IL30078A - Hair curler - Google Patents

Description

Hair curler SOBIOO , This invention relates to the hair curlers and, more particularly, to hair curlers of the self-engaging type.

Self-engaging curlers have had a certain success because they are able to maintain hair rolled thereon in a tightly fixed roll without need for pins, clips or elastics. But curlers of this type have the disadvantage that the number of gripping elements required for effective self-engagement also have the cumulative effect of holding the hair too tightly so that removal of the curler is often difficult and accompanied by painful tearing of the hair. One suggested solution was to reduce the average density of the gripping elements on the center portion of the curler in relation to the density of such elements at the ends. This invention seeks to further improve this type of curler.

This invention provides a curler body having an area for rolling the hair distinct from the area of self-engagement. Thus, the hair curler of the invention comprises an elongated body portion having a center portion on which hair can be rolled and end portions joined to the center portion at its extremities. Both end portions extend longitudinally and have an exterior surface which is removed from the longitudinal axis of the curler beyond the exterior surface of the center portion. Engaging means disposed on those end portion exterior surfaces anchor the curler adjacent the scalp. In another form of the invention, outwardly extending protuberances are disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the center portion. These protuberances intermesh with the hair to aid in rolling the hair about the center portion and also tend to maintain the hair in a tight roll after the curler is fixed near the scalp by the engaging means on the end portions .

A further understanding of the invention is had from the several embodiments described below with reference to the drawings.

Pig. 1 is an axial cross-section of one form of the curler.

Fig. 2 is a view of this same curler in the position in which it is to be used.

Figs. 5 to 6 show, in elevation, various forms for the protuberances on the center portion of the curler.

Figs. 7 to 11 show, in elevation, various forms for the engaging elements on the end portions of the curler.

Referring to the Fig. 1* this curler has an elongated body 10, preferably in the shape of a spool, which has a hollow core and is formed of plastic or other suitable material. This curler has a center portion 11 of smaller diameter than that of the end portions 12. The center portion 11 has a longitudinal exterior surface 13 and is concave from end to end. The center portion 11 is disposed between outwardly flared flange portions 14 at its lateral extremities. These flange portions 14 integrally join the center portion 11 to the end portions 12 which are cylindrical.

The center portion 11 can have outwardly extending protuberances 15 which preferably extend radially and are of the same material as the curler body 10 being formed integrally therewith. These protuberances 15 intermesh with hair 16 rolled on the center portion 11 and aid in rolling the hair 16 and maintaining it in a tight roll when the curler is anchored near the scalp (see Fig. 2 ) . These protuberances 15 can take one or more of the shapes shown in Figs. 3 to 6 , that is to say, in Fig. 3 conical and pointed 1 Fig 4 conical with a swelling 17 at the tip, Fig. 5 a semi-circular strip l8 , Fig. 6 a rectangular strip 19 , the plane of these strips 18 and 19 being obviously perpendicular to the axis of the curler.

The ends 12 of the body 10 have engaging elements 20 designed to permit the anchoring of the curler near the scalp 21 by the gripping of the engaging elements 20 in the roots 22 of the hair 16 , as shown in Fig. 2 . Preferably, the engaging elements 20 are made of upstanding flexible filaments 23 of synthetic material whose ends are shaped like hooks 24. Such hooks can be obtained by weaving a material of the pierced-looped type and then by cutting the loops laterally on one side, as shown in Fig 8. It is also possible to make two lateral cuts, instead of just one, so as to eliminate a certain length of the cord of each loop, as shown in Fig. 9 · The hooks 24 can also be obtained by forming a series of flexible filaments 23 of synthetic and preferably thermoplastic material in an "s" shape and by embedding one end 25 of the filament 23 in a base of plastic material 26 . Such hooks 24 formed of flexible filaments 23 according to the Figs. 8 to 10 are thus held by a woven base 27 or by a base formed of a sheet of plastic material 26 . Such a base 26 or 27 is then cut into strips of appropriate width to form an engaging tape having the flexible elements 23 extending outward from one surface thereof. Thus one end of the filament 2 is secured in said tape and the other end is in the form of the engaging elements 20 - This tape is rolled as a cover around the longitudinal exterior surface 28 of the end portions 12 as shown in the Pig. 1 . The tape can be glued, soldered or sewed to these end portions 12 .

As a variation, Pig. 7 shows the engaging elements 20 in the form of a hook 29 formed from stems JO made of one piece with the end portions 12 of the curler body 10 -These stems preferably extend out radially from the exterior surface 28 of the end portions 12 and their tips are readily formed, preferably by exposure to the thermal source, into the form of a hook 29 or a mushroom shape J>1 of Pig. 11 .

As seen in Fig. 2 , since the longitudinal exterior surface 28 of the curler end portions 12 is removed farther from the longitudinal curler axis than the longitudinal exterior surface 13 on the center portion 11 , hair 16 will be rolled only on the center portion 11 . In addition, this design permits a complete lock of hair to be rolled with substantially all of its bulk within the largest virtual enclosure defined directly between the two end portions 12 . Thus, when hair 16 is rolled tightly about the curler center portion 11 the engaging means on the end portion exterior surface 28 can become engaged in the hair roots 22 to anchor the curler near the scalp 21 . When removal is desired, a slight pull on the curler is sufficient to disengage the engaging means from the hair roots 22 . The hair 16 can then be unrolled without difficulty because it is not held in any other way.

If protuberances 15 extending outward from the longitudinal exterior surface 15 of the curler center portion 11 are part of the curler, unrolling is still accomplished without difficulty since the protuberances do not actually hold the hair 16 . Rather, the protuberances 15 , being disposed within the greatest virtual enclosure defined directly between the curler end portions 12 , intermesh with the hair 16 to aid in rolling and maintaining a tight roll.

The curler described above can have small holes in the center portion 11 and flange portions 14. Such holes facilitate the drying of the hair by allowing the passage of air through the walls of those portions.

Numerous variations of this curler could be imagined. Thus, the flange portions 14 could be circular, joining the cylindrical end portions 12 to the center portion 11 which would be further elongated and which could also be absolutely cylindrical.

Another variation would be to form the curler body 10 of a more rigid type of the base 26 or 27 - In this case, the protuberances 15 would be formed by straight-lined filaments J>2 or 2> without the engaging elements 20 , these being kept only around the end portions 12 . It is also possible to cover the center portion 11 of the standard curler with the base 26 or 27 having only straight-lined filaments 32 or 2J without the engaging elements 20 .

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1.

2. A hair curler comprising an elongated tubular body of one- iece construdtion, the body including center portion and end portions, the center portion having a maximum out-aide diameter substantially less than the minimum outside diameter o the end portions and defining a circumferential recese between the end portions} and hai engaging means provided only on the circumferential surface of eaoh end portion and extending radially outwardly therefrom to anchor the curler adjacent the scalp after hair has been rolled about only the center portion of the curler, the entire bulk of the rolled hai being confined within the circumferential recess and being maintained out of contact with the hair engaging means* 2.

3. A hair curler according to claim 1 wherein the hair engaging means comprise a plurality of upstanding hooking elements of flexible, resilient material* 3* A hair purler according to claim 1 or 2 therein the hooking elements comprise filaments having bulbuous tips.

4. * A hair curler according to claim 12 or 3 wherein the hair engaging means are provided on a flexible tape, the tape being secured to the circumferential surface of each end portion*

5. A hair curler according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the exterior surface of the center portion of the curler body is concave in longitudinal cross section.

6. A hair curler according to any One of the "V outwardly extending protuberances disposed about the exterior surface of the center portion, the protuberances aiding in maintaining the rolled hair in place about th exterior surface of the center portion.

7. A hair curler according to claim 6 wherein the protuberances are integral with the exterior surface of the center portion and extend radially outwardly therefrom*

8. A hair eurler according to claim 6 wherein the protuberances are upstanding rectlinear ilaments provided on a flexible tape, the tape being secured to the exterior surface of the center portion.

9. A hair eurler according to claim 6 wherein the protuberances are tooth-shaped.

10. A hair curler substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. For th Applicants DR. REIHHOLD COHN & PARTNERS