EP0787444A1 - Hair curler - Google Patents

Abstract

The hair curler (1) is made from a layer (3) of a semi-rigid or rigid material or of paper, having a perforated surface (7), a central fold (9) and zig-zag pleats (13) lying parallel to the central fold. After a lock of hair has been placed between the two halves of the curler it is folded in half and the zig-zag pleats are made permanent by heat treatment and the two halves of the curler are held together by a clip or elastic band.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a "curler", a term used in the broad sense, that is to say an object allowing the shaping of hair.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Traditionally, curlers are formed by objects such as rods and rollers, intended to give particular shapes to locks of hair, that is to say to curl them.

To do this, the locks of hair are wound on these curlers, for example in the wet state, and are then dried. In certain cases, various treatments of the "permanent" type contribute to the shaping of the hair.

After a while, the curlers are removed and the hair retains a curly or curly shape.

Various techniques have also been used to maintain the curly shape, in particular by using so-called styling or fixing products.

In practice, however, and essentially depending on the nature of the hair, the forms that can be obtained are limited.

Document US Pat. No. 3,871,388 A describes a device making it possible to carry out various forms of hair shaping (curly or straight form) which consists of a trellis comprising monofilaments made of plastic material. and deformable metal wires, arranged parallel to a hinge element making it possible to fold, closing it, said device.

It is used by interposing locks of hair and by deforming the whole in the shape of an S. We thus form English girls, whose curling direction, contrary to what is obtained with classic curlers, can be first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

In document US 4,942,892 A, a device is proposed for shaping the hair in the form of a Z, which is constituted by a flat central elongated element and two ends which can be folded down on the central element using of two hinges.

The assembly is made of a semi-rigid plastic material.

This device is not intended to confer shaping in several zigzags.

Document GB 2 194 437 A describes a deformable shaping element provided with copper wires intended to allow folding and maintaining in a non-planar shape.

Document US 2,936,766 A describes a strip of resilient material which is wound up to form loops.

Document FR 649 696 A describes a device constituted by several bars or clips, intended to wave hair.

Document US 572 027 A describes a device made up of U-shaped wires linked together, allowing folding.

The document EP 0 039 072 A describes a curler comprising a spring. It is used conventionally to wind hair and to shape it into curls.

Document FR 2 416 667 A describes a device comprising two elongated and flat elements of complementary shape and which can be assembled together to wave hair.

Document FR 1 153 109 A describes a device made up of two parts making it possible to pinch hair. The parts are flexible and allow to roll up the device and hair in a spiral or helix.

OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide by a simple technique, new shapes using a "curler".

It should be noted that the term "curler" must be understood in the broad sense as an object used for shaping and that this does not in particular necessarily imply that the hair must be coiled on the curler, as will appear below.

CHARACTERISTIC ELEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an object for shaping the hair, hereinafter called a curler, consisting of a sheet of material which may be semi-rigid, rigid or of the paper type, provided with perforations, which has been folded for the first time. in the direction of its length by forming a central fold and which was then folded in zigzags in a direction practically perpendicular to this central fold. Advantageously, the starting sheet comprises on at least half of a side, a cutout corresponding to the width and to the height of a lock of hair which will be interposed between the two thicknesses overlapping the sheet after which the sheet thus folded over the two halves of the sheet, it is folded in the shape of a zigzag.

The folds mentioned, including the zigzag folds, can be easily made permanent by pressurization and by heat treatment of the semi-rigid material in the folded state.

Advantageously, on at least one of the edges of the sheet opposite to the central fold, an additional thickness may be provided to avoid crushing the strands of hair. Such additional thickness can be achieved on both sides, in particular when it is desired to introduce products suitable for the treatment envisaged (permanent, fixing or styling agents).

In order to be able to keep the hair and the curler in the position obtained after zigzag folding, any suitable means such as a clip or an elastic band can be provided.

The advantage of the particular shape of this curler lies in the fact that each of the zigzags forms a loop or notch in the wick but that the part between these zigzags remains flat and that consequently, a flat part is produced on the wicks of hair between each of the notches.

New particular effects, not achievable with conventional roll-up curlers, can thus be obtained and moreover, because the curler used can be produced in different widths, lengths and spacings between the zigzag, it becomes possible to obtain a series special effects using curlers of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED FORM OF PERFORMANCE OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, intended without any limiting character, to represent a "curler" according to the invention.

La figure 1

représente une vue en plan du bigoudi déplié "à plat";

La figure 2

représente le bigoudi déplié; et

La figure 3

représente une vue en perspective du bigoudi partiellement replié.

In the drawings:

Figure 1

shows a plan view of the curler unfolded "flat";

Figure 2

represents the unfolded curler; and

Figure 3

shows a perspective view of the partially folded curler.

In the figures, identical reference marks are used for identical or similar elements.

The curler bearing the general reference 1 consists of a sheet 3, preferably made of a semi-rigid material such as polyethylene or an acrylate resin, but paper or cardboard can also be envisaged.

We preferably choose materials that keep in principle their planar shape but which, when they are subjected to a pressure combined with a thermal action in the folded state, form a permanent fold.

This sheet is provided with a notch 5 and a series of perforations or cutouts 7 represented schematically in the form of a series of holes overlapping during folding according to the central fold 9.

The perforations can also be micro-perforations as will be indicated below, or one or more large cutouts of the sheet between two zigzag folds.

The sheet lengthwise has a permanent fold 9 which results in the part lA of the sheet and the part 3B tending to overlap.

Advantageously, on one of the sides of the sheet, that is to say in the drawing on the part 3B which is opposite to the fold 9, an additional thickness is provided, indicated by the reference 11.

Part 3A is folded over part 3B and the fold 9 is thermally fixed.

In addition, in this position, that is to say in double thickness of the sheet 3, a series of zigzag folds 13 were produced and fixed by application of pressure combined with a heat treatment in the folded state. . Of course, the folds fixed as indicated allow to still unfold the curler for its use.

Note that the folds can have rounded shapes rather than straight angles.

The notch 5 produced in the upper part of the half 3A of the sheet is intended to receive a lock of hair by applying the sheet in the unfolded state to the base of the hair, by receiving the base of the hair in this notch 5.

Then, the sheet 3A is folded over the sheet 3B while trapping the hair. Then folding the double sheet trapping the hair according to the folds zigzag 13, we print them ripples that we "fix" by any appropriate means.

The hair has also been shown schematically in the form of a lock 15 shown as being visible under part 3B.

Of course, this wick in reality is much more provided than the representations indicate for reasons of clarity of the drawings. The width of the drill bit corresponds approximately to the width of the cutout 5.

In principle, the length of the sheet will be chosen, that is to say also the number of zigzags as a function of the length of the hair which must be treated, the latter in principle not to exceed the length of the sheet.

In order to be able to keep the curler in the folded position of the zigzags, suitable means can be provided. Note that the sheet 1, when it is flat (Figure 1), is not strictly rectangular. When it is linked, because of its trapezoidal shape, it affects the shape shown in Figure 2.

A rigid element 17 can be secured to the portion near the notch 5 of the part 3B of the sheet by gluing, by insertion in cutouts provided for this purpose in the sheet or by any other means and a holding element, by example an elastic band 19 or a clips, can keep the curler in its folded position according to the fold 9 by trapping the hair between the parts 3A and 3B and by shaping it using the zigzag folds 13. The "fixing" can be carried out by any suitable means, for example using a hair dryer acting on preferably damp hair and provided with suitable treating agents, that is to say styling, fixing, perming agents, etc. .

The perforations 7 allow the action of the hair dryer and the treatment products.

It appeared particularly effective to plan at the zigzag folds of micro-perforations (not shown) to facilitate the penetration of both the fixing elements and the flow of hot air.

The particular effect obtained by this technique lies in a succession of notches or loops and flat parts.

This makes it possible to obtain specific effects which have not yet been achieved.

It should be noted that it is possible to give a slight fold (represented by the reference 21 in FIG. 2) to the flat part between each zigzag to create complementary effects, that is to say a frank loop followed by a slightly deformed flat part, then a slight deformation, again a flat part and then a reverse loop produced by the next zigzag fold, which is of course in the opposite direction to the previous one.

Although particular forms of the invention have been described, it should be understood that many modifications can be made, in particular in the choice of material, the dimensions and in particular the zigzag spacings.

It is thus in particular that when it is indicated that the zigzag folds are perpendicular to the central fold, it should be understood that without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible to produce zigzag folds which are not strictly perpendicular to the central fold but which can also be slightly oblique.

Likewise, the central fold should not be carried out rigorously in the middle of the sheet, but one of the parts (3A for example) can project beyond the other part 3B if desired, without this however bringing no special advantages.

Claims (6)

Hair shaping object, qualified as a curler, consisting of a sheet (3), preferably made of a semi-rigid or rigid material or also of paper, provided with perforations (7), which has been folded for the first time in the direction of its length by forming a central fold (9) and which was then folded in a zigzag (13) perpendicular to this central fold. Object according to claim 1 characterized in that the sheet (3) comprises on at least half of a side, a cutout (5) corresponding to the width and the height of a lock of hair which will be interposed between the two overlapping thicknesses of the sheet (3), after which the sheet thus folded over the two halves (3A, 3B) of sheet is folded in the shape of a zigzag (13). Object according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the folds (9, 13) are made permanent by pressurization and by a heat treatment of the material in the folded state. Object according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that at least one of the edge of the sheet (3A) opposite the central fold (9), an additional thickness (11) is provided. Object according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that, in order to be able to maintain the hair (15) and the curler (1) in the position obtained after zigzag folding, it comprises means such as a clips or an elastic. Object according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a slight fold (21) is provided in the flat part between each zigzag.

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