Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D1/00—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D1/00—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor
  • A45D1/02—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with means for internal heating, e.g. by liquid fuel
  • A45D1/04—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with means for internal heating, e.g. by liquid fuel by electricity

Definitions

• the invention relates generally to cordless hair stylers and more specifically to a foldable cordless hair styler which is enclosed in a soft protective fabric-like body and which is designed for travel and may be unwrapped, unfolded and rewrapped to assume a usable condition wherein a user may style his or her hair.
• Previously proposed foldable/collapsible cordless electric hair curling appliances have been proposed wherein the heating element (e.g. wand) and the hair clamp member are pivotally supported on a handle in which the wand is stored during non-use.
• the present invention is directed to a foldable cordless hair styler wherein the body of the device is formed of a soft pliable protective member which can be wrapped and unwrapped, in a manner similar to a padded blanket, and thus about the accessory (e.g.
• the soft body allows for a limited amount of displacement between the just mentioned elements as well as eliminating the rigid handle element which are used in the prior art hair styler arrangements.
• the soft, flexible housing member also allows for unwrapping of the housing, pivoting of an attachment to an operative position, and the re-wrapping of the body in which pulls the battery pack or packs into position against an elongate support member on the end of which the attachment is pivotally supported.
• the battery pack or packs, in which the batteries are stored, are therefore moved into the position previously occupied by the attachment and, with the elongate member, form a handle arrangement having a thickness suitable for the user to hold is formed while the device is in use.
• the present invention relates a cordless hair styler comprising: a flexible body (102) comprising a flat flexible sheet of fabric which can be wrapped and unwrapped about rigid members (110, 112, 116) of the cordless hair styler to hold the rigid members in a selected compact storage and handy operative positions, respectively.
• the rigid members comprise an attachment (112); an elongate member (110) on which the attachment is pivotally supported; and an elongate battery pack (116).
• the above-mentioned flexible body (102) is formed with pockets (104, 106, 108) in which the elongate member (110) and one or more battery packs (116) are respectively disposed and held in an essentially parallel relationship.
• This flexible body includes a flexible extension portion (102A) which extends from one of the pockets and which is wrappable about the elongate member (110) and the battery packs (116) so that one or more pockets (106, 108) in which one or more battery packs (116) are disposed, and which are hinged to the pocket in which the elongate member is disposed by a portion or portions (102C) of the flexible body (102), are moved into the space previously occupied by the attachment.
• the elongate member and battery pack(s) are held together and comprise a handle member which can be grasped during application of the attachment for hair styling.
• a further aspect of the invention resides in a method of housing a hair styler comprising: disposing an elongate member (110) on which an hair styling attachment (112) is pivotally mounted, in one of a plurality of pockets (104, 106, 108) formed in a flexible body (102); disposing a battery pack (116) in another of the pockets; folding the hair styling attachment so that it assumes a storage position parallel to the elongate member; wrapping the flexible body around the pockets so as to pull the elongate member (110), the hair styling member (112) and the battery pack (116) into snug proximity with respect to each other; and fastening the flexible body (102) to itself using a fastener (102B) to maintain the flexible body wrapped about the elongate member (110), the hair styling member (112) and the battery pack (116).
• This method also comprises releasing the fastener (102B); unwrapping the flexible body (102) to uncover the attachment; unfolding the attachment (112) so that it is assumes a predetermined operative position with respect to the elongate body (110); rewrapping the flexible body about the elongate member (110) and the battery back (116) so as to pull the battery pack (116) into close proximity of the elongate member and to form a handle which can be used during use of the attachment; and refastening the fastener (102B).
• FIG. 1 is a underside plan view of a first embodiment of the invention in wherein the soft extension wrapping member has been unwrapped and the flexible body laid out such that the attachment (wand) is uncovered ready to be pivoted to an operative position;
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the attachment partially pivoted from the storage position and showing the space in which it was received/stored;
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the attachment fully extended to an operative position and with the soft extension wrapping member re- wrapped to tighten the two battery packs against the elongate member on which the wand is pivotally supported;
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the attachment folded back into its storage position and with the soft extension wrapping member wound around and fastened in place to render the arrangement ready for packing/travel;
• Fig. 1 is a underside plan view of a first embodiment of the invention in wherein the soft extension wrapping member has been unwrapped and the flexible body laid out such that the attachment (wand) is uncovered ready to be pivoted to an
• FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing a second embodiment of the invention which has a differently shaped soft extension wrapping member and fastening arrangement.
• Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment showing the soft extension wrapping member opened to expose the attachment which is still folded in its storage position; and
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment showing the attachment fully extended and the space between the pontoon-like battery pack pockets in which it was disposed during storage.
• the first exemplary embodiment of the invention 100 comprises a flexible body 102 formed of fabric (woven or non- woven) or similar type of material and which, in this embodiment, resembles a quilt.
• the flexible body 102 is formed of multi layers of material which are sewn or connected (e.g.
• T e center pocket 104 is arranged to receive an elongate member 110 on which an attachment 112 (hereinafter referred to as a wand) is pivotally mounted by way of a pivot arrangement.
• the pivot arrangement allows the wand 112 to be folded back beside the elongate member 110 during storage, and to be pivoted out to assume an operatively position wherein the wand 112 and the elongate member 110 are essentially aligned with one another.
• the elongate member 110 forms a part of the handle when the cordless hair styler is in use.
• two pockets viz., pocket 106, 108, which are formed on either side of the center pocket 104 in which the elongate member 106 is disposed, have battery packs disposed therein.
• the flexible body 102 further includes a flexible extension portion 102A which resembles a flap or tie portion. This flap-like flexible extension portion 102A is arranged to be wrapped about the rigid elements of the cordless hair styler and to be secured in its wrapped condition by a fastening arrangement 102B.
• the fastening arrangement 102B comprise a so called Velcro® type hook and loop fastener.
• This type of fastener is free of hard elements which may generate localized pressure on the rigid elements of the cordless hair styler and thus continues the theme of soft enveloping protective wrapping which is provided by the flexible body 102.
• the battery packs 116 which are disposed in the pockets 106, 108 are arranged to have hinged caps (no numerals) to allow dry cells or rechargeable cells to be inserted therein.
• a spring or the like (not shown) is disposed at the bottom of the elongate tubular members which define the pack bodies. This spring acts as one of the two electrodes that are necessary in order to conduct the direct current from the cells which are slid into the battery packs, to the heating element provided in the wand.
• a flexible connectors are disposed through the narrow hinge like portion 102C of the flexible body which separates the battery pack pockets 106, 108 and the center pocket 104, and connects the battery pack electrodes via a power supply switch (not shown per se) which is disposed with the elongate member 110, to the heating element in the wand 112.
• the switch is operated by a lever 120.
• the switch is operated by a button 220 formed on the elongate member.
• the lever 120 stored in a position wherein it lies flat against the wand 112 in the manner shown in Fig. 1.
• the lever 120 is pivoted through about 120-140° to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Depressing the lever 120 down from this position toward the elongate member 110 moves the tongue-like angled member formed at the end of the lever 120 (see Fig. 4) in a manner which activates the power supply switch.
• the hinge can be provided with a click stop to prevent the wand 112 from folding back on the operators hand during use.
• the wand 112 can be pivoted all the way from its storage position (see Fig. 2 showing the wand 112 partially pivoted from its storage position) to its operative position wherein it may clicklock in position.
• the soft pliable member 102 A can be wrapped around the battery packs 116 in a manner which draws them in under the elongate member 110 and the fastener 102B is fastened to hold the battery packs in position under the elongate member in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3.
• the fastener 102B can be unfastened, the flexible body 102 unrolled and the wand 112 folded back against the elongate member 110 to assume a position between the battery packs 116.
• the flexible body 102 is then rolled up and the flexible extension portion 102A wrapped around the flexible body 102 and rigid elements (viz., the elongate member 110, the wand 112 and the battery packs 116) and the fastener 102B fastened.
• a socket for a charger connection is provided in the end of the elongate member 110 and concealed by a rectangular cover in the manner illustrated in Fig 7.

Landscapes

• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
• Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34826131

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2005
  • 2005-01-25 WO PCT/IB2005/050290 patent/WO2005072556A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-01-25 JP JP2006550449A patent/JP2007519463A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-01-25 EP EP05702777A patent/EP1711082A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-01-25 CA CA002554538A patent/CA2554538A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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