US3265075A - Hair curling and drying apparatus with magnetic coupling - Google Patents

Description

C. A. EDMAN ETAL Aug. 9, 1966 HAIR CURLING AND DRYING APPARATUS WITH MAGNETIC COUPLING Filed Sept. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CARL A EDIVVQN 9, 1966 c. A. EDMAN ETAL 3,265,075

HAIR CURLING AND DRYING APPARATUS WITH MAGNETIC COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19. 1963- INVENTORS CARL A. DMAN THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent HAIR CURLING AND DRYING APPARATUS WITH MAGNETIC COUPLING Carl A. Edman, Fairfield, and Peter Kranz, Darien, Conn.,

assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 310,035

Claims. (Cl. 132-9) In an application entitled Hair Curling Apparatus, by Edgar A. Phaneuf, assigned to the General Electric Company, and filed concurrently with the instant application, there is described an improved arrangement for quickly forming and drying one or more curls of hair. One form of the apparatus includes a hair dryer having a flexible hose, an apertured hair curler, and means for connecting the curler to the end of the hair dryer hose. With such an arrangement, the user winds a moist lock of hair around the curler, secures the curler in some suitable fashion, and then couples the hair dryer hose to an opening in the curler. After a short interval, the curl of hair will dry sufficiently so that the hair dryer hose may be withdrawn and the curler removed from the formed curl.

It should be noted that in such an operation that the connection between the curler and the hair dryer hose is normally made and broken during the formation of each curl; thus, it will be realized that it is highly desirable that the coupling means be simple and reliable. This is particularly important when the person operating the equipment is also the person receiving the curl, which is the typical case. Naturally it is necessary for such individual to raise both hands up to the head and make such connection without direct vision. Although a mirror is helpful in this respect, it is desirable that the curling apparatus be easy to operate with or without the benefit of a mirror. A simple coupling means'is particularly important when forming curls at the rear of the head, where a mirror is of limited assistance and which is an unusually awkward position.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a hair curling apparatus including an improved simplified arrangement for connecting and disconnecting a hair curler and a source of heated air, such as a hair dryer hose.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved coupling means which, while being convenient to connect and disconnect, will not be easily inadvertently disconnected.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rugged hair curler and hair dryer base coupling which is reliable and easy to operate even when the users hands are in an awkard position.

Briefly stated, the hair curling apparatus of the invention includes a hair curler having a substantially tubular construction with an apertured tubular side wall, adapted to have hair wound thereon. A hair dryer furnishes a source of forced heated air, and an inter-connecting member is provided to connect the hair dryer to an opening in the hair curler so that heated air may be fed into the interior of the curler. Magnetic means are provided for releasably joining the interconnecting member and the hair curler. In addition to furnishing a sufficiently strong coupling which is yet easily disconnected when desired, the magnetic means facilitates the connecting operation in that the interconnecting member is drawn into coupling position when placed in close proximity to the opening in the curler.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sketch of the hair curling appartus of the invention while in use;

Patented August 9, 1966 ice FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the curler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the curler of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the holder assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a clamp to be used with the curler of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and first, particularly to FIG. 1, the hair curling apparatus of the invention is shown in operation on a human head represented by the numeral 10. The apparatus includes a tubular hair curler 12 having a lock of hair wound into a curl 14 on its outer periphery. To facilitate winding of the hair onto the hair curler 12 there is provided a cylindrically shaped brush 16 inserted within the curler. As can be seen the brush bristles extend through the elongated slots 18 formed in the tubular side wall of the curler. This construction may be more clearly seen in FIG. 2.

The curler 12 is shown connected at its open end to a tubular member 20 which is connected at its opposite end to a flexible hair dryer hose 22. The hose is in turn provided with suitable means for being connected to a hair dryer power unit 24 which furnishes a source of forced heated air. While the air may be provided from any suitable source one of the well known personal, portable hair dryers is particularly suited for such use. In this regard, it might be mentioned that although the curler described 'herein may be utilized to form as many curls as desired, it is contemplated that the curler will primarily be used as a touch-up device for forming or reforming one or two curls during each use, and that the curler will be sold as an accessory to a conventional hair dryer and flexible bonnet combination.

The tubular interconnecting member 20 provides a convenient means by which to hold the curler 12 and the hose 22 during operation. As seen in FIG. 1, the size of the holder 20 is such as to be easily held in the hand 26 of the user. In accordance with the invention, the downstream or outlet end of the holder 20 is adapted to couple with the upstream end of the curler 12 in a unique manner as will be subsequently described.

In operation, the user Winds a lock of hair around the curler 12, which is separated from the holder 20. After the curl is completely Wound, it may be held in place by any suitable means such as the apertured flexible clamp 17 which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. It should be understood that the clamp may be opened sufficiently to fit over the curl, and when released will tend to assume its original position and thereby hold the curl on the curler.

While holding the curler 12 in one hand, the user then brings holder 20, connected to hose 22, up to the open end of the curler and connects the holder to the curler. It will be understood that the heated air from the hair dryer 24 is thus ducted to the curler and passes through the apertures or slots 18 in and around the curl of hair 14 to thereby rapidly dry the curl. After the curl is sufficient-ly dried, the holder 20 is separated from the curler, and the curl may be subsequently removed from the curler when desired.

In view of the repeated connecting and disconnecting of the holder 20 and the curler 12, it can be readily appreciated that it is desirable that the coupling means employed be very convenient and reliable to operate. This is particularly true when the user is curling her own hair because of the inconvenient and awkward position in which the connection is to be rnade. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improved coupling arrangement including a magnetic means to facilitate such connections and disconnections and mechanical means to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the coupling.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a washer or keeper 28 made of magnetically attracted material such as iron or steel connected to the upstream end of the curler. In the arrangement shown, the washer is formed with four equally spaced radially extending nibs 30. When the washer is concentrically positioned on the open end of the curler, each of the nibs 30 is received in a mating recess 31 formed in the end of the curler. The curler is further formed with four equally spaced internal ribs, two of which are shown at 33, extending radially inwardly. The ribs 33, which are angularly aligned with the nibs 30, assist in supporting the washer on the end of the curler. A plurality of projections 32 are located on the end of the curler with two projections being positioned adjacent each. of the recesses 31 and nibs 30. The washer 28 may be retained in position by deforming the projections 32 over the nibs 30. The curler is preferably molded from a suitable plastic material; and in such event, the project-ions 32 can be deformed by heat to retain the washer in position. Naturally, the washer 28 may be secured to the curler by other suitable means if desired. In performing the heat deforming operation, care should be taken not to distort the outside diameter of the curler or deposit any plastic material on the face of the washer. Also, it might be well to note that prior to securing the washer to the curler, the brush 16 is preferably inserted into position within the curler in that the smaller inner diameter of the washer makes insertion more d-ifficult after the washer is in place.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the other half of the magnetic coupling may be seen as a washer shaped magnet 34 concentrically positioned within the interior wall of the holder 20 slightly spaced from its downstream end. The annular section 36 of the interior wall of the holder 20 is adapted to receive the magnet and end wall 36a limits axial movement of the magnet in the downstream direction. To arcuately position the magnet 34 within the holder 20, the magnet is formed with four equally spaced axially extending grooves, one of which is most clearly seen at 35. The annular section 36 is formed with four axially extending ribs 37 each adapted to fit within a respective one of the grooves 35. In assembly, the magnet 34 may be inserted within the upstream end of the holder 20 and its grooves 35 are aligned with the ribs 37 to fit within the annular section 36. The magnet is retained in this position by means of a plurality of projections 40 formed by heat deforming the upstream ends of the ribs 37.

From the foregoing description, it is readily apparent that to make the connection between the holder and the curler, the downstream end of the holder is merely moved onto the upstream end of the curler until the annular end face of washer 28 is magnetically attracted to the annular end face of magnet 34. To minimize inadvertent disconnect-ion of the coupling, a magnet may be employed which requires a considerable force to pull the components apart. The attraction between magnet 34 and washer 28 is basically along lines parallel to the curler longitudinal axis. As an aid to separating the handle from the curler, there is provided an outwardly extending peripheral flange 19 formed on the curler adjacent the tapered section 46. When in operation, the flange is positioned adjacent the end of the handle 20, as seen in FIG. 1. To separate the components, the user may push against the flange with the thumb of the hand while pulling on the curler and handle.

Since, as pointed out, the magnetic attraction between. the washer 28 and the magnet 34 provides primarily an axial force, such a magnetic coupling could be broken by a cocking or tilting force, that is, a force about an axis in the plane of the interface between washer 28 and magnet 34. Due to the leverage involved, such a force can fairly easily be developed by holding the handle 20 in the hand and pressing or striking a side of the curler near the downstream end against an object. To prevent such disconnections of the coupling, the upstream end of the curler and the downstream end of the handle have been given a unique telescopic relation to provide a mechanical interference.

More specifically, the upper end of the curler fits loosely within the end of the handle in a manner such that while there is no frictional fit between the two components when the face of washer 28 remains completely in contact with the face of magnet 34, the downstream edge of handle 20 engages the internal side wall of the curler end and the outer side wall of the handle end engages the inner upstream edge of the curler when the aforementioned tilting or cock ing force is applied. More significantly, this interference occurs while the magnetic attraction between washer 28 and magnet 34 is still relatively great, and hence, the washer 28 and magnet 34 will snap back into complete contact when the cocking force is terminated (unless, of course, an axial separating force is introduced). Thus it can be seen that separation of the magnetic coupling is prevented except by forces on the coupling substantially parallel to but opposite from the magnetic attraction lines of force.

Since the components do not require a close fit, the tolerances involved may be quite liberal thus minimizing manufacturing costs. The unique coupling of the invention is also very satisfactory for the user in that it avoids sticking problems which might exist with arrangements involving frictional fits.

The telescopic relation is also advantageous in that it limits transverse sliding between washer 28 and magnet 34 and it facilitates the insertion of the end of the curler into the handle. T apering the ends of the components further simplifies this operation, and also allows more liberal tolerances. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the inner wall of the downstream end of the holder has a slightly divergent taper towards the outlet with a marked diameter change separating two sections 42 and 43. To accommodate the tapered inner wall sections 42 and 43, the outside surface on the end of curler 12 is also formed with two sections 44 and 46 of different diameters and which have a slight converging taper toward the adjacent curler end. The diameter dimensions of sections 42, 43, 44 and 46 are such that when washer 28 engages magnet 34, there is normally little or no contact between the inner walls of the holder and the outer walls of the curler. It should be noted that the axial length of section 43 is less than that of section 44, and section 42 is greater than that of 46. Hence, when a transverse force is applied to either component, the surface contact between the components is minimized.

Another advantage of the coupling arrangement of the invention shown is that it complements the remaining structural aspects of the components. That is, it is quite desirable to utilize plastic or similar material for both the curler and the holder because it is light in weight, easily washable, rugged, durable, and a good heat insulator. The material can also be inexpensively fabricated into the finished product by means of a molding operation if the component is properly designed. In the present instance, both the curler and the holder are slightly tapered and provided with no unusual grooves or other irregularities so that they may be easily molded in single operations. The shapes required for the portions of these components involved in the coupling of the invention do not interfere with this single molding operation.

It should be understood that various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Hair curling apparatus comprising a hair curler member having substantially tubular construction with one end open and said curler having a perforated side surface adapted to have hair wound thereon, a rigid tubular member to be hand held by the user during the curl drying operation, means formed on the upstream end of said member for connecting the member to a source of drying air, and means formed on the downstream end of said member and the open end of said curler for releasably attaching the curler to the member including a magnet and magnetically attracted means to provide an attractive force between said member and said curler, said open end of said curler being adapted to telescope with the downstream end of said member to prevent disconnection of said curler and said member by a cocking or tilting force, said magnet and said magnetically attracted means being entirely disposed Within and spaced from both ends of one of said members including said curler member and said rigid tubular member when said curler is telescoped with the downstream end of said tubular member.

2. Hair curling apparatus comprising a hair curler having substantially tubular construction with one end open, said curler having a perforated surface between its ends adapted to have hair wound thereon, a rigid tubular handle to be held by the user during the curl drying operation, means formed on one end of said handle for connecting the handle to an air delivery hose, a permanent magnet supported within the downstream end of said handle and slightly spaced from the downstream end of said curler and enclosed by said handle for releasably attaching the curler to the handle, the open end of said curler being adapted to fit within the downstream end of said handle, and magnetically attracted means mounted on the open end of said curler and enclosed by said handle when said handle is attached to said curler to cooperate with said magnet in holding the curler to the handle.

3. In a hair curling apparatus: a curler member having a substantially tubular construction with one end open and the other end substantially closed; said curler having a perforated side surface between its ends adapted to have hair wound thereon; a rigid tubular handle member to be held by the user during a hair curling operation; means formed on one end of said handle for connecting the handle to a source of forced air; and coupling means formed on the other end of said handle and the open end of said curler for releasably attaching the curler to the handle, said coupling means including a magnet and an element attracted by the magnet, said coupling means being entirely disposed within and spaced from both ends of one of said members including said curler member and said handle member when said curler is attached to said handle, and mechanical means for preventing inadvertent separation of said magnet and said element.

4. In a hair curling and drying apparatus, a hollow curler having a perforated surface adapted to have hair wound thereon, said curler having a tubular end portion of circular cross-section with an opening therein, a tubular handle adapted to be held by the user during the curl drying operation, air inlet means formed on said handle adapted to be connected to an air delivery hose, an air outlet formed in one end of said handle, a permanent magnet supported within said handle slightly spaced from the outlet end, means attracted by said magnet mounted on said curler tubular end portion adjacent the opening therein for coupling said curler to said handle, the outer surface of said curler tubular end portion having a slightly converging taper towards the end, the inner wall of said handle adjacent said outlet having a slightly diverging taper toward the outlet, said handle inner wall being adapted to loosely receive said curler outer wall portion to prevent transverse movement of said curler with respect to said handle, said inner wall of said handle enclosing said magnet and said magnetically attracted means when said curler is coupled to said handle.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said curler end portion includes a first external surface of a predetermined axial depth extending from the open end of said curler toward the perforated surface, and a second external surface of a greater circumference than said first external surface and of a predetermined axial depth eX- tending between the first external surface and the perforated surface; and said outlet end of said handle includes a first internal surface of a greater axial depth than said second surface of said curler extending inwardly from the end of said handle, and a second internal surface smaller in diameter than said first internal surface and extending between said first internal surface and said magnet, said first and second external surfaces of said curler having a total axial depth substantially equal to the total axial depth of said first and second internal surfaces of said handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,356 12/1927 Hammerly 13233 3,001,530 9/1961 Julian 132-33 3,181,895 5/1965 Cator 285-9 X 3,199,218 8/1965 Bean 132-9 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,219,855 12/1959 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. IN A HAIR CURLING APPARATUS: A CURLER MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION WITH ONE END OPEN AND THE OTHER END SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED; SAID CURLER HAVING A PERFORATED SIDE SURFACE BETWEEN ITS ENDS ADAPTED TO HAVE HAIR WOUND THEREON; A RIGID TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER TO BE HELD BY THE USER DURING A HAIR CURLING OPERATION; MEANS FORMED ON ONE END OF SAID HANDLE FOR CONNECTING THE HANDLE TO A SOURCE OF FORCED AIR; AND COUPLING MEANS FORMED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID HANDLE AND THE OPEN END OF SAID CURLER FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING THE CURLER TO THE HANDLE,

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