JP2011502720A - Hair straightener device with variable steam output control device - Google Patents

Abstract

  The hair straightening device (1) includes a pair of handle portions that are rotatably connected by a hinge (4). The upper handle portion (2) includes an upper plate (5) that is selectively heated. A water storage container (8) is detachably attached to the upper handle part (2). When the handle portions (2) and (3) approach each other and close, the valve operating member (11) on the lower handle portion (3) side is attached to the rubber valve (12) disposed on the upper handle portion (2) side. Abutting, compressing the valve (12), pushing air through the tube (13) from the air inlet opening (14) on the container (8) side, opening the flexible one-way valve (15) and opening the container Let air enter the interior (16) of (8). The water stored in the container is discharged by the pressure of the air that has entered, and is discharged from the outlet (17) of the container (8), and in the passage (18) of the upper handle part (2) and the plate (5). Flow into. The plate (5) may be provided with one or more openings for releasing steam generated by the water when the water is heated from the heated plate (5). The adjusting lever (19) varies from a low position where no steam is released because it does not contact the valve (12) (FIG. 4B) to an intermediate position where the steam is discharged with a proportional air discharge and a highest position (FIG. 4A). Furthermore, it becomes possible to mechanically adjust the operating member (11).

Description

[Background of the invention]
The present invention relates to an electric handheld hair straightening device, and more particularly to a handheld hair straightening device that emits steam.

2. Description of Related Art Various types of handheld hair straightening devices are known in which a pair of opposed plates that are selectively heated are each attached to a handle portion. The assembly formed by connecting the handle portions to each other in a hinged manner can be gripped with one hand, and can be closed close to each other by rotating the plate around the hinge. Some such devices include a water reservoir that supplies water to a heat source to generate steam, and the generated steam is used to apply the steam to the hair being squeezed between heated plates. Are ejected through one or more openings. Varying the amount of heat and steam, combined with the adoption of different methods, creates a variety of hair styling effects. None of such known devices includes means for changing the steam output.

[Object of the present invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric handheld hair straightening having a steam output function that can be selectively controlled to change the output of steam.

  These and other objectives are achieved by the present invention.

It is the top view shown in the state where the hair straightening device by the present invention was closed. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the hair straightening apparatus by this invention in the closed state. It is the cross-sectional view shown in the state which opened the hair straightening apparatus by this invention. It is the partial cross section shown in the state where the hair straightening device by the present invention was opened. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the hair straightening device according to the present invention is closed and the steam setting is set to high. It is the partial cross section shown in the state where the hair straightening apparatus by this invention was closed and the steam setting was turned off.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
Referring to the drawings, the hair straightening device 1 includes an upper handle portion 2 and a lower handle portion 3, and the handle portions 2 and 3 are connected to each other by a hinge 4 so as to be rotatable. The upper handle portion 2 includes an upper plate 5 that is selectively heated. The lower handle portion 3 includes a lower plate 6 that may be selectively heated but may not be selectively heated. Electric energy from an external power source is sent to the device 1 via an electric cord 7. With this electrical energy, the plate 5 or the plates 5 and 6 are selectively heated to style the hair that is squeezed between them when the two plates are closed close to each other.

  A water storage container 8 is detachably attached to the upper handle portion 2. When removed, the container 8 is filled with water from an inlet opening 9 that can be emptied and closed with a rubber plug 10. Then, the container is remounted on the upper handle portion 2. In use, when the handle portions 2 and 3 are close to each other and closed, the valve operating member 11 on the lower handle portion 3 side comes into contact with a rubber valve 12 arranged on the upper handle portion 2 side. As a result, the valve 12 is compressed, and when the valve is compressed, air is pushed out from the air inlet opening 14 on the container 8 side through the tube 13, the flexible one-way valve 15 is opened, and the interior 16 of the container 8 is opened. Allow air to enter. When air enters the container 8, the water stored in the container is discharged by the pressure of the air that has entered, discharged from the outlet 17 of the container 8, and flows into the upper handle portion 2 and the passage 18 of the plate 5. To do. The plate 5 includes one or more openings that release steam generated by the water when the water is heated from the heated plate 5. The adjusting lever 19 does not come into contact with the valve 12 (FIG. 4B), so that the operating member can be moved to various heights from a low position where steam is not discharged to an intermediate position where steam is discharged with a proportional air discharge amount and a maximum position (FIG. 4A) 11 can be mechanically adjusted.

  Although not limited to one particular embodiment of a hair straightening iron, one preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the following design. That is, the lower plate 6 is provided with openings 19 aligned along the longitudinal axis, the openings 19 receive a plurality of fins 20, and the plurality of fins 20 protrude partially or completely from the openings 19. The protrusion 20 is adjusted so that it does not protrude at all, whereby the fin 20 is aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis and assists in guiding the hair as the device 1 is pulled laterally along the hair. To do. In order to perform such an adjustment operation of the fin 20, a lever 21 may be provided. Various ridges 22 may be provided at various locations outside the device 1 to facilitate gripping or prevent contact with the heated surface. A visual display device 23 may be provided to display the operation mode and setting information.

  While the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

A first elongated handle having a heated plate, a first end and a second end;
A second elongate handle having a heated plate, a first end and a second end;
A hinge connected to a respective first end of the handle to connect the handle to each other in a pivotable manner;
An electric heating body that is coupled to at least one of the heated plates and heats at least one of the plates;
A water storage container coupled to the electric heating body and configured to be filled with water;
A water conduit connecting the water storage container to a discharge port in the vicinity of a heated plate coupled to the electric heating body;
A flexible valve connected to the reservoir by a vent conduit, the valve selectively delivering air to the reservoir when compressed, thereby draining the water with the air and A flexible valve configured to pass through the vicinity of the electric heating body and exit the discharge port in the state of water vapor. The styling iron according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting member for adjusting a flow rate of water vapor discharged from the discharge port. The valve is disposed on one of the first handle and the second handle;
The adjustment member includes an actuating member disposed on the other of the first handle and the second handle and configured to contact the valve when the handle is closed close to each other. The styling iron according to claim 2. The actuating member is adjustable, and when the handle is closed close to each other, a position that contacts the valve, a position that does not contact the valve, and a plurality of positions that contact the valve are different. The styling iron according to claim 3, wherein the styling iron can be raised or lowered between the intermediate positions. The styling iron according to claim 1, wherein the water storage container is detachably attached. The styling iron according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bulging fins provided on one of the heated plates. A groove provided on the other one of the plates, wherein the groove bulges so that the groove and the fin engage when the handle is closed close to each other. The styling iron according to claim 6, wherein the styling iron is disposed so as to face the fins.

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