WO1996020621A1

WO1996020621A1 - Curler

Info

Publication number: WO1996020621A1
Application number: PCT/BE1995/000114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henri Smal
Original assignee: Faco S.A.
Priority date: 1994-12-30
Filing date: 1995-12-08
Publication date: 1996-07-11
Also published as: JPH10511577A; DE69511580D1; DE69511580T2; BE1008983A6; AU4250296A; EP0800351A1; ES2135106T3; EP0800351B1

Abstract

A curler comprising a movable member (2) secured to the curler body (1) and used both as a handle and as a clip for holding the hair in place, said member (2) being movable from an open position in which it is located away from the curler body (1) and a closed position in which it is used as a clip for holding in place the hair previously wound around said body (1).

Description

BIGOUDI,

The manipulation of the curlers generally presents difficulties for the user, on the one hand because the temperature of the tube or body of the curler is generally high, and on the other hand, because after winding the hair, it must be held by an additional fixing element such as a clip, a pin or an elastic ring.

In the case of use of the curler by a person who wishes to style their hair themselves, the manipulation of the curler, by looking at themselves in a mirror, is particularly laborious and often hesitant. This is especially true when the complementary element for holding the hair, after coiling it, must be put in place, and this whether this element is integral with the curler or is independent thereof. The present invention aims to remedy these difficulties of use.

The invention is based on the fact that a holding member, integral with the body of the curler, serves both as a manipulation element and as a hair holding clip, this member being movable between an open position where it is spaced from the body of the curler and a closed position where it serves as a clip for holding the hair which has been previously wound on said body. In the open position of the curler, the movable member is moved away from the heating body of the curler. It will therefore allow a comfortable grip and handling, even if the body of the curler is brought to a high temperature.

In its closed position, the movable member is adapted so as to be able to maintain the hair in the coiled position on the body of the curler.

Different possibilities of performing these functions can be provided according to the invention, the movement from the closed position to the open position and vice versa of the movable member can be ensured by tilting or sliding or by other means. Preference will be given to solutions combining a low production cost with ease of use.

Both in the open position and in the closed position, the movable member should be able to be arranged in a stable manner: stable position should be understood as a position to which the movable member automatically returns when it is moved away from it, as will appear later in the specification. In addition to this stable positioning in the open position and in the closed position, stable intermediate positions can be provided by means of an indexing system in different positions.

A particularly simple and advantageous embodiment according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent:

Figure 1: a view from above of a curler according to a first embodiment of the invention in the closed position; Figure 2: a view from above of a curler according to Figure 1, in the open position; Figure 3: a side view in partial section of the curler according to Figure 1 in the open position;

Figure 4: a detail view of the joint; Figure 5: a view similar to that of Figure 3 illustrating another embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that the embodiments shown are given solely by way of example and illustration without limitation. Identical reference marks are used for the different drawings for the same or similar constituent elements.

The heating curler (sometimes also called a roller) consists on the one hand of a heating body bearing the general reference 1 in the form of a tube intended for winding the hair and of a so-called holding member 2 or clip. The body 1 being generally hot by its function, is particularly difficult to handle.

According to the invention, the movable member carrying the general reference 2 is articulated at one end of the body l.

In the open position shown in Figures 2 and 5, the movable member 2 easily allows to manipulate the curler, and in particular to wind the hair on the heating body 1. At the end of this operation, the movable member 2 can be folded over the body 1 and the hair which is wound therein in the so-called closed position, and serves to maintain the hair wound in the desired position.

In order to be able to ensure stable positioning for the movable member 2 both when it is open and closed, possibly with stable positioning in intermediate positions, different solutions can be envisaged. Indexing of this type, both for a sliding movement and a tilting movement is possible by various means. One can in particular provide an indexing in the different positions chosen, requiring an effort to move from one position to the next.

A first embodiment based on a tilting movement having the merit of simplicity and reliability is represented essentially in FIGS. 3 and 4. The articulation between the end of the heating body 1 and the movable member 2 is as it happens consisting of a pin bearing the general reference 3.

The movable member 2, as shown, has a U-shaped part 21 and a pin 23, which is perpendicular to the branches of the U and which is provided with a hooking pin 25 for a tension spring 24 housed in the tubular part body 1.

The pin 23 is an element, in section, of rectangular shape.

The spring 24 is fixed at its end opposite to the pin 23 in the body 1 by any appropriate means and ensures the axial and lateral positioning of the movable member by attracting the flat 6 of the pin 23 against the end (also flat) of the tube 1 (see Figure 3) thus ensuring a first stable (closed) position of the curler, in which the movable member 2 is folded over the body 1 of the curler (see Figure 1).

A rotation at 18oo results in the movable member 2 moving away from the body 1, the opposite flat 6 'coming to be applied on the flat end of the tube 1 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which ensures a second stable position (open) of the curler.

These two flats 6 and 6 'being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the movable member 2, determine two positions indexed at 180O. Since the spacing of the movable member 2 from its support on the end of the tube 1 results in an elongation of the spring, and consequently increased traction of the pin 23 towards the body 1, the movable member 2 necessarily returns to the position balance, flat against the end of the tube. This automatic return action is effective for significant deviations (for example for an angle α greater than 45θ) on either side of the equilibrium position.

The two flats 6 and 6 'can be connected by rounded sides.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 5. The general principles which have been described for the first embodiment for the body 1, the organ mobile 2 and the articulation of this member 2 on the body 1 by the pin 23 remain identical.

In particular, the tension spring 24 has been replaced by a compression spring 24 'which, being taken between a shoulder 27 and the end of the body 1, performs the same function as the spring 24 of FIG. 3, that is to say -to say that it pulls thanks to the articulation of the pin 23 at the end of the rod 29, the member 2 against the end of the body 1 thanks to the rod 29 mounted in rotation on the pin 23. This makes it possible to have a free space inside the tube forming the body 1, sufficient to receive an internal heating element (resistance, PTC or other) so that by placing the body 1 on the base 33, an electrical connection is ensured to heat the curler.

This free space can also be used to slide the body 1 simply over a heating element constituted by a heating pin.

Of course, a large number of other construction methods can be envisaged allowing said indexing of different stable positions. We can consider a rotating axis in bearings, indexing arrangements received in successive housings by balls or lugs and we can also replace the tension spring 24, equivalent means such as compression or metallic torsion springs or d other elements made of elastic material forming a spring.

Similarly, the shape of the movable member has two parallel U-shaped branches or in the form of a hairpin while being simple to produce and easy to handle, in no way constitutes a limitation of the invention. We can consider a single branch or gutter-shaped system that folds down on the heating body, leaving a suitable space for the hair. Likewise, the invention is of course not limited to a tilting movement of the movable member 2 on the body 1. Thus, for example, that the movable member 2 can take the form of pins sliding to one roller end

The heated curlers (or rollers) of the type mentioned are in principle intended to be used after heating the body, so as to strengthen the shaping of the hair. The body can be heated by any appropriate means, either externally by introducing the tube of curlers into cells or cavities of an electrically heated housing, but also into a flow of hot air, or even by immersed in a heated liquid etc., either internally using an electrical resistance as described for FIG. 5, by attaching it, as already indicated, to a heating pin.

Other uses can however be envisaged at room temperature, for example by winding the hair and then treating it with a hair dryer, under a current of hot air, with or without moistening the hair. In all cases, it should be possible to easily handle the curler without risk of burns, which can be easily achieved thanks to the embodiment of the invention when the curler is kept in the so-called open position, using the mobile organ. Of course, in the case of prior heating of the curlers, the so-called holding member makes it possible to successively remove the curlers from the heating element without risk of burns. During the heating of the curlers, these will be arranged in the so-called open position, that is to say at 180 ° relative to the heating body 1 so that the movable member 2 remains at room temperature.

It should be noted that the embodiment described makes it possible to heat the body l to a higher temperature than conventional curlers and thus improve their efficiency. The movable member 2 remaining permanently at room temperature, facilitates the manipulation of the curler and a simple tilting or sliding movement, without contact of the fingers with the heating body, makes it possible to transform the member 2 having served into a holding clip. initially to grip and handle the curler.

Although a form of execution has been described preferred of the invention, it should be understood that numerous modifications remain possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is not particularly limited to the embodiments mentioned as has been said, neither to the choice of materials, nor to the choice of the particular configurations described.

This is how various materials can be used for the body of the curler, for example various types of plastics or metals or others or else various types of coverings, either plastic or metal or others. Of course, these materials must be adapted to the conditions of use, in particular to the temperatures.

In the same way, various types of textures, configurations, geometric shapes etc. can be provided for the body and also the clip, provided that they are suitable for the intended use.

Claims

1. Curler characterized in that it comprises a movable member (2), which is integral with the body (1) of the curler, and which serves both as a manipulation member and as a clip for holding the hair, this member ( 2) being movable between an open position where it is separated from the body (1) of the curler and a closed position where it serves as a clip for holding the hair which has been previously wound on said body

(1).

2. Curler according to claim 1 characterized in that the movement from the closed position to the open position and vice versa of the movable member is ensured by tilting or sliding.

3. Curler according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the movable member (2) both in the open position and in the closed position, is arranged stably.

4. Curler according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the movable member (2) is articulated at one end of the body (1) by means of a pin (23) provided with a fixing means (25 ) such as an axis for a spring (24, 24 ') housed in a tubular part of the body 1, fixed at its end opposite the pin (23) in the body (1) which ensures the axial and lateral positioning of the movable member (2) by attracting the flat (6) of the pin (23) against the flat end of the tube (1) thus ensuring a first stable (closed) position of the curler, so that a rotation at 180O has the consequence that the movable member (2) folds over the body (1) and that an opposite flat (6 ') by applying to the flat end of the tube (1) ensures a second stable (open) position of the curler.