GB2394656A

GB2394656A - An apparatus and method of using heated curling rollers on a hand held grip

Info

Publication number: GB2394656A
Application number: GB0225147A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Penny Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-29
Filing date: 2002-10-29
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-29
Also published as: GB2394656B; GB0225147D0

Abstract

A hair treatment apparatus 1 comprises a handle 2 on which a plurality of hair engaging elements (3 figure) are individually detachably mountable on the handle, adapted to be wrapped with hair in order to reshape it, and then detached from the handle when they are wrapped in the hair. The hair engagement elements may be cylindrical rollers with differing outer diameters and of differing lengths. The rollers may be provided with radially extending teeth (11 figure 3) with which to brush the hair and may also have a hollow centre of a diameter smaller than the distance between the elongate members. The handle may comprise a hand grip section 4 and a mounting further comprising of two resiliently mounted elongate arms 5 and 6, each with a radially extending lip 7 and 8 at their outer end where at least one arm is movable towards the other. The handle may also be provided with a means of blowing hot air through the roller apertures 19 and 20 when the rollers are attached to the handle. Also included is a method of using the treatment apparatus.

Description

Hair Styling Apparatus This invention relates to hair styling apparatus,

and a method of using such apparatus.

Hair rollers are used to create various hair styles. In a method known as "setting", sections of wet hair are wrapped around the body of a number of rollers, and then the hair is dried under a dryer. When the hair has cooled the rollers are removed and the hair retains a helical shape which creates curls or volume in the hair. However, this method of styling hair is no longer fashionable as it creates as outdated rigid hair style.

In an alternative method known as Ublow drying", a lock or wet hair is isolated and brushed away from the scalp in a circular fashion from underneath, while being blown with hot air. A so-called Plow dry brush" is used, which is provided with a cylindrical body, and the hair is often curled around the body of the brush to create the desired effect. This circular brushing technique makes the hair dry in a curled, or curved shape, which creates volume. This method of styling hair creates a softer look, however it may not work with finer or straighter hair. Therefore, it is common to combine blow drying and the use of hair rollers to create an intermediate style. Hair is first blown with hot air in the above described manner, then curled around a hair roller for a few minutes for cooling.

The best effects are created when the roller is applied immediately after the hair has been blown with hot air.

However, this process is limited because the brush being used during the blow dry process must be removed from the hair, and a roller must be applied.

The hair is thus released and left uncurled for a few seconds while a roller is prepared. This can lead to a loss in the desired shaping of the hair.

r -2 ln addition, the above described process is time consuming, because the brush used during blow drying must be carefully unwrapped from the hair, and the roller must then be carefully wrapped with hair.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems. According to the present invention hair treatment apparatus comprises a handle and two or more hair engaging elements, in which the hair engaging elements are detachably mountable to the handle, and are adapted to be wrapped with hair in order to reshape it, and to be detached from the handle when they are wrapped therein.

Preferably the hair engaging elements are cylindrical hair rollers. The hair rollers can be provided with radially extending teeth adapted to engage the hair with which they are used. The teeth are further adapted to brush the hair, in particular, during blow drying.

The handle may comprise a hand grip section and a mounting, which is adapted to carry a hair roller.

In a preferred construction at least 24 rollers are provided. Further, the rollers may be of different sizes, including different outer circumferences and lengths. All the rollers can be adapted to mount onto the handle in the same fashion. The mounting can comprise two elongate arms provided with a radially extending lip at their outer ends. One of the arms can be mounted on resilient means, and can be moved towards the other arm by means of a button disposed on the hand grip section.

The rollers may be provided with a hollow centre with a diameter larger than the distance between the edges of the lips when the arms are biased together, and smaller than the distance between the edges of the lips when the arms are biased apart. With this arrangement a roller can be mounted on the handle when the button is depressed, and held on the handle when the button is released. Further, the roller can be readily released from the handle when the button is depressed.

The handle can be provided with a radially extending spigot, and the rollers with a co-operating radially extending slot, which combine to prevent rotational movement between the components when they are attached.

The handle may be provided with hot air blowing means, which is adapted to blow hot air through apertures provided in the body of the rollers, when the rollers are attached to the handle.

The invention also includes a method of using hair treatment apparatus comprising a handle and two or more hair engaging elements, in which the hair engaging elements are detachably mountable to the handle, and are adapted to be wrapped with hair in order to reshape it, and to be detached from the handle when they are wrapped therein, including the steps of: 1) Mounting one hair roller on the handle.

2) Using the handle and roller as a brush during the blow drying of a user's hair, including the wrapping of the hair around the roller.

3) Further wrapping of the hair around the roller to secure it in place, if required. 4) Releasing the handle from the roller while the roller is still attached to the hair.

-4 5) Mounting another hair roller on the handle.

6) Repeating steps 2 to 5 until all the desired hair is wrapped around hair rollers. The invention can be performed in various ways, but two embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one component of hair treatment apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a second side view of the component as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of four components of the hair treatment apparatus as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of one component of further hair treatment apparatus according to the present invention; and, Figure 5 is a side view of two components of the hair treatment apparatus as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, hair treatment apparatus 1 comprises a handle 2, and a number of hair rollers 3. (Only 3 hair rollers 3 are shown, but 24 in total are provided).

The handle 2 comprises a hand grip section 4, and two elongate arms 5 and 6, provided with lips 7 and 8 at their outer ends. Elongate arm 5 extends inside the hand grip section 4, and is attached to the inside, adjacent button 9.

Arm 5 is constructed from a resilient plastics material. The handle also comprises a resilient sleeve 10.

The hair rollers 3 comprise hollow cylindrical bodies provided with radially extending teeth 11.

The handle 2 is provided with a spigot 12, which is shaped and dimensioned to co-operate with sockets 13 provided on the rollers 3.

As shown in Figure 2, when the button 9 is depressed, the underside of the button (not shown) pushes down on the inner end of arm 5, which bends towards arm 6. In this arrangement the rollers 3 can be slotted over the end of the arms 5 and 6. The roller 3 is then pushed up against the resilient sleeve 10, and the button 9 is released. The resilient sleeve 10 then holds the roller 3 in place against the lips 7 and 8. The spigot 12 also engages with socket 13, to prevent the roller 3 from rotating.

The handle 2 and the roller 3 can then be used to brush hair while it is being blow dried. In the process the hair can be wrapped around the roller 3, and in particular the teeth 11. When the hair has been blow dried, the user depresses the button 9, and retracts the handle 2, leaving the roller 3 in place in the hair.

The user then attaches another roller 3 and repeats the process.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, alternative hair treatment apparatus 14 is substantially similar in construction to equipment 1 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. However, handle 15 is provided with hot air blowing apparatus (not shown) inside the hand grip section 16. The air is blown out of an aperture (not visible in side view, but indicated 17). The apparatus is provided with electrical power via cable 18.

Roller 19 is substantially similar to rollers 3 as shown in Figure 3, except that it is provided with elongate apertures 20 in its body, though which air can pass. Roller 19 is also provided with a closed end section 21, through which no air can pass. The end section 21 is provided with an internal trough (not shown)

-6 into which the lips 22 and 23 of the handle 15 can be placed to provide a secure fitting to the handle 15.

When the roller 19 has been attached to the handle 15, hot air can be blown through the apertures 20. With this arrangement hair can be blow dried single handedly, without the need for a separate hair dryer. This arrangement is particularly useful when the user is styling their own hair.

It will be appreciated that apparatus 14 is also provided with a number of rollers (not shown) identical to roller 19, with which the hair treatment method described herein can be performed.

In an alternative construction, not shown, a handle similar to either handle 2 or handle 15 is provided with rollers similar in shape to either rollers 3 or rollers 19, but of different sizes. The rollers can be provided with a larger outer circumference, or a greater length, which could extend beyond the end of the arms 5, 6, or 22, 23.

Thus, hair treatment apparatus is provided which allows blow dried hair to be wrapped in rollers without any delay, or any unwanted unwrapping of already curled hair. Further, apparatus is provided which reduces the time needed to blow dry hair and set it in rollers.

Claims

-7 Claims

1. Hair treatment apparatus comprising a handle and two or more hair engaging elements, in which the hair engaging elements are detachably mountable to the handle, and are adapted to be wrapped with hair in order to reshape it, and to be detached from the handle when they are wrapped therein.

2. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the hair engaging elements are cylindrical hair rollers.

3. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the hair rollers are provided with radially extending teeth adapted to engage the hair with which they are used.

4. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which the teeth are further adapted to brush the hair.

5. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the handle comprises a hand grip section and a mounting adapted to carry a hair roller.

6. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which at least 24 rollers are provided.

7. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 in which the rollers are of different sizes, including different outer circumferences and lengths.

8. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which the mounting comprises two elongate arms provided with a radially extending lip at their outer end.

-8

9. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 in which at least one of the arms is mounted on resilient means, and is movable towards the opposite arm.

10. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 in which the rollers are provided with a hollow centre with a diameter larger that than the distance between the edges of the lips when the arms are biased together and smaller than the distance between the edges of the lips when the arms are biased apart.

11. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 in which the handle is provided with a radially extending spigot, and the rollers with a cooperating radially extending slot, which combine to prevent rotational movement between the components when they are attached.

12. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the handle is provided with hot air blowing means.

13. Hair treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 in which the rollers are provided with air passage apertures, and in which the apparatus is adapted to blow hot air through the apertures when the rollers are attached to the handle.

14. Hair treatment apparatus substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of using hair treatment apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, including the steps of: 1) Mounting one hair roller on the handle.

3) Further wrapping of the hair around the roller to secure it in place, if required.

-9- 4) Releasing the handle from the roller while the roller is still attached to the hair. 5) Mounting another hair roller on the handle.

6) Repeating steps 2 to 5 until all the desired hair is wrapped around hair rollers.