GB2312840A

GB2312840A - Hair styling device

Info

Publication number: GB2312840A
Application number: GB9624369A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Friedrich Henninger; Peter Janouch; Dieter Liebenthal
Original assignee: Braun GmbH
Current assignee: Braun GmbH
Priority date: 1996-05-10
Filing date: 1996-11-22
Publication date: 1997-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-22
Also published as: GB2312840B; EP0897275A1; GB9624369D0; CN1112871C; CN1216448A; CA2240986A1; ATE212805T1; AU2768897A; JP2008119471A; JP4538104B2; JP2000510363A; EP0897275B1; CA2240986C; WO1997042848A1

Abstract

A device for curling hair has a handle to which is attached a hair heating member 6 and a pressure member 8 for clamping the hair against the heating member. A generally arcuate styling edge 10 is provided in the region of the heating and/or pressure member. Hair is drawn across the edge to cause stretching of one side of the hair which causes curling. The hair may subsequently pass over a cooling member (30, Fig 3) to facilitate setting of the curls. The device may take the general form of a curling tong (Figs 5-12) having an elongate heater of generally elliptical section and provided with hair guiding ribs, the styling edge being provided on the edge of an elongate clamp which can engage the heater and is pivoted to the handle.

Description

Title: HAIR STYLING APPLIANCE AND METHOD OF STYLING HAIR This invention relates to a hair styling appliance having a handle portion, a heating portion for heating the hair, and a pressure-generating means for the generation of a contact pressure acting on the hair to be styled, the hair being adapted to be introduced between the heating portion and the pressure-generating means. The present invention further relates to a method of styling hair using the hair styling appliance of the present invention.

A multiplicity of appliances and methods of the afore-mentioned type are known in the art. Thus, for example, EP 0021224 B1 discloses a hair treating appliance in the form of a gas-powered curling iron. This curling iron is comprised of an elongate handle portion and an adjoining heating portion. The handle portion is further provided with a pressure-generating means in the form of a pivotal hair retaining clamp. For styling the hair, in particular for curling or waving hair, the end of a strand of hair, that is, the tips of hair, is inserted between the hair winding portion and the hair retaining clamp and clamped in position. In a subsequent operation, the strand of hair is wrapped around the heated hair winding portion from the tips down to the root level of the hair. After allowing the hair to set for some time, the hair retaining clamp is lifted clear of the hair winding portion, and the curled or waved strand of hair is withdrawn from the hair winding portion.

From DE 3215232 Al a further method of styling a strand of hair by the action of heat and a hair styling appliance therefor are known. In this specification, part of the air produced by a fan is delivered through a heating coil to a hot air chamber of a cylindrical winding portion and is discharged through radial hot air outlet openings. A bypass channel arranged to extend past the heating coil directs cooling air into a cooling air chamber of the hair winding portion. The strand of hair to be shaped is placed around the winding portion which is then moved away from the scalp, with the strand of hair first sliding over the outer wall of the hot air chamber and then over the outer wall of the cooling chamber. As this occurs, the strand of hair is first heated and then cooled in immediately successive sequence, thereby maintaining its wavy and/or curly shape imparted to it by the outer wall of the hot air chamber.

In the hair styling appliances known in the art, the diameter of the heated hair winding portion determines the type or shape of the curls, in particular the size of the curls that can be obtained.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide, in an improvement over the prior art, a hair styling appliance and a method, in particular for applying the hair styling appliance, which allows the shaping of curls, with the diameter of the curls and thus the type or shape of curl being producible independently of the diameter of the hair winding portion. Further, it is desirable that the curl or wave thus created with the strand of hair be made to last as long as possible.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair styling appliance having a handle portion, a heating portion for heating the hair, and a pressure-generating means for the generation of a contact pressure acting on the hair to be styled, the hair being adapted to be introduced between the heating portion and the pressure-generating means, wherein a styling edge is provided in the area of the heating portion and/or the pressure-generating means of the appliance, said styling edge having a cross-section of arcuate, in particular circular-arc shape, of polygonal or similar shape.

With this configuration of a styling edge, a means is provided which affords the advantage that the type or shape of curl is variable in a simple manner, and which is independent of the geometry of the hair winding portion or the heating portion.

The essentially arcuate cross-section of the styling edge is particularly advantageous for the styling of the hair. In particular, this arcuate cross-section may be in the manner of the arc of a circle having a defined radius over which the strand to be shaped is pulled; considering that also a polygonal cross-section may be considered as approximately arcuate, it is advantageously also possible to have a styling edge which is polygonal or similar in cross-section.

While advantageously, the configuration of the heating portion may thus be of any desired geometry, it should nevertheless be ensured that a good heat transfer can be effected from the heating portion to the hair to be styled. The heating portion may be heated either by gas or electrically, and it should allow heating of the hair to at least a temperature suitable for hair styling.

With the pressure-generating means, a contact pressure is exerted on the hair to be styled which is insertable between the heating portion and the pressuregenerating means. For one purpose, a good heat transfer is accomplished from the heating portion to the air, and for another purpose, a clamping force is applied to the hair to be styled. Acting as a retaining force, this clamping force counteracts the pull with which the user moves the hair styling appliance relative to the hair.

The hair styling appliances known in the art, in particular curling irons, are conventionally equipped with hair retaining clamps. These clamps include, of course, also lateral edges; their geometrical configuration is, however, without particular significance in the art, because these clamps merely hold the hair against the hair winding portion. The only decisive feature is that the surface of the hair retaining clamp associated with the heated hair winding portion is shaped such as to establish good contact between the hair winding portion and the clamp.

In a particularly advantageous configuration of the styling edge, a radius greater than 0.1 mm is proposed, the radius preferably being between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

It will be understood, of course, that this configuration not only requires that a circular-arc shape as such be associated with a corresponding radius, but also that it involves a polygonal or similar shape with a dimension greater than 0.1 mm comparable to the radius. Styling aids with a radius of, for example, 0.5 mm advantageously result in small-diameter curls, whereas radii of, for example, 3 mm produce large-diameter curls. Styling edges with a radius greater than 5 mm do not produce curls, but rather, create waves in the hair. By providing the styling edge with a radius greater than 0.1 mm, a reversible hair shaping function is advantageously accomplished without causing damage to the hair which would be the case, for example, if the styling edge were sharp.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the styling edge is arranged substantially parallel to the main axis of the hair styling appliance. This feature is based on a substantially rectilinear styling edge. Advantageously, this feature provides an efficient and structurally simple arrangement of the styling edge. Also, the pressure-generating means and the heating portion desirably also extend in a substantially longitudinal direction. However, it will be understood that other configurations of the pressure-generating means and the heating portion are also possible.

The tangents of the styling edge are arranged such as to intersect at an angle smaller than 1800. For one purpose, a small deflection of the hair is created when it is pulled over a styling edge at an obtuse angle of, for example, 1500. In a configuration in which the styling edge has an acute angle of, for example, 30s, the hair to be shaped is advantageously deflected to a significant extent when it is pulled over the surface of the styling edge. The tangents of the styling edge may also enclose an angle of 0o, that is, they may be arranged parallel to each other, when the styling edge is disposed, for example, at the end of a narrow strip of sheet metal and is semicircular in cross-section.

The styling edge itself may be provided on the pressure-generating means which is configured as an essentially known styling clamp. Advantageously, a simple arrangement of the styling edge is thereby proposed requiring no further means on the hair styling appliance than those that are already provided. The styling clamp is preferably movable relative to the handle and/or the heating portion and may be movably connected with the handle portion by a rotary joint.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the styling edge is provided on the heating portion and may be formed integrally therewith. This advantageously reduces the number of components to a minimum in that only a single component is needed for both heating and styling the hair.

The heating portion may have an elliptical, tear-shaped or similar cross-sectional area. By varying the styling edge at the tapered end of the tear-shaped crosssectional area, various angles of wrap of the strands of hair can be accomplished on the heating portion, advantageously resulting in various shapes and sizes of curl.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed providing the styling edge on a separate styling means. This is an advantage in cases where, for example, a special shape of curl is desired. The separate styling means may advantageously comprise the pressure-generating means, in particular a retaining clamp and/or a cooling member. As a result, these two components may be configured as a subassembly suitable for attachment to the handle portion or the heating portion. Advantageously, this subsassembly may have its one end connected to the handle portion or the heating portion by a rotary joint, in particular a spring-loaded rotary joint similar to a hair retaining clamp known in the art, thus enabling the hair to be readily inserted between the heating portion and the pivotal styling means.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, a cooling member for cooling the styled hair is provided, which cooling member is desirably arranged in the area of the styling edge. Advantageously, it is thereby possible to obtain a particularly enduring curl shape in that the hair, following styling, is cooled on the cooling member, "freezing" the curls.

By arranging the heating portion, the styling edge and/or the cooling member essentially parallel to each other, these components may be advantageously disposed in a close spatial relationship to each other. This thus provides a short length of travel of the hair to be styled from the heating portion through the styling edge to the cooling member, enabling the curls to be set well.

Arranging the heating portion and the cooling member in a relatively spaced relationship to each other results in the advantage that a warm and a cold zone of the hair styling appliance can be provided separately without the two temperature zones mutually affecting each other a great deal.

In a particular configuration, the cooling member is made of a material having good heat conductivity, for example, aluminium or a similar material. The cooling member may further comprise a hollow body filled with paraffin.

Advantageously, a good cooling effect of the cooling member is thereby proposed for effective cooling of the previously heated hair following styling, that is, "freezing" the curls.

To enhance the cooling effect, it is proposed providing the cooling member with a heat-conducting coating and/or cooling ribs. This advantageously ensures a good dissipation of heat of the cooling member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling member is configured as an actively coolable cooling member. This may be accomplished, for example, by means of a flow of cooling air which may be generated in the handle portion of the hair styling appliance. Alternatively, the cooling action may also be created by a Peltier element or a similar device. This advantageously results in a more intense cooling of the previously heated curls, thus producing a more enduring curl.

In another embodiment of the hair styling appliance according to the invention, the heating portion and/or the styling means are provided with guiding and/or spacing means. These means advantageously comprise external ribs which allow guiding of the strands of hair adapted to be wound about the forward part of the appliance for one purpose, while for another purpose acting as spacing means to protect the user from contact with the warm surface of the heating portion.

The ribs may be arranged essentially transversely to the main axis of the appliance and circumferential channels may be formed between adjacent ribs in which channels the strand of hair to be shaped is advantageously receivable with ease.

At least one rib of the hair styling appliance is desirably provided as a boundary rib, so that the strand of hair guided around the heating portion and/or the styling means is advantageously secured by this rib against slipping off from the heating portion and/or the styling means.

In a preferred embodiment of the hair styling appliance, the two outermost ribs are configured as boundary ribs protruding at least in areas beyond the remaining ribs on the heating portion and/or the styling means in a plane transverse to the main axis of the appliance. As a result, a guiding function is effected on the strand of hair adapted to be placed around an area of the hair styling appliance, preventing the strand from slipping over the tip in a forward direction and over the handle portion of the appliance in a rearward direction.

Preferably, the ribs are provided on at least one component, in particular the heating portion, in an arcuate, undulating or arrow-shaped configuration. This rib configuration has the advantage that the strand of hair adapted to be guided around this particular component experiences greater friction than on the other component, in particular the styling means. This effect is intended to prevent the user from pulling the strand of hair over the outer side of the heating portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the ribs are arranged on the heating portion substantially parallel to the main axis of the appliance.

Advantageously, this is intended to confront the user with both a visual and a mechanical obstacle, in particular due to an increased frictional resistance, thereby preventing the user from pulling the hair over the outer side of the heating portion.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pressure-generating means, in particular the clamp, is pivotally mounted on the styling means. This provides a further possibility of movement of the clamp, advantageously enabling a compensating movement to be accomplished between the clamp and the heating portion. Alternatively, the clamp may be pivotally mounted on the cooling member.

The pivot axis of the clamp is desirably arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cooling member and/or the heating portion and thus also substantially parallel to the main axis of the appliance. Advantageously, this enables the clamp to have both its ends pivotally mounted in the cooling member by means of pivot pins. This results in an advantageously uniform contact pressure of the hair over the entire contact surface of the heating portion.

Still further, the clamp is desirably configured essentially in mirror symmetry as seen in a plane transverse to its longitudinal axis, and the pivot axis preferably lies in this plane of symmetry. Advantageously, this makes it possible for the clamp to perform a uniform pivotal movement to either side of the plane of symmetry.

The heating portion and the styling means may have a substantially constant area of cross-section along the main axis of the appliance, which area is less than the area of cross-section of the forward end of the handle portion. Advantageously, this results in a clear separation between the hair treatment part including the heating portion and the styling means at one end, and the handle portion at the other end. Moreover, the large surface area of the handle portion gives the user a good, firm and sure grip.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the handle portion is provided with a substantially elliptical, oval or similar outer contour in a plane normal to its main axis. Such a configuration of the gripping shell results in the advantage that the handle rests better in the user's hand, causing the user to feel uncomfortable when turning the hair styling appliance about its longitudinal axis.

This configuration of the handle portion is intended to further support the novel manipulation of this appliance which differs noticeably from the use of hitherto known hair styling appliances to the extent that the appliance, rather than being turned about its longitudinal axis, is pulled away from the scalp using a straightline motion.

The area of cross-section of the handle portion preferably diminishes continuously from the forward to the rearward, free end of the handle, with the attendant advantage that this, too, enables the user to handle the appliance with a more comfortable, ergonomical grip.

The present invention also provides a method of styling hair using the appliance above described in which the hair is inserted between the pressure-generating means and the heating portion of the hair styling appliance, in which a clamping force is exerted on the hair to be styled and in which the hair is heated on the heating portion to at least forming temperature which is also referred to as glass temperature Tg. According to the present invention, the heated hair is pulled over a styling edge, stretching in the process a longitudinal side of the hair. According to the present invention, this one-sided stretching of the hair allows the formation of an enduring curl. In this method, the curling effect is the greater, the greater the amount by which the hair is stretched. Still further, it is an advantage in the method herein proposed that the type and the size of the curls produced do not depend on the size, particularly the diameter, of a hair winding portion, but rather, solely on the one-sided stretching of the hair caused on the styling edge.

In the process, the longitudinal sides of the hair close to the styling edge, that is, those sides of the hair that are directly pulled over the styling edge, are subjected to compressive stress, thus supporting the tensile stress occurring on the opposite longitudinal sides of the hair.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal sides of the hair facing away from the styling edge are stretched by at least one percent. This is an effective means of imparting curls to hair, independent of the diameter of a hair winding portion. The change to which hair is subjected as it is stretched up to an amount lower than about 30% is advantageously completely reversible, thus obviating the risk of damage to the hair as it is stretched over a styling edge.

For shaping curls, it is necessary that a relative motion take place between the heated hair and the styling edge. In the hair styling methods hitherto known, it is conventionally the loose ends of the hair that are clamped between the pressuregenerating means and the heating means, followed by a movement from the hair ends to the root level, customarily by wrapping the hair on a hair winding portion. In contrast thereto, the present method allows a movement from the root level to the loose ends of the hair, with the heated hair being pulled over the styling edge during this movement, whereby advantageously an effective hair styling operation is accomplished from the root level to the tips of the hair.

The longitudinal sides of the hair close to the heating portion may be pulled over and stretched on the styling edge, producing to advantage the curls desired by the user.

Alternatively, it is also possible for the longitudinal sides of the hair facing away from the heating portion to be deflected and stretched on the styling edge.

Advantageously, this thus also allows the formation of hair curls.

For good curl formation, the hair is pulled over the styling edge in a straightened condition. This is accomplished in that the hair is clamped between the pressuregenerating means and the heating portion, whereby a holding force is exerted on the hair. This holding force counteracts the pull generated by the user by moving the hair styling appliance relative to the hair. This straightened condition of the hair is advantageously conducive to the formation of curls.

The hair to be shaped is preferably deflected on the styling edge in particular at an angle of between 5 and 1800, approximately. This advantageously results in a wide variety of curl shapes. Deflecting the hair on the styling edge about a small angle only, a weak curl formation is obtained, whilst a deflection by an angle greater than 90" and smaller than 1800 enables a correspondingly stronger curl shaping operation to be accomplished.

The direction of movement of the hair downstream of the styling edge, that is, upon leaving the styling edge, may be in the same direction as, or the opposite direction to, the direction of movement upstream of the styling edge, that is, prior to reaching the styling edge. A movement in the same direction upstream and downstream of the styling edge allows a more uniform and advantageously lower pull of the hair; a deflection of the direction in which the hair is moved on a styling edge necessitates a higher pull, advantageously producing a tighter curl.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed cooling the hair following stretching by pulling the curled hair along the cooling member.

This advantageously enables the curls to be set well by "freezing".

A particularly good styling result is obtained if the stretched longitudinal sides of the hair face away from the cooling member and are pulled around the cooling member in this position.

The curl shape is variable by the relative speed between the styling edge and the hair to be styled. Thus, guiding the appliance in a slow motion of the styling edge relative to the hair advantageously produces a tight curl, whilst a rapid guiding motion is adapted to produce a generous curl.

The surface temperature of the cooling member is desirably lower than or equal to 85"C, whereby an enduring curl is obtained to advantage. Because the forming temperature of human hair is about 1200C at about 30 relative humidity of air, a surface temperature of the cooling member of 85"C or lower provides a temperature difference sufficient to ensure that the curls previously produced hold their shape sufficiently well.

The method of the present invention advantageously enables smooth hair to be effectively curled nearly from the root level to the tips of the hair, without utilizing a winding portion hitherto necessary for prior-art methods. Further, the hair forming operation obtainable with this method is reversible.

Further features, advantages and application possibilities of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description of embodiments illustrated in more detail in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that any single feature and any combination of single features described and/or represented by illustration form the subject-matter of the present invention, irrespective of their summarization in the claims and their back-references.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a heating portion and a pressure-generating means having a styling edge of the present invention, and a strand of hair to be styled; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a heating portion having a styling edge integrally formed thereon, and a strand of hair to be styled; Fig. 3 is an arrangement similar to Fig. 1, but providing an additional cooling member; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a hair styling appliance showing a handle portion and a heating portion; Fig. 6 is a side view of the hair styling appliance shown in Fig. 5 showing a styling means; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the hair styling appliance shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a handle portion, taken along the line 108 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a handle portion, taken along the line 109 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a heating portion and a styling means, taken along the line 110 of Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a hair styling appliance according to the invention; and Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the hair styling appliance shown in Fig. 11.

A hair styling appliance of the present invention (Fig. 1) is comprised of, for example, a circular-cylindrical heating portion 6 and a pressure-generating means, in particular a hair retaining clamp 8 which is urged against the heating portion 6 by a spring means not shown. Starting from root level 14, a strand 2 of hair to be styled is inserted between the heating portion 6 and the clamp 8, the heating portion 6 heating the strand of hair to forming temperature along the contact surface 12 between the two components. On its one edge, the clamp 8 has an elongate styling edge 10 over which the strand 2 is pulled. When the user moves the hair styling appliance in the direction of pull 16, the heated strand 2 is drawn through the area between the heating portion 6 and the clamp 8 and, upon leaving the contact surface 12, the strand 2 is deflected on the styling edge 10 of the clamp 8; this shapes the strand 2 of hair into a curl from root level 14 to the tips.

An alternative embodiment of a hair styling appliance of the present invention (Fig. 2) comprises an elongate heating portion 20 substantially tear-shaped in cross-section. On a longitudinal side thereof, this heating portion 20 has a styling edge 24. The strand 2 of hair to be shaped is heated from the root level 14 through the contact surface 22 of the heating portion 20 and deflected on the styling edge 24 by the user moving the heating portion 20 in the direction of movement 26. To accomplish this, the user is required to tension the strand 2 of hair in the direction of pull 28 in order for the strand 2 to experience the contact force on the contact surface 22 necessary for heating.

Curls holding their shape particularly well are created by cooling the curls on a cooling member following shaping, "freezing" the curls. To this end, a hair styling appliance configured according to the representation of Fig. 1 is utilized, comprising a heating portion 6 and a clamp 8 with a styling edge 10. In this configuration, a cooling member 30 as shown in Fig. 3 may be arranged above the clamp 8 and attached to the clamp 8 by a connection not shown. The clamp 8 and the cooling member 30 combine to form a styling means 31. The cooling member 30 is semicircular in cross-section, and it may be equipped with cooling ribs 32 in its upper arcuate area for enhancing the cooling action. In this arrangement, the cooling member 30 extends equally in a longitudinal direction parallel to the heating portion 6 and the clamp 8. A movement of the hair styling appliance in the direction of movement 34 first involves heating of the strand 2 on the contact surface 12, then deflecting it on the styling edge 10, and subsequently cooling it on the cooling member 30.

The strand 2 of hair (Fig. 4) is urged against the heating portion 6 by the clamp 8 in the area of the contact surface 12 and pulled around the styling edge 10 as the heating portion 6 is moved in the direction of movement 16. In the process, the strand 2 of hair is looped over the subsequent edge area of the clamp 8 providing the styling edge 10. Decisive for the styling result of the strand 2 of hair shaped to form a curl is the particular radius 36 of the styling edge 10. It should have a minimum radius of 0.1 mm, approximately, in order to prevent the hair from being broken during shaping. The strand 2 of hair may be wrapped around the styling edge 10 approximately at right angles, as shown in Fig. 4; however, the angle of wrap of the strand 2 of hair relative to the styling edge 10 may also be greater or smaller than 90o, depending on the intended styling result, that is, whether small- or large-diameter curls are to be produced.

When the strand 2 of hair is pulled around the styling edge 10, the longitudinal side 38 of the hair close to the heating portion 6 is exposed to tensile stress, while the longitudinal side 40 of the hair facing away from the heating portion 6 is exposed to compressive stress. This difference in the variation of hair length produces the curls.

Turning now to Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, a hair styling appliance 50 of the present invention substantially comprises a handle portion 54 with a heating portion 52 and a styling means 72. The handle portion 54 in turn is composed of a central gripping shell 64, a forward cover 62, and an end cap 66 arranged symmetrically about the main axis 70. Contr lower side of the handle portion. Between the forward cover 62 and the tip 56, the heating portion 52 is provided with ribs 58, circumferential channels 59 being formed between adjacent ribs.

The ribs 76 of the styling means 72 are arranged substantially normal to the main axis 70, while the ribs 58 of the heating portion 52 have an arrow-shaped configuration pointing in the direction of the tip 56. Longitudinal ridges 60 are disposed on the heating portion 52 close to the parting line 74 between the heating portion 52 and the styling means 72.

The foremost and the rearmost rib of the styling means 72 is configured as a boundary rib 78 protruding beyond the styling means 72 at least in areas in the direction of the heating portion 52.

The sections 108, 109 and 110 of Fig. 6 will be described in the following with reference to the subsequent figures. A section 108 taken in the proximity of the end cap 66 (Fig. 8) shows the elliptical configuration of the handle portion 54.

At this location, the gripping shell 64 has a smaller cross-sectional area than in the vicinity of the forward cover 62. In the interest of simplicity, the parts built into the gripping shell 64 are not shown. Provided on the upper and lower sides of the handle portion 54 are the controls 68 for turning the appliance on and off, as well as for operation of the styling means.

In a section taken along the line 109 of Fig. 6, the gripping shell 64 (Fig. 9) shows a cross-sectional area larger than in the section 108, this area increasing progressively from the rearward end of the handle portion to the forward cover of the handle portion.

A section taken along the line 110 of Fig. 6 (Fig. 10) shows the lower heating portion 52 and the upper styling means 72. The heating portion 52 is surrounded by the ribs 58 which extend essentially in the circumferential direction and are connected, in the radial direction, with the inner area of the heating portion 52 by means of pins 80. The styling means 72 is comprised of a cooling member 82 and the boundary rib 78 surrounding the cooling member 82 at least in an area thereof. Disposed between the heating portion 52 and the cooling member 82 is a pressure-generating means in the form of a clamp 84. This clamp 84 has its forward and rearward end pivotally mounted in the cooling member 82 by means of a pivot pin. In this arrangement, the pivot axis 86 lies in the plane of symmetry 87 of the heating portion 52 and the styling means 72. The styling edges 88 are recognizable at the two lateral ends of the arcuate clamp 84.

The hair styling appliance 50 (Fig. 11) is essentially comprised of a rearward handle portion 54 and a forward portion 90 adapted to be subdivided into the heating portion 52 and the styling means 72. At its rear end, the heating portion 52 is fixedly connected with the handle portion 54, while the styling means 72 has its rear end pivotally mounted on the handle portion 54. On operation of the control 68 on the upper side of the appliance 50, the parting line 74 between the heating portion 52 and the styling means 72 opens an amount sufficient to provide a wedge-shaped opening in which the hair to be shaped may be received comfortably. For shaping the hair, the styling means 72 is pivoted back onto the heating portion 52 by means of the control 68, causing the hair caught therebetween to be urged against the upper side of the heating portion 52. The boundary ribs 78 of the styling means 72 extend beyond the styling edge 88 in tooth shape, thus retaining the hair to be shaped within the area of the styling means 72 provided with the ribs 76 on its outside. In use of the hair styling appliance 50, the hair to be styled is thus drawn through the area between the heating portion 52 and the styling means 72, then deflected on the styling edge 88, and directed back over the outside of the styling means 72.

In an alternative to the configuration of the ribs 58 shown in Figs. 5 to 10, the heating portion 52 (Fig. 12) is provided with longitudinal ribs 92 on its outside.

These are disposed between the tip 56 and the forward cover 62 of the appliance and are intended to prevent the user from wrapping a strand of hair about the forward portion 90 of the hair styling appliance.

Claims

1. A hair styling appliance having a handle portion, a heating portion for heating the hair, and a pressure-generating means for the generation of a contact pressure acting on the hair to be styled, the hair being adapted to be introduced between the heating portion and the pressure-generating means, wherein a styling edge is provided in the area of the heating portion and/or the pressure-generating means of the appliance, said styling edge having a cross-section of arcuate, in particular circular-arc shape, of polygonal or similar shape.

2. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the styling edge has a radius greater than 0.1 mm.

3. A hair styling appliance according to claim 2, wherein the hair styling edge has a radius of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

4. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the styling edge is arranged substantially parallel to the main axis of the appliance.

5. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the styling edge is provided on the pressure-generating means.

6. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure-generating means is configured as a styling clamp.

7. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, wherein the styling clamp is movable relative to the handle portion and/or the heating portion.

8. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the styling edge is provided on the heating portion.

9. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, wherein the heating portion has an elliptical, tear-shaped or similar cross-sectional area.

10. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the styling edge is provided on a styling means.

11. A hair styling appliance according to claim 10, wherein the styling means is movably attached to the handle portion or the heating portion.

12. A hair styling appliance according to claim 11, wherein one end of the styling means is connected to the handle portion or the heating portion by a rotary joint.

13. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the styling means comprises the pressure-generating means and a cooling member.

14. A hair styling appliance according to claim 13, wherein the cooling member for cooling the styled hair is arranged in the area of the styling edge.

15. A hair styling appliance according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the heating portion, the styling edge and the cooling member are arranged essentially parallel to each other.

16. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the heating portion and the cooling member are arranged in a relatively spaced relationship to each other.

17. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the cooling member is made of a material of good heat conductivity.

18. A hair styling appliance according to claim 17, wherein the cooling body is made of aluminium.

19. A hair styling appliance according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the cooling member is configured as a hollow body filled with paraffin.

20. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the cooling member is provided with a heat-conducting coating and/or cooling ribs.

21. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the cooling member is actively coolable.

22. A hair styling appliance according to claim 21, wherein the cooling member is coolable by a flow of cooling air.

23. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein the cooling member comprises a Peltier element.

24. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 10 to 23, wherein the heating portion and/or the styling means are provided with guiding and/or spacing means.

25. A hair styling appliance according to claim 24, wherein the guiding and/or spacing means take the form of external ribs.

26. A hair styling appliance according to claim 25, wherein the ribs are arranged essentially transversely to the main axis of the appliance.

27. A hair styling appliance according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein circumferential channels are formed between adjacent ribs.

28. A hair styling appliance according to claim 27, wherein at least one boundary rib is provided.

29. A hair styling appliance according to claim 28, wherein the two outermost ribs are configured as boundary ribs protruding at least in areas beyond the remaining ribs in a plane transverse to the main axis of the appliance.

30. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the ribs are provided on at least one component in an arcuate, undulating or arrow-shaped configuration.

31. A hair styling appliance according to claim 25, wherein the ribs of the heating portion are arranged substantially parallel to the main axis of the appliance.

32. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 10 to 31, wherein a clamp is pivotally mounted on the styling means.

33. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 23, wherein a clamp is pivotally mounted on the cooling member.

34. A hair styling appliance according to claim 33, wherein the pivot axis of the clamp is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cooling member and/or the heating portion.

35. A hair styling appliance according to claim 34, wherein in cross-section, the clamp is configured essentially in mirror symmetry, and the pivot axis lies in the plane of symmetry of the clamp.

36. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 10 to 35, wherein the heating portion and the styling means are provided with a substantially constant area of cross-section along the main axis which area is less than the area of cross-section of the forward end of the handle portion.

37. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle portion is provided with a substantially elliptical, oval or similar outer contour in a plane normal to its main axis.

38. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the area of cross-section of the handle portion diminishes continuously from the forward to the rearward, free end.

39. A hair styling appliance substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-4 or Figs. 5-12 of the drawings.

40. A method of styling hair, using the hair styling appliance claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hair is inserted between the pressuregenerating means and the heating portion, in which a clamping force is exerted on the hair to be styled, and in which the hair is heated on the heating portion to at least forming temperature, the heated hair being pulled over the styling edge stretching in the process a longitudinal side of the hair.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the longitudinal sides of the hair facing away from the styling edge are stretched by at least one percent.

42. A method according to claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the longitudinal sides of the hair close to the heating portion are stretched on the styling edge.

43. A method according to claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the longitudinal sides of the hair facing away from the heating portion are stretched on the styling edge.

44. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein the hair is pulled over the styling edge in a straightened condition.

45. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein the hair is deflected on the styling edge at an angle of between 5 and 1800, approximately.

46. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein the direction of movement of the hair downstream of the styling edge is in the same direction as the direction of movement upstream of the styling edge.

47. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein the direction of movement of the hair downstream of the styling edge is opposite to the direction of movement upstream of the styling edge.

48. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 47, wherein, following stretching, the hair is adapted to be cooled by a cooling member by pulling the hair along the cooling member.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the stretched longitudinal sides of the hair face away from the cooling member.

50. A method according to claim 48 or claim 49, wherein the surface temperature of the cooling member is lower than or equal to 85"C.

51. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 50, wherein the relative speed between the styling edge and the hair is variable.

52. A method of styling hair substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 14 or Figs. 5-12 of the drawings.

52. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 51, wherein the hair to be curled is initially straight.

53. A method of styling hair substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 14 or Figs. 5-12 of the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A hair styling appliance having a handle portion, a heating portion with a heating zone for heating the hair, a cooling zone and a styling element for styling the hair, wherein the styling element is configured as a styling edge which is located downstream of the heating zone and upstream of the cooling zone whereby a strand of hair to be styled is heatable by means of the heating zone, the heated strand of hair is shapeable on the styling edge and the shaped strand of hair is coolable in the cooling zone.

2. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the styling edge has an arcuate cross-section, is circular-arc shaped or polygonal cross-section.

3. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the styling edge has a radius greater than 0.1 mm.

4. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, wherein the hair styling edge has a radius of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

5. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the styling edge is arranged substantially parallel to the main axis of the appliance.

6. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure-generating means is provided for generating a contact pressure on the hair to be shaped, the hair being insertable between the heating portion and the pressure-generating means.

7. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, wherein the styling edge is provided on the pressure generating means.

8. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the pressure-generating means is configured as a styling clamp.

9. A hair styling appliance according to claim 8, wherein the styling clamp is movable relative to the handle portion.

10. A hair styling appliance according to any claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the styling edge is connected to the styling clamp.

11. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating portion has an elliptical, tear-shaped or like cross-sectional area.

12. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the styling means is movably attached to the handle portion or the heating portion.

13. A hair styling appliance according to claim 12, wherein one end of the styling means is connected to the handle portion or the heating portion by a rotary joint.

14. A hair styling appliance according to claim 13, wherein a cooling member for cooling the styled hair is arranged in the area of the styling edge.

15. A hair styling appliance according to claim 14, wherein the heating portion, the styling edge and the cooling member are arranged essentially parallel to each other.

16. A hair styling appliance according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the heating portion and the cooling member are arranged in a relatively spaced relationship to each other.

17. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the cooling member is made of a material of good heat conductivity.

20. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the cooling member is provided with a heat-conducting coating and/or cooling ribs.

21. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the cooling member is actively coolable.

23. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the cooling member comprises a Peltier element.

24. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein the heating portion and/or the styling means are provided with guiding and/or spacing means.

33. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein a clamp is pivotally mounted on the cooling member.

36. A hair styling appliance according to any one of claims 12 to 35, wherein the heating portion and the styling means are provided with a substantially constant area of cross-section along the main axis which area is less than the area of cross-section of the forward end of the handle portion.

37. A hair styling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle portion is provided with a substantially elliptical, oval or like outer contour in a plane normal to its main axis.

40. A method of styling hair, using the hair styling appliance claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hair is heated in the heating zone to at least forming temperature, the heated hair is shaped on the styling edge, stretching in the process a longitudinal side of the hair, and the shaped hair is subsequently cooled in the cooling zone.

45. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein the hair is deflected on the styling edge at an angle of between 5 and 180 .

48. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 47, wherein the stretched longitudinal sides of the hair face away from the cooling member.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the surface temperature of the cooling member is lower than or equal to 850C.

50. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 49, wherein the relative speed between the styling edge and the hair is variable.

51. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 50, wherein the hair to be curled is initially straight.