US3173430A - Hair curler - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1965 E. BRIEN HAIR CURLEIR Filed Dec. 12, 1960 INVENTOR 5m 8 United States Patent ()fifice 3,173,439 HAIR CURLER Edith Brien, Canadian Research 8; Development Foundation, 1437 Van Horne Ava, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Dec. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 75,370 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-49) This invention relates to improvements in hair curlers, and'more particularly to improvements in hair curlers adapted to form pin curls.

It is conventional practice to utilize hair curlers which entail firstly binding the hair tightly around a spindle and then applying a clamping means, having the disadvantages that there is no allowance for varying length of hair so that the clamping means may be too loose or too tight more often than it is correct, furthermore, the clamping means usually have sharp projections which are harmful to the hair and also uncomfortable to the wearer. Another disadvantage to this particular clamping means is that it does not have a positive lock and, upon the hair becoming dry, is liable to loosen and thereby release the curler before the hair is properly curled.

Other means of putting in pin curls utilizing hair pins, springs and the like, are equally disadvantageous inasmuch as they are usually sharp and uncomfortable to wear and prone to drop out of the hair before the curling process is completed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hair curler that will wind the hair in pin curls of any size.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hair curler that has completely smooth contours and therefore is not uncomfortable to the wearer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hair curler that will have a positive locking means regardless of the amount of hair curled therein.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a hair curler, the locking means for which will not snag or damage the hair.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a hair curler that will wind hair in from the root end instead of from the free end, thereby making the operation quicker, easier and less frustrating.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outer body of a hair curler embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner spindle of the hair curler embodying this invention, adapted to be used with the outer body as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is .a diagrammatic view of a hair curler embodying the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, shown in use.

FIG. 4 is a perspective, part cut away, view of the outer body of a hair curler embodying this invention, having an alternative configuration to that illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner spindle of a hair curler embodying this invention adapted to be utilized in conjunction with the outer body as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a hair curler embodying the invention as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 being applied to a lock of hair.

Referring to FIG. 1 the outer component 10 of the invention comprises an end disc 11 having a knurled periphery 12. A tubular portion 13, of substantially equilateral triangular section, extends outwardly from, and substantially at right angles to one face of disc 11. A plurality of holes 14 are formed in the walls of tubular 3,173,430 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 portion 13 to give it lightness and added resiliency. A slot 15 is coincident with one apex of the triangular section of tubular portion 13 and extends inwardly from the outermost edge of tubular portion 13 to a position adjacent to the inner face of end disc 11. A substantially rectangular cut out 16 is formed in each side of tubular portion 13 at its innermost end.

Slot 15 is adapted to permit hair to be threaded therethrough, and cut outs 16 are adapted to permit each side of tubular portion 13 to protrude arcuately outwardly upon pressure being applied from the inside of tubular portion 13.

Referring to FIG. 2, a spool 20 of substantially circular, conical configuration supports a smooth edged disc 21 at the small end thereof and a knurled edge disc 22 at the larger end thereof. Disc 21 is adapted to slidably fit within tubular portion 13 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and disc 22 is of substantially the same diameter as disc 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1. A spiral ridge 23 is formed on the outer surface of spool 20 and extends from the inner face of disc 21 to the inner face of disc 22.

A slot 24 is formed in the periphery of knurled disc 22 and extends radially inwardly as far as spool 20.

Both outer component 10 and inner spool 20 are made of a soft, resilient, plastic or rubber material or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3, the method of utilizing a hair curler embodying the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is shown.

Spool 21) is placed adjacent the head with disc 22 nearest the scalp. A lock of hair 26 is inserted in slot 24 in disc 22, and outer component 10 is then assembled upon spool 20, hair 26 being inserted in slot 15 of tubular portion 13 and permitted to extend outwardly therefrom.

Disc 21 of spool 20 is in permanent, frictional engage ment with the inner walls of tubular portion 13 of outer component 10 and, therefore, upon removal of any external force, spool 26 and outer component 10 remain locked in their relative positions.

Spool 20 is held static by the operator gripping the knurled disc 22 and outer component 10 is rotated thereon, causing hair 26 to wind around spool 20. The slope of the conical portion of spool 20 in combination with spiral ridge 23 causes hair 26 to remain as close as possible to the narrow end of spool 20 adjacent disc 21. Continued rotation of outer component 10 causes hair 26 to form into coils upon spool 20. These coils are permitted to build up to a diameter greater than the diameter of disc 21 and exert outward pressure on the inner walls of tubular portion 13 of outer component 10. Due to the resiliency of the material in combination with holes 14 formed therein and cut outs 16, the tubular portion 13 is permitted to extend outwardly to a certain extent thereby holding the coils of hair 26 tightly.

Succeeding coils of hair 26 may be formed in a like manner upon rotation of end disc 11 of outer component 10. There is sufficient space between spool 20 and the inner walls of tubular portion 13 of outer component 10 to accommodate all the hair 26.

Upon the end of hair 26 moving through slot 15 it is retained Within tubular portion 13, and, upon the op erator releasing both outer component 10 and spool 20 the complete assembly as shown remains suspended from the root end of hair 26. Any subsequent shrinkage of hair 26 due to drying is compensated for by the resiliency of tubular portion 13 which maintains a pressure on the coils of hair 26 formed therein, thus eifectively locking outer component 10 with inner spool 20 at .all times.

Removal of outer component 10 from spool 29 releases the coils of hair 26 and permits the operator to unravel the coils of hair from spool 20 and, upon spool 20 being removed, hair 26 remains in its coiled configuration.

Referring to FIG. 4 an alternative construction of the invention is shown in which an outer component 30 comprises an end disc 31, having a knurled periphery, and an open ended cylinder 32 extending outwardly from the face thereof. A plurality of holes 33 are formed in the walls of cylinder 32 for added resiliency and lightness and a longitudinal slot 34 is also formed in the walls of cylinder 32 extending from the outer edge to a position adjacent the face of end disc 31. End disc 31 is bored axially to form a socket 43.

Referring to FIG. 5, an inner component 35 comprises a solid cylindrical spool 36 extending outwardly from an end disc 37 of substantially the same diameter as end disc 31 of outer component 30. The periphery of end disc 37 is knurled and a radially inwardly extending slot 38 is formed in the outer edge thereof. The outer transverse wall 39 of spool 36 supports a bulbous spigot 40 in axial alignment therewith. Spigot 40 is adapted to snap into socket 43 of outer component 30, and although being axially retained, spigot 40 and socket 43 may rotate independently of each other.

Upon assembly of inner component 35 to outer component 30, spigot 49 is adapted to be fully housed within socket 43 upon outer wall 39 of spool 36 contacting the inner face of end disc 31 while the outer edge of cylindrical body 32 of outer component 3% simultaneously contacts the inner face of end disc 37 of inner component 35.

Referring to FIG. 6, the method of application of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and is shown, in

which substantially the root end of a lock of hair 41 is inserted in slot 38 of inner component 35, to be subsequently passed outwardly through slot 34 of outer component 30, upon assembly of outer component to inner component as previously described.

Inner component 35 may then be held stationary and outer component 30 rotated causing hair 41 to coil around spool 36 of inner component 35. Continuous rotation of outer component 30 causes hair 41 to move into the body of cylindrical portion 32 and form a plurality of coils therein. Coils of hair 41 form around spindle 36 and force the body of cylinder 32 to expand outwardly, the coils of hair are thus tightly gripped by cylindrical body 32 and, upon drying out, hair 41 continues to be gripped by cylinder 32.

The complete assembly as described in FIG. 6 remains interlocked and close to the wearers head until axial pressure releases outer component 39 from inner component 35, permitting outer component 30 to be slid off the coils of hair 41 in the one direction and spool 36 of inner component 35 to be slid in an opposite direction away from the centres of the coils of hair 41.

It should be noted that in both forms of the invention the two components are interlocked from the beginning and, therefore, however short hair 26 or hair 41 may be, the interlocking of the component parts of the invention is not affected.

It should also be noted that hair curled utilizing these devices is coiled close to the scalp and the free end of the hair is automatically included with the remainder of the coils.

It may be seen that the method by which the hair is coiled into the invention from the root end outwardly produces the highly desirable effect of pincurls or the like extending right up to the scalp, other methods produced pincurls which terminate at varying distances from the scalp.

It should be further noted that the present invention is manufactured of relatively soft material with no metal clips or other locking devices and therefore does not damage the hair or cause discomfort to the wearer through banging or scratching of the head.

The general design of the individual parts of the invention as explained above may be varied according to the requirements in regards to manufacture or production thereof, while still remaining within the spirit and principle of the invention, without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hair curler comprising an inner member and an outer member, said inner member having a knob means and a small end, said knob means and said small end having a disc like configuration, the portion of said inner member between said small end and said knob means having a cone configuration, a slot formed from the periphery and substantially towards the centre of said knob means, said outer member having a knob portion and a tubular compressibly resilient body portion of triangular cross section, said knob portion and said knob means b ing of substantially the same size and configuration, said body portion being secured to said knob portion in three corner positions, said three corner positions in spaced apart relationship to the circumference of said knob portion, the three flat sides of said body member being provided with a plurality of holes and a slot formed substantially the full length of said body member along one corner, said small end of said inner member being slidably received within said body portion of said outer member and being of such transverse dimension as to frictionally engage the three fiat sides of said body member, and said knob means of said inner member and said knob means of said outer member are in parallel, spaced apart relation when said hair curler is in an assembled condition.

2. A hair curler as claimed in claim 1 comprising a coarse pitch thread formed on the exterior surface of said cone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,227 Sterling Nov. 29, 1932 2,611,377 Barnes Sept. 23, 1952 2,767,719 Warholak Oct. 23, 1956 2,781,047 Whitehill Feb. 12, 1957

Claims (1)

1. A HAIR CURLER COMPRISING AN INNER MEMBER AND AN OUTER MEMBER, SAID INNER MEMBER HAVING A KNOB MEANS AND A SMALL END, SAID KNOB MEANS AND SAID SMALL END HAVING A DISC LIKE CONFIGURATION, THE PORTION OF SAID INNER MEMBER BETWEEN SAID SMALL END AND SAID KNOB MEANS HAVING A CONE CONFIGURATION, SLOT FORMED FROM THE PERIPHERY AND SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARDS THE CENTER OF SAID KNOB MEANS, SAID OUTER MEMBER HAVING A KNOB PORTION AND A TUBULAR COMPRESSIBILY RESILIENT BODY PORTION OF TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION, SAID KNOB PORTION AND SAID KNOB MEANS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AND CONFIGURATION, SAID BODY PORTION BEING SECURED TO SAID KNOB PORTION IN THREE CORNER POSITIONS, SAID THREE CORNER POSITINS IN SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID KNOB POR-

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