fig. 1 showing the device in a second state corresponding to the central element of fig. 8.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings and in particular to fig. 1, there is shown an improved hair styling device, generally designated by the numeral 1, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Hair styling device 1 preferably has a handle portion 10, at least two arms 20 extending from handle portion 10, and an element 30 between handle portion 10 and at least two arms 20. The member 30 allows the arms 20 to be selectively adjusted relative to each other so that when the arms are in a closed, relatively parallel position, a gap 40 is formed between the arms. The gap 40 is preferably uniform.

Referring to FIG. 2, handle portion 10 preferably has a first gripping portion or leg 12 and a second gripping portion or leg 14 pivotally joined to first leg 12. Preferably, the first leg 12 is rigidly connected to one of the at least two arms 20 and the second leg 14 is rigidly connected to the other of the at least two arms 20 to facilitate selective pivotal movement of the arms relative to each other. Handle portion 10 may preferably be made of any material suitable for providing a safe and effective hand grip. In addition, the handle portion 10 may have any suitable shape or configuration sufficient to accommodate a variety of different applications in use.

Preferably, first leg 12 has a first fastener 16 and the second gripping portion has a second fastener 18 for cooperating with first fastener 16 to selectively secure second leg 14 to first leg 12 so that the arms are selectively securely held in the closed, relatively parallel state shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the selective pivotal range of movement of the at least two arms 20 relative to each other is between the closed relatively parallel condition shown in fig. 1 and the open relatively angled condition shown in fig. 2.

Preferably, each arm 20 has a selectively removable heating element 22. Preferably, each removable heating element 22 may be formed of any suitable thermally conductive material, such as, but not limited to, metallic materials and ceramic materials. Also, the heating element 22 may preferably be fixed or removable and have any suitable shape or configuration, such as, but not limited to, the element configurations 22 and 24 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, sufficient to satisfy the effects of a variety of different hair styling applications.

Preferably, the arms 20 may be shaped or configured to incorporate various accessories, such as, but not limited to, a brush or comb element 24 as shown in fig. 4 and 5. Also, the arms 20 preferably may be formed of any material suitable for their intended use.

Referring to fig. 6-9, the preferred element 30 is a rotary actuator located approximately midway between the handle portion 10 and the arm 20. Member 30 preferably cooperates with arms 20 to selectively control the width of gap 40 when arms 20 are in the closed, relatively parallel state. Element 30 is preferably rotated from at least one first position 32 in which heating element 22 is allowed to make contact and at least one second position 34 in which heating element 22 is separated when arms 20 are in the closed position, heating element 22 in first position 32. Thus, element 30 preferably selectively controls the width of gap 40 to accommodate a variety of different hair styles. In addition, member 30 preferably facilitates pivotal movement between arms 20 so that a user can selectively and efficiently grip and release the kinks of hair.

Having described some of the preferred features of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the process and method for designing hair styles using the present invention preferably includes providing a hair styling device having a handle portion, a central member for coupling with the handle portion and at least two arms extending from the handle portion, the central member facilitating pivotal movement between the at least two extending arms and enabling the at least two extending arms to be selectively adjusted relative to one another such that a substantially uniformly parallel gap is formed therebetween when the at least two extending arms are in a closed position. Further, the width of the gap can be adjusted by the central member such that a desired amount of hair strands can be adjusted or held tightly together and between at least a portion of the at least two arms when the at least two extending arms are in the closed position. Further, the at least two extending arms can be used to selectively engage one or more hairs so that the one or more hairs will occupy at least a portion of the gap when the at least two arms are in the closed state. Thereby, the user can bring the hair or hairs into interaction with at least a part of the at least two arms, so that the hair or hairs can be changed thereby.

Having thus described the invention by reference to a particular preferred form thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims (18)

1. A hair styling device comprising:

a handle portion;

at least two arms extending from the handle portion; and

a central element positioned between the handle portion and the at least two arms, wherein the central element enables the at least two arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that a gap is formed between the at least two arms when the at least two arms are in a closed, relatively parallel state,

wherein said central element is a rotary actuator.

2. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein said handle portion has a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion pivotally cooperating with said first gripping portion.

3. The hair styling device of claim 2, wherein the first gripping portion is rigidly connected to one of the at least two arms and the second gripping portion is rigidly connected to the other of the at least two arms for selective pivotal movement of the arms relative to each other.

4. The hair styling device according to claim 3, wherein said first gripping portion has a fastener and said second gripping portion has a connector that cooperates with said fastener to selectively secure said second gripping portion to said first gripping portion so as to securely hold said at least two arms in said closed, relatively parallel state.

5. The hair styling device of claim 4 wherein the selective pivotal range of movement of said at least two arms relative to each other is between said closed relatively parallel state and open relatively angled state.

6. The hair styling device of claim 1 wherein the at least two arms individually have selectively removable heating elements.

7. The hair styling device of claim 6, wherein each of said removable heating elements can have a different configuration to allow a user to tailor the hair styling effect.

8. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein said rotary actuator is selectively rotatable to control the width of said gap between said at least two arms when said at least two arms are in said closed, relatively parallel state.

9. A hair styling device comprising:

a central element positioned between a handle portion and at least two arms extending from said handle portion, wherein said central element facilitates pivotal movement between said at least two extension arms and enables said at least two extension arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that a gap is formed therebetween when said at least two extension arms are in said closed, relatively parallel state,

wherein said central element is a rotary actuator.

10. The hair styling device of claim 9, wherein the at least two extending arms have selectively removable heating elements.

11. The hair styling device of claim 10, wherein each of said removable heating elements can have a different configuration to allow a user to tailor the hair styling effect.

12. The hair styling device of claim 9, wherein said rotary actuator is selectively rotatable to control the width of said gap between said at least two extending arms when said at least two extending arms are in said closed, relatively parallel state.

13. A method for designing a hair style, comprising the steps of:

providing a hair styling device having a handle portion, a central element for coupling with the handle portion and at least two arms extending from the handle portion, the central element facilitating pivotal movement between the at least two extension arms and enabling the at least two extension arms to be selectively adjustable relative to each other such that when the at least two extension arms are in the closed relatively parallel state, substantially uniformly parallel gaps are formed therebetween;

adjusting the width of the gap through the central member such that a desired amount of hair strands remains closely gathered and held between at least a portion of the at least two arms when the at least two extending arms are in the closed position;

using the at least two arms to selectively engage one or more hairs such that the one or more hairs can occupy at least a portion of the gap when the at least two arms are in the closed state; and

-causing said hair or hairs to interact with at least a part of said at least two arms so as to thereby change said hair or hairs.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least two extension arms have selectively removable and interchangeable heating elements.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of removing and interchanging said selectively removable and interchangeable heating elements to achieve a desired hair styling effect.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein each of said removable and interchangeable heating elements has a different configuration to allow a user to tailor the design effect of said hair style.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the central element is a rotary actuator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the rotary actuator can be selectively rotated to control the width of the gap between the at least two extending arms when the at least two extending arms are in the closed, relatively parallel state.