US20110226277A1

US20110226277A1 - Hair iron

Info

Publication number: US20110226277A1
Application number: US12/727,755
Authority: US
Inventors: Young-bum Choi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-19
Filing date: 2010-03-19
Publication date: 2011-09-22

Abstract

Provided is a hair iron including a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater, and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case. The upper and lower heating plates are coated with a mixed layer in which one of Teflon coating material, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, and an iron removing member attracting and removing iron attached to the hair are mixed in an equal ratio.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a hair iron, and more particularly, to a hair iron heating upper and lower heating plates through upper and lower heaters according to supplying of power to style hair through a holding operation of the heated upper and lower heating plates, in which the upper and lower heating plates include iron removing members to attract and remove a foreign substance such as iron attached to hair, thus preventing the damage of hair due to a foreign substance and achieving efficient hair styling, so as to satisfy customers or users.
Generally, hair irons are used in hairdressers' shops such as beauty salons and barbershops to heat hair for hairdressing such as waving, straightening, and curling. Such hair irons have been developed in various shapes.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron in the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, an upper case 5 and a lower case I are hinged to each other, and the lower case 1 includes a lower grill part 2 handled by a hand, and a lower heating part 3 in a single body through injection molding. The lower heating part 3 includes a built-in lower heater (not shown).
The front end of the lower case 1 is provided with a lower heating plate 4 that is moved according to the amount of hair and in surface contact with the hair to heat the hair. The upper case 5 is coupled with the lower case 1, and includes an upper grill part 6 and an upper heating part 7 in a single body through injection molding. The upper heating part 7 includes a built-in upper heater (not shown). The front end of the upper case 5 is provided with an upper heating plate 8 that is moved according to the amount of hair and in surface contact with the hair to heat the hair.
The upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 may have various shapes such as a flat plate shape, a triangular shape, a circular shape, a semi-circular shape, and a combination thereof or have an essentially π-shaped cross-section. Hair is styled using the hair iron by inserting a power plug connected to a power wire into a plug receptacle, and then, by heating the upper and lower heaters by the upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4, and simultaneously, by sliding the upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 on the hair in the state where the hair is held by the upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4, and, by applying heat generated from the upper and lower heaters to the hair.
The upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 typically include rectangular heating parts, and the upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 are fabricated by extruding aluminum (Al) or jade, and then, by coating them with material such as Teflon coating material, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material. In this case, while the hair iron is used, foreign substances such as various heavy metals attached from air to the hair iron are not removed. Rather, the hair iron brings the foreign substances in closer contact with the hair, thus damaging the hair.
On the other hand, various hair irons has been developed for heath. Especially, a hair iron with magnets is disclosed in US patent publication No. 2006/0207625. According to the US patent publication, the magnets are disposed on corresponding styling heads so that the magnetic polarity of the magnetic field appearing on the pair of corresponding contact styling surfaces are the same, the styling effects are better. Also, to further make use of the advantage of magnetism on human boy, a negative magnetism or negative magnetic polarity as known to therapeutic applications is employed to appear on the contact styling surface. Because of like magnetic polarity on the contact styling surface, the pair of styling heads is repulsive to each other. However, in the US patent publication, the magnets are not used to remove a foreign substance from hair, but just used to implement well-known therapeutic effects with the repulsion caused by the same magnetic polarity.
Especially, when a foreign substance such as iron is attached to hair, the foreign substance reacts with permanent wave liquid or dye. This makes it difficult to perform desired hairdressing and satisfy customers or users.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a hair iron that includes upper and lower heating plates having iron removing members to attract and move a foreign substance such as iron attached to hair, thus preventing the damage of the hair due to the foreign substance.
Embodiments also provide a hair iron that removes iron attached to hair to prevent a chemical reaction of the iron with permanent wave liquid or dye, thus achieving efficient hair styling and satisfying customers or users.
In one embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case, wherein the upper and lower heating plates are coated with a mixed layer in which one of Teflon coating material, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, and an iron removing member attracting and removing iron attached to the hair are mixed in an equal ratio.
In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case, wherein one or more iron removing members are attached to the upper and lower heating plates along a longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates to attract and remove iron attached to the hair.
In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case, wherein one or more electro magnets are attached to the upper and lower heating plates along a longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates, and are magnetized to attract and remove iron attached to the hair, and the magnetizing of the electro magnets is linked with driving of the upper and lower heaters.
In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case, wherein magnets are attached to both sides of the upper and lower heating plates to attract and remove iron attached to the hair.
In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case, wherein the upper and lower heating plates each is provided in plurality, and magnets are attached between the upper heating plates and between the lower heating plates to attract and remove iron attached to the hair.
In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater to heat the lower heating plate; an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater to heat the upper heating plate, the upper case being hinged to the lower case; and a plurality of means for attracting foreign substances which are residual on the hair, being formed in a vicinity of the lower and upper heating plates between which the hair treatment is carried out. The attracting means includes a plurality of circular magnetic rods and the circular magnetic rods are inserted into grooves that are formed at opposite side of an even surface of each of the upper and lower heating plates.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron in the related art.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic view including a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view, which illustrates a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are partial cross-sectional views illustrating manners in which a magnet is attached to a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state where electro magnets are attached to a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where magnets are attached to both sides of a lower heating plate of a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state where a magnet is attached between a plurality of lower heating plates of a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a heating plate with magnets which are inserted into grooves according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be constructed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

First Embodiment

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic view including a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view, which illustrates a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 2A. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the hair iron according to the current embodiment includes a lower case 10 and an upper case 20 hinged to the lower case 10.
The lower case 10 includes a lower grill part 12 and a lower heating part 14 in a single body. The lower heating part 14 includes a built-in lower heater (not shown). A lower heating plate 16 is disposed at the front end of the lower case 10 to heat hair.
The upper case 20 includes an upper grill part 22 and an upper heating part 24 in a single body. The upper heating part 24 includes a built-in upper heater (not shown). An upper heating plate 26 is disposed at the front end of the upper case 10 to heat hair.
Surfaces of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 are coated with a mixed layer 70 that is formed by mixing one of Teflon coating material, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, and an iron removing member. The iron removing member is formed of a magnetic substance attracting and removing iron attached to hair.
A mixing ratio of the coating material to the magnetic substance may be an equal ratio, that is, 50:50. If the mixed amount of the magnetic substance is less than the mixed amount of the coating material, iron attracting performance may be degraded. If the mixed amount of the magnetic substance is greater than the mixed amount of the coating material, coating performance may be degraded.
In the hair iron configured as described above, the surfaces of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 are coated with the mixed layer 70 of the coating material and the magnetic substance. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 according to supplying of power to hold and style hair, the magnetic substance attracts iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Accordingly, the damage of hair due to iron can be prevented, and treating of hair can be facilitated.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3B and 3C are partial cross-sectional views illustrating manners in which a magnet is attached to a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 3A. Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the hair iron according to the current embodiment includes the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 of the previous embodiment. The lower case 10 includes the lower grill part 12, the lower heating part 14 including the built-in lower heater (not shown), and the lower heating plate 16. The upper case 20 includes the upper grill part 22, the upper heating part 24 including the built-in upper heater (not shown), and the upper heating plate 26.
Iron removing members including magnets 30 are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. The magnets 30 are arrayed along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to attract iron attached to hair and remove it. In the current embodiment, the number of the magnets 30 to each of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 is three, and the magnets 30 are spaced the same distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and thus, the number of the magnets 30 may be one or greater.
In the current embodiment, the magnets 30 are formed through molding or extrusion. The magnets 30 may be inserted into insertion recesses (not shown) formed in the upper heating plate 26 and the lower heating plate 16, or be adhered through an adhesive 32 to the surfaces of the upper and lower heating plate 26 and 16.
The magnets 30 are permanent magnets such as neodium, and may have a strength of about 10000 gauss or greater, and preferably, have a strength of about 15000 gauss or greater. The magnets 30 may be wrapped with a silicon rubber packing formed of heat resistant rubber to prevent exposure to intense heat or the decrease in magnetic force, which is the same as that of magnets 40 and 50 to be described in the following embodiments.
In the hair iron configured as described above, one or more magnets 30 are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upper and lower heat plates 26 and 16 to hold and style hair, the magnets 30 attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state where electro magnets are attached to a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 4A. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the hair iron according to the current embodiment includes the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 of the first embodiment.
Electro magnets 60 are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. The electro magnets 60 are magnetized to attract and remove iron attached to hair. The magnetizing of the electro magnets 60 is linked to the driving of the upper and lower heaters.
In the current embodiment, the number of the electro magnets 60 to the lower heating plate 16 is two, and the electro magnets 60 are spaced the same distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and thus, the number of the electro magnets 60 may be one or greater.
In the hair iron configured as described above, one or more electro magnets 60 are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to hold and style hair, the electro magnets 60, connected to the lower heater and receiving power, attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16.

Forth Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where magnets are attached to both sides of a lower heating plate of a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the hair iron according to the current embodiment includes the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 of the first embodiment.
The magnets 40 are attached to both sides of each of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 between the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to attract and remove iron attached to hair.
The magnets 40 may be inserted in insertion recesses formed in the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16, or be formed through insert injection molding.
In the hair iron configured as described above, the magnets 40 are attached to both sides of each of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 between the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to hold and vary hair, the magnets 40 attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state where a magnet is attached between a plurality of lower heating plates of a hair iron according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the hair iron according to the current embodiment includes the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 of the first embodiment.
The upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 each is provided in duplicate, and the magnets 50 are attached between the upper heating plates 26 and between the lower heating plates 16 to attract and remove iron attached to hair. The magnets 50 may be inserted in insertion recesses formed in the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16, or be formed through insert injection molding, like in the forth embodiment.
In the hair iron configured as described above, the magnets 50 are attached between the upper heating plates 26 and between the lower heating plates 16. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to hold and vary hair, the magnets 50 attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a heating plate in which magnets are inserted into both sides thereof according to another embodiment of the present invention. Being different from the above mentioned embodiments, in the current embodiment, the magnets, preferably Sm-based magnets or SmCo-based magnets, are inserted into, but not limited to, both sides of each of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Tow circular grooves 70 are formed at both sides of each of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 and circular rods 71 are inserted into them. In this embodiment, the magnets are installed at opposite side of an even surface of each of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 such that any damage is not caused on the surfaces of the heating plates. Furthermore, the length of the rode 71 can be adjusted based on the desired strength of the magnetic field.
According to the embodiments, the upper and lower heating plates include the iron removing members to attract and remove foreign substances such as iron attached to hair, thus preventing the damage of hair due to foreign substances.
Since iron is removed from hair, the chemical reaction of the iron with permanent wave liquid or dye can be prevented to achieve efficient hair variations, thus satisfying customers or users. Since a magnetic field pushes hair's moisture, hair dye can be achieved fast and curling and straight of hair can be achieved effectively. Moreover, since the magnets are positioned nearby hair and head, the circulation of the blood is also promoted.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the magnets can be formed in the heating plates selectively. That is, the magnets can be formed in both sides of the upper or lower heating plate or in one side of the heating plate.

Claims

1. A hair iron to remove foreign substances and moisture from hair comprising:

a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater to heat the lower heating plate;

an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater to heat the upper heating plate, the upper case being hinged to the lower case; and

a means for attracting the foreign substances which are residual on the hair, being formed in a vicinity of the lower and upper heating plates between which the hair treatment is carried out.

2. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting means includes a mixed layer in which one of Teflon coating material, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, and an iron removing member attracting and removing iron attached to the hair are mixed in an equal ratio.

3. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting means includes a plurality of magnets which are separated from each other.

4. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the magnets are Sm-based magnets or SmCo-based magnets.

5. The hair iron of claim 2, wherein the iron removing member is a magnetic substance and wherein the mixed layer is formed on the lower or upper heating plate.

6. The hair iron of claim 3, wherein the magnets are disposed in recesses which are formed on the lower or upper heating plate.

7. The hair iron of claim 3, wherein the magnets are attached to a surface of the lower or upper heating plate by an adhesive.

8. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting means includes an electro magnet and wherein the electro magnet is magnetized when the upper and lower heaters are driven.

9. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting means includes a plurality of magnets which are formed at both sides of the lower or upper heating plate.

10. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting means includes a plurality of circular magnetic rods and wherein the circular magnetic rods are inserted into grooves that are formed at opposite side of an even surface of the upper or lower heating plate.

11. The hair iron of claim 9, wherein the magnets is formed in a longitudinal direction of the lower and upper heating plates.

12. The hair iron of claim 5, wherein the lower or upper heating plate includes a plurality of heating elements which are spaced apart from each other and wherein the magnets are disposed between the heating elements.