US20220361642A1

US20220361642A1 - Heated hair straightening brush and heated hair straightening dryer brush

Info

Publication number: US20220361642A1
Application number: US17/742,231
Authority: US
Inventors: Lourdes Lopez Valle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-05-11
Filing date: 2022-05-11
Publication date: 2022-11-17
Also published as: US20220361646A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heated hair straightening brush (a “heated straightening brush”) as well as a heated hair straightening brush that also dries hair (a “heated straightening dryer brush”). As one non-limiting example, the invention relates to a heated straightening brush and/or a heated straightening dryer brush that has a slightly curved front to the brush head, which is heated, and where the exposed edges on the sides of the brush head, also heated, are curved to help style the hair. As an alternative non-limiting embodiment, the invention relates to a heated straightening brush and/or a heated straightening dryer brush having a curved front and curved sides of the brush head where the density of bristles and tufts on the sides of the brush head is less than the density of the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head. As a further non-limiting embodiment, the invention relates to a heated straightening brush and/or a heated straightening dryer brush having a curved front and curved sides of the brush head where the brush head is textured and/or coated in whole or in part, including but not limited to having coating in the shape of strips and/or channels at any location on the brush head. The invention also includes, but is not limited to, a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having a curved front and curved sides and further having a handle that is detachable from the brush head. The invention further relates to the brush head for a heated hair straightening brush and/or a heated straightening dryer brush where the front and both sides of the brush head are curved and heated and at least a portion of the brush head has a texture or a coating.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a non-provisional application claiming benefit from a U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/187,305, filed May 11, 2021, as well as U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/187,331 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/187,306, both also filed on May 11, 2021. The contents of the three provisional applications are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

BACKGROUND

One common feature of the prior art heated straightening brushes and heated straightening dryer brushes is that the side surfaces of the brush head act only as structure and perform no role in the styling process.
For example, prior art heated straightening brushes and heated straightening dryer brushes, typically have a flat profile for the front surface of the brush head (the “front of the brush head”), which is heated, and narrow side surfaces of the brush head (the “sides of the brush head”), which are not heated. When this prior art brush is applied to hair, there are several disadvantages. First, the user cannot effectively heat the roots of the hair given that the sides of the brush head are not heated and because of the flat profile. Second, because of the flat profile of the front of the brush head, holding the brush in place also can lead to undesirable lines in the hair. This occurs when the brush is not kept parallel to the hair, but instead portions of the hair contact the flat sides of the brush head in addition to the front of the brush head. Third, creating waves or flips requires continuous movement to prevent such creasing to occur, which can be difficult to master. A second tool is often needed to create such effects.
Additionally, some prior art heated straightening dryer brushes have the bristles or tufts placed within a cushion, which further limits styling coverage and hair smoothing. When the cushion is applied to hair, the pressure from the hair causes the cushion to deflate; hair is pulled inward, disrupting the straightening and smoothing function of heated straightening dryer brush.
There is a need for heated straightening brushes and/or heated straightening dryer brushes that can apply heat to the root of the hair, eliminate lines during the straightening process, and make it easier to create waves or flips using only the heated straightening brushes and/or heated straightening dryer brushes.

SUMMARY

The present invention encompasses embodiments of a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having curved surfaces that interact with the hair, including a curved, heated front surface of the brush head and curved, heated side surfaces of the brush head.
In the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush of the present invention, the brush head consists of two curved side surfaces connected by the back surface of the brush and the front surface of the brush where the majority of the bristles or tufts are located. In one non-limiting embodiment, a grip portion is attached to the top of the brush head of any shape or material that can assist the user in using the tool. In one example, the grip is designed to remain cooler to the touch than the heated surfaces of the brush head. In one non-limiting embodiment, the brush head having curved front and back surfaces is attached to a handle. In some non-limiting embodiments, the handle of such a brush may be detachable.
In some non-limiting embodiments, the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush is powered by an electrical source and may be corded or cordless. In other non-limiting embodiments, the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may be powered by any source of energy, including but not limited to by battery or by solar energy.
In one non-limiting embodiment, the back of the brush head of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may be flat. In other non-limiting embodiments, the back of the brush head may be curved or have a texture or other contours.
The heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush will have bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head. In one non-limiting embodiment, the bristles or tufts may be in a series of straight lines; in other non-limiting embodiments, the bristles or tufts may be in any pattern or at random. The bristles or tufts of the invention may be of any height or thickness, and may be made of any material suitable for the styling of hair.
In one embodiment, the heated straightening dryer brush may include vents, including vents through which air may be forced so as to blow dry the hair. In such embodiments, the vents may be oval-shaped, of equal size, and placed series of straight lines, or the vents may be of any shape, including but not limited to slotted, circular, and curved shapes. Vents also may vary in size, shape, or pattern, or be placed at random on the brush head.
In one non-limiting embodiment, the heated straightening dryer brush may be, but is not required to be, coated with any heat conductive material, including but not limited to ceramic or silicone or titanium, tourmaline, copper, or other metals, to reflect heat from the hot air of the dryer. In some non-limiting embodiments of the heated straightening dryer brush, all surfaces of the brush head may be heated, directly or indirectly, from any known heating mechanism other than exposure to the hot air of the dryer. In other non-limiting embodiments, any of the surfaces of the heated straightening dryer brush, including but not limited to the exposed curved side surfaces, also could be separately heated directly or indirectly from any known heating mechanism other than exposure to the hot air of the dryer. In one embodiment of heated straightening dryer brush, at least one of the front of the brush head or either side of the brush head are separately heated directly or indirectly by a heating mechanism other than exposure to hot air.
The heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may have a brush head of any shape when viewed from the front or the back of the brush. In one non-limiting example, the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush has a rectangular brush head as viewed from the front and the back of the brush. Other non-limiting embodiments of the shape of the brush head, from the front or back view of heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may be a square; rhombus; parallelogram; trapezoid; or a polygon having three sides, four sides, five sides, six sides, seven sides, eight sides, or more than eight sides. As further non-limiting embodiments, the shape of the brush head can be substantially curved, including but not limited to, being in the shape of a circle, oval, oblong, semicircle, crescent, or a paddle-shape (i.e., an ovular shape where one end of the oval is smaller than the other end). In other non-limiting embodiments, the shape of the brush head further can be in a commonly-known shape such as a star, heart, or diamond, or it may be in an abstract or unique shape. In an example of one embodiment, the shape of the brush head can be an oval. In another example of one embodiment, the shape of the brush head can have four sides. As additional non-limiting embodiments, the shape of the brush head can have between three to eight sides, where, without limitation, each side is the same length, where no side is the same length, or where two or more of the sides are the same length, three or more of the sides are the same length, four or more of the sides are the same length, five or more of the sides are the same length, six or more of the sides are the same length, seven of the sides are the same length. In further non-limiting embodiments, the shape of the brush head may be symmetrical or non-symmetrical in one or more planes.
In one embodiment, the shape of the brush head as viewed from the front may be identical to the shape of the brush head as viewed from the back view. In another embodiment, the shape of the brush head from the front view may be different in shape or dimension than the shape of the brush head from the back view.
In the present invention, the front of the brush head is curved and the curvature is then extended into curved sides of the brush head. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the curved sides of the brush head of the present invention are wider than the sides of brush heads of prior art heated straightening brushes and/or the heated straightening dryer brushes.
In one embodiment, the front of the brush head and the sides of the brush head are heated. In other non-limiting embodiments, one or more of the front of the brush head or sides of the brush head are heated. In some embodiments, the heated, curved surface of the sides of the brush head provide a surface for smoothing, volume lift and creating waves or flips. In such embodiments, additional tools to create such features are not necessary.
In one embodiment, the heated, curved sides of the brush head of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush are completely exposed, having no bristles or texture. In a second non-limiting embodiment, the sides of the brush head contain bristles or tufts of any kind or in any pattern so long as the density of the bristles or tufts on the sides of the brush head is less than the density of the bristles or tufts on the front of brush head. The bristles or tufts associated with the present invention are not limited in material, size, or shape; any bristle or tuft in any configuration may be used so long as there are no bristles or tufts on the sides of the brush head or, alternatively, the density of the bristles or tufts on the sides is less than the density of the bristles or tufts on the front of brush head.
As non-limiting examples less density of bristles or tufts can be obtained by having fewer bristles or tufts on the sides than on the front of the brush head, by having finer bristles or tufts on the sides than on the front of the brush head, or by having bristles or tufts of a different shape, thickness, height, or kind on the sides versus the front of the brush head. In another embodiment, the sides of the brush head may contain bristles or tufts so long as the bristles or tufts on the sides create less friction per inch against hair than the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head.
As one non-limiting example, the sides of the brush head may have a single row of bristles or tufts.
In one non-limiting embodiment, the bristles or tufts of the heated straightening brushes and/or the heated straightening dryer brushes, whether on the front of the brush head or on the side of the brush head or at both places, are placed on or through a solid surface. In some non-limiting embodiments, the bristles or tufts could be placed in rows, patterns, designs, or at random. In some non-limiting embodiments, the arrangement of bristles and tufts may, but are not required to, vary between the front of the brush head and the sides. As non-limiting examples of embodiments, the bristles or tufts (a) could be flexible, semi-flexible, firm, rigid, or any combination thereof; (b) could vary in height or be uniform in height; (c) could have a variety of diameters or cross-sections, be fin-shaped, taper, be uniform in diameter, or any combination thereof; or (d) could be set in waves and/or have a ball edge. Multiple types of bristles or tufts may be combined on the same heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush. The bristles or tufts may be suitable for use only on dry hair, only on damp hair, only on wet hair, or on either wet or dry hair. The bristles or tufts may be made of any natural, synthetic, or a combination of natural and synthetic material that will withstand the heat generated by the heated hair straightening brush, including but not limited to silicone bristles or tufts, silicone-coated bristles or tufts, nylon bristles or tufts, plastic bristles or tufts, metal bristles or tufts, or coated metal bristles or tufts.
Non-limiting embodiments of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush also may have texture and/or a coating on the brush head. As a non-limiting example, the sides, front, and/or back of the brush head may have texture and/or a coating located on all or substantially all of at least one side of the brush head. In another non-limiting embodiment, all or substantially all of brush head of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may be coated and/or textured. In one embodiment, the front and sides of the brush head may have texture and/or a coating in whole or in part. In further non-limiting embodiments, the areas of texture and/or coating may be in the shape of strips, dots, channels, or other shapes or patterns or at random on any location of the brush head.
In some non-limiting embodiments, one or both of the sides of the brush head may be fully or partially covered with texture and/or coating. In other non-limiting embodiments, the sides of the brush head may have texture and/or coatings in the shape of strips. In other non-limiting embodiments, one or both of the sides of the brush head may not be coated, may not be textured, or may not be coated or textured.
In other non-limiting embodiments, the coating material may protect the hair from heat and/or promote shine. Such coatings, when present, can include, but are not limited to coatings made of silicone. Other non-limiting examples of coatings may include, but are not limited to silicone strips, silicone strips with silicone bristles and/or silicone channels. In certain non-limiting embodiments, heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having a brush head where one or both of the sides do not have any bristles or tufts may have coating in any pattern or placement. In other non-limiting embodiments, heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having a brush head where one or both of the sides are less dense than the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head may have a coating in any pattern or placement.
The heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may have a brush head of any size. In one embodiment, the brush head is larger than the handle or handle end. In other non-limiting embodiments, the brush head may be smaller than the handle or handle end, or the same size as handle or handle end. As noted the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may have a detachable handle.
In one non-limiting embodiment, the curvature associated with the sides of the brush head should be greater than the curvature associated with the front of the brush head (i.e., there should be more curvature at the sides of the brush head than at the front of the brush head). In such an embodiment, the radius of curvature for the sides of the brush head would be less than the radius of curvature for the front of the brush head. In some non-limiting embodiments, the ratio of the radius of the curvature for the sides of the brush head to the front of the brush head may be from about 1:1.1 to about 1:10 or more. In other non-limiting embodiments, the ratio of the radius of curvature of the sides of the brush head to the front of the brush head may be from about 1:2 to about 1:6 or from about 1:2 to about 1:4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings which correspond to the same.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush from the perspective view of the brush.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush from the side view of the brush.

FIG. 3a illustrates an example of the heated straightening brush from the front view of the brush.

FIG. 3b illustrates an example of the heated straightening dryer brush from the front view of the brush.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having a detachable handle from the back view of the brush.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush from the top view of the brush.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush from the bottom view of the brush.

FIG. 7 provides an example of the curvatures of the front and sides of the brush head of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush and identities the radii of curvature for the sides and front of the brush head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The reference numerals used in the detailed description of the embodiment below correspond to the reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention encompasses embodiments of a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having curved surfaces which interact with the hair, including having at least a curved, heated front surface of the brush head and curved, heated side surfaces of the brush head. FIGS. 1-6 depict exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the invention set forth herein. FIG. 7 illustrates curvatures that may be associated with the front of the brush head and the sides of the brush head for a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush.
FIG. 1 depicts an example of a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 from a perspective view of the brush. The brush head consists of two curved sides 10 connected by a brush back 14 and a brush front 12. In FIG. 1, a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 has a grip portion 18 that is attached to the top of the brush head. The grip portion, which is optional, may be of any shape or material that can assist the user in using the tool. In one preferred example, the grip is designed to remain cooler to the touch than the heated surfaces of the brush head.
In one preferred embodiment, the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 also has a handle 16 attached to the brush head with the handle having a handle end 16 b. In one preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the brush head may be detachable from the brush head.
While FIG. 1 depicts a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 that is powered by an electrical source, indicated by the cord 19 attached to the handle end 16 b, other preferred embodiments of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 may be cordless. The heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 may be powered by any source of energy, including but not limited to by battery or by solar energy.
A view of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 from the side is shown at FIG. 2. In the examples of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 of FIGS. 1-6, the brush back 14 is depicted as flat. In other preferred embodiments (not shown), the brush back 14 may be curved or have a texture or other contours.
A view of the front of a heated straightening brush having bristles or tufts 30 as a preferred embodiment is at FIG. 3a . While FIG. 3a depicts bristles or tufts 30 in a series of straight lines, other preferred embodiments may have bristles or tufts in any pattern or at random. The bristles or tufts of preferred embodiments also may be of any height or thickness, and may be made of any material suitable for the styling of hair.
A view of the front of a heated straightening dryer brush as a preferred embodiment is at FIG. 3b . In addition to bristles or tufts 30, FIG. 3b includes vents 32 through which air may be forced so as to blow dry the hair. While FIG. 3b depicts vents 32 that are oval-shaped, of equal size, and placed series of straight lines, other preferred embodiments may have vents that are of any shape, including but not limited to slotted, circular, and curved shapes; vents of varying sizes; and/or vents in any pattern or placed at random.
In one preferred embodiment, the heated straightening dryer brush may be, but is not required to be, coated with any heat conductive material, including but not limited to ceramic or ceramic or silicone or titanium, tourmaline, copper, or other metals, to reflect heat from the hot air of the dryer. All or any of the surfaces of the heated straightening dryer brush, including but not limited to the exposed curved side surfaces, also could be separately heated, directly or indirectly, from any known heating mechanism other than exposure to the hot air of the dryer.
A view of one alternative preferred embodiment of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 is at FIG. 4. The view, from the back, depicts a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 having a detachable handle.
The shape of the brush head as viewed from the front or the back of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 is unlimited. FIGS. 1-6 depict an example of a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 having a rectangular brush head as viewed from the front (FIG. 3a /3 b) and the back (FIG. 4). Other preferred embodiments (not shown) of a heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 may comprise a brush where the shape of the brush head from the front or back view may be a square, rhombus, parallelogram, trapezoid, paddle-shaped (i.e., an ovular shape where one end of the oval is smaller than the other end), a circle, or oval, etc. In additional preferred embodiments (not shown), the shape of the brush head from the front or back view may be a polygon having three sides, four sides, five sides, six sides, seven sides, eight sides, or more than eight sides. As one preferred embodiment, the shape of the brush head can have four sides. As an additional preferred embodiment (not shown), the shape of the brush head can have between three to eight sides, where, without limitation, each side is the same length, where no side is the same length, or where two or more of the sides are the same length, three or more of the sides are the same length, four or more of the sides are the same length, five or more of the sides are the same length, six or more of the sides are the same length, seven of the sides are the same length. As a further preferred embodiment (not shown), the shape of the brush head can be substantially curved, including but not limited to, being in the shape of a circle, oval, oblong, semicircle, crescent, or paddle-shaped. As one preferred embodiment, the shape of the brush head can be an oval. In other preferred embodiments (not shown), the shape of the brush head further can be in a commonly-known shape such as a star, heart, or diamond, or an abstract or unique shape. In further preferred embodiments, the shape of the brush head may be symmetrical, as indicated in the Figures, or non-symmetrical in one or more planes.
In an alternative preferred embodiment (not shown), the shape of the brush head when viewed from the front may be different in shape or dimension than the shape of the brush head when viewed from the back.
FIG. 5 depicts the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 from the top view. This view provides a cross-sectional view of the brush. In preferred embodiments, the front 12 of the brush head is curved and the curvature is then extended into the sides 10 of the brush head curved brush sides. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the curved sides of the brush head are wider than the sides of brush heads of prior art heated straightening brushes and/or the heated straightening dryer brushes, which helps provide better root coverage and prevents creasing.
Further, preferably, both the front 12 of the brush head and the sides 10 of the brush head are heated. In other preferred embodiments, one or more of the front 12 or sides 10 of the brush head are heated. The heated, curved surface of the sides of the brush head provide a surface for smoothing, volume lift and creating waves or flips.
In one preferred embodiment, the heated, curved sides of the brush head are completely exposed, having no bristles or texture, as shown in FIGS. 1-6. In a second preferred embodiment (not shown), the sides of the brush head contain bristles or tufts of any kind or in any pattern so long as the density of the bristles or tufts on the sides of the brush head is less than the density of the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head. The bristles or tufts associated with the present invention are not limited in material, size, or shape; any bristle or tuft in any configuration may be used so long as there are no bristles or tufts on the sides of the brush head or, alternatively, the density of the bristles or tufts on the sides is less than the density of the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head.
As non-limiting preferred examples, less density of bristles or tufts can be obtained by having fewer bristles or tufts on the sides than on the front of the brush head, by having finer bristles or tufts on the sides than on the front of the brush head, or by having bristles or tufts of a different shape, thickness, height, or kind on the sides of the brush head versus the front of the brush head. In another embodiment, the sides of the brush head may contain bristles or tufts so long as the bristles or tufts on the sides create less friction per inch against hair than the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head. As one non-limiting preferred example, the sides may have a single row of bristles or tufts
In preferred embodiments, the bristles or tufts of the heated straightening brushes and/or the heated straightening dryer brushes, whether at the front of the brush head or on the side of the brush head or at both places, are placed on or through a solid surface. In some preferred embodiments, the bristles or tufts could be placed in rows, patterns, designs, or at random. In some preferred embodiments, the arrangement of bristles and tufts may, but are not required to, vary between the front of the brush head and the sides. As non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments, the bristles or tufts (a) could be flexible, semi-flexible, firm, rigid, or any combination thereof; (b) could vary in height or be uniform in height; (c) could have a variety of diameters or cross-sections, be fin-shaped, taper, be uniform in diameter, or any combination thereof; or (d) could be set in waves and/or have a ball edge. Multiple types of bristles or tufts may be combined on the same heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush. In one embodiment, the bristles or tufts may be suitable for use only on dry hair. In another embodiment, the bristles or tufts may be suitable for use only on damp hair. In another embodiment, the bristles or tufts may be suitable for use only on wet hair. In other embodiments, the bristles or tufts may be suitable for use on either wet or dry hair. The bristles or tufts may be made of any natural, synthetic, or a combination of natural and synthetic material that will withstand the heat generated by the heated hair straightening brush, including but not limited to silicone bristles or tufts, silicone-coated bristles or tufts, nylon bristles or tufts, plastic bristles or tufts, metal bristles or tufts, or coated metal bristles or tufts.
In some preferred embodiments of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush, the brush head has texture and/or a coating. As preferred examples, the sides, front, and/or back of the brush head may have texture and/or a coating located on all or substantially all of at least one side of the brush head. In another preferred example, all or substantially all of brush head of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush may be coated and/or textured. In one preferred embodiment, only the front and sides of the brush head may have texture and/or a coating in whole or in part. In some preferred embodiments, the areas of texture and/or coating may be in the shape of strips, dots, channels, or other shapes or patterns or at random on any surface of the brush head.
In some preferred embodiments, one or both of the sides of the brush head may be fully or partially covered with texture and/or coating. In one preferred embodiment, the sides of the brush head may have texture and/or coatings in the shape of strips or channels. In other preferred embodiments, one or both of the sides of the brush head may not be coated, may not be textured, or may not be coated or textured.
In preferred embodiments, the coating material may protect the hair from heat and/or promote shine. Such coatings, when present, can include, but are not limited to coatings made of silicone. Other preferred examples of coatings may include, but are not limited to silicone strips, silicone strips with silicone bristles, and/or silicone channels.
In certain preferred embodiments, heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having a brush head where one or both of the sides do not have any bristles or tufts may have a coating in any pattern or placement. In other preferred embodiments, heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush having a brush head where one or both of the sides are less dense than the bristles or tufts on the front of the brush head may have a coating in any pattern or placement.
FIG. 6 depicts the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 from the bottom view. While FIG. 6 depicts the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush 100 as having a larger brush head than the handle end 16 b, in other preferred embodiments, the brush head may be smaller than the handle end 16 b or the same size as handle end 16 b.
FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the curvatures associated with the front 12 and sides 10 of the brush head of the heated straightening brush and/or the heated straightening dryer brush and identifies the radii of curvature for the sides and front of the brush head. In one preferred embodiment, the curvature associated with the brush sides should be greater than the curvature associated with the brush front (i.e., there should be more curvature at the brush sides than at the brush front). Curvature may also be expressed in terms of the radius of the curves. In FIG. 7, the radius of the curve of the front 12 of the brush head is indicated by radius R_l, and the radius of the curve of the sides 10 of the brush head is indicated as R_s. In a preferred embodiment radius R_sof the sides of the brush head would be less than R_lof the front of the brush head. In some preferred embodiments, the ratio of the radius of the curvature for the sides of the brush head to the curvature for the front of the brush head may be from about 1:1.1 to 1:10 or greater. In one set of preferred embodiments, the ratio of the radius of curvature of the sides of the brush head to the radius of curvature of the front of the brush head may be from 1:2 to 1:6.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding configurations described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A heated straightening brush comprising a brush head having a front surface, two side surfaces, and a back surface, wherein the front surface of the brush head is curved and wherein the two side surfaces of the brush head are curved.

2. The heated straightening brush of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the brush head is heated and wherein both of the side surfaces of the brush head are heated.

3. The heated straightening brush of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the brush head has bristles or tufts.

4. The heated straightening brush of claim 3, wherein neither of the side surfaces of the brush head have bristles or tufts.

5. The heated straightening brush of claim 3, wherein at least one of the side surfaces of the brush head has bristles or tufts, and wherein the overall density of the bristles or tufts on said at least one side surface is less than the overall density of the bristles or tufts on the front surface of the brush head.

6. The heated straightening brush of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one surface of the brush head has a texture and/or a coating.

7. The heated straightening brush of claim 6, wherein the texture and/or coating is in the shape of strips and/or channels.

8. The heated straightening brush of claim 1, wherein the side surfaces of the brush head have a radius of curvature R_sand the front surface of the brush head has a radius of curvature R_l, wherein R_sis less than R_l, and wherein the ratio of R_sto R_lis about 1:1.1 to about 1:10.

9. The heated straightening brush of claim 1, further comprising a dryer mechanism, wherein at least one surface of the brush head is heated, directly or indirectly, by a heating mechanism other than exposure of the surface to hot air of the dryer mechanism.

10. A heated straightening dryer brush comprising a brush head having a front surface, two side surfaces, and a back surface, wherein the front surface of the brush head is curved and wherein the two side surfaces of the brush head are curved.

11. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 10, wherein the front surface of the brush head heated and wherein at least one of the side surfaces of the brush head is heated.

12. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 11, wherein the both of the side surfaces of the brush head are heated.

13. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 10, wherein the front surface of the brush head has bristles or tufts.

14. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 13, wherein neither of the side surfaces of the brush head have bristles or tufts.

15. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 13, wherein at least one of the side surfaces of the brush head has bristles or tufts, and wherein the overall density of the bristles or tufts on said at least one side surface is less than the overall density of the bristles or tufts on the front surface of the brush head.

16. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of one surface of the brush head has a texture and/or a coating.

17. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 16, wherein the texture and/or coating is in the shape of strips and/or channels.

18. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 10, wherein the side surfaces of the brush head have a radius of curvature R_sand the front surface of the brush head has a radius of curvature R_l, wherein R_sis less than R_l, and wherein the ratio of R_sto R_lis about 1:1.1 to about 1:10.

19. The heated straightening dryer brush of claim 10, wherein at least one surface of the brush head is heated, directly or indirectly, by a heating mechanism other than exposure of the surface to hot air of the dryer.

20. A brush head for use in a heated straightening brush or a heated straightening dryer brush, wherein said brush head comprises a front surface, two side surfaces, and a back surface,

wherein the front surface of the brush head is curved,

wherein the two side surfaces of the brush head are curved,

wherein the front surface of the brush head has bristles or tufts, and

wherein at least a portion of one surface of the brush head has a textured and/or a coating.