WO2004004513A2

WO2004004513A2 - Hair styling device

Info

Publication number: WO2004004513A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/021318
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Kit Lun Leung; Kam Fai Fung
Original assignee: Conair Corporation
Priority date: 2002-07-08
Filing date: 2003-07-08
Publication date: 2004-01-15
Also published as: EP1528869A4; WO2004004513B1; AU2003247926A8; WO2004004513A3; CN100376183C; HK1082164A1; AU2003247926A1; CN1665424A; EP1528869A2

Abstract

A hair styling device having a handle portion (10), at least two arms (20) extending from the handle portion (10), wherein each arm (20) has one or more heating elements (22) removably connected thereto. Advantageously, the hair styling device also has a central element between the handle portion (10) and the at least two extending arms (20), wherein the central element (22) serves as an actuator (30) for selectively adjusting the arms (20) to accommodate various types of hair having different thickness and regularity.

Description

HAIR STYLING DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair styling device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair crimping and/or straightening iron.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Hair straighteners and crimpers are well known in the market. Typically, these devices have two arms pivotally connected, with at least one arm having a heating surface for making direct contact with the hair of a user. These devices can be configured to provide a variety of different styling effects to the hair. For example, as locks of hair are gripped between the two arms, the hair can be straightened, curled or crimped depending on the configuration of the heating surface.

A drawback associated with these conventional devices is found in the pivotal interaction between the arms. Because the arms are articulated about a common axis, the angle between the arms varies constantly according to the separation. Thus, the arms follow only imperfectly the shape of the locks of hair and consequently prevents the user from effectively and efficiently obtaining the desired shaping or styling effect. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair styling device that allows a user to selectively modify the hair gripping effect in order to accommodate a variety of different hair thickness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a hair styling device with a fastening mechanism for selectively holding said arms in one or more hair engaging positions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a hair styling device with selectively removable heat styling elements to allow the user to modify the hair styling effect.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a hair styling device configured to cooperate with a variety of different attachments to facilitate or modify the hair styling effect.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a hair styling device having a handle portion, at least two arms extending from said handle portion, each arm having one or more heating elements removably connected thereto. Advantageously, the hair styling device also has a central element between said handle portion and said at least two arms. Said central element serves as an adjusting mechanism for said arms, which can thereby be adjusted to accommodate various types of hair having different thickness and regularity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in combination with the drawings identified below.

Fig. 1 is a first side view of a hair styling device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing the device in an closed state;

Fig. 2 is a second side view of the hair styling device of Fig. 1 , showing the device in an open state;

Fig. 3 is a first end view of the hair styling device of Fig. 1 , showing an illustrative heating element configuration;

Fig. 4 is a side view of an illustrative comb attachment for cooperating with the hair styling device of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a third side view of the hair styling device of Fig. 1 , showing the hair styling device combined with the comb attachment of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a first side section view of a central element in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing the central element in a first state relative to a central axis of rotation;

Fig. 7 is a second end view of the hair styling device of Fig. 1 , showing the device in a first state corresponding to the first state of the central element of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a second side section view of the central element of Fig. 6, showing the central element is a second state relative to the central axis of rotation; and

Fig. 9 is a third end view of the hair styling device of Fig. 1 , showing the device in a second state corresponding to the second state of the central element of Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and, in particular, Fig. 1 , there is shown an improved hair styling device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 1. Hair styling device 1 preferably has a handle portion 10, at least two arms 20 extending from handle portion 10, and an element 30 located between handle portion 10 and at least two arms 20. Element 30 enables arms 20 to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that when the arms are in a closed, relatively parallel state, a gap 40 can be formed

therebetween. The gap 40 preferably being uniform.

Referring to Fig. 2, preferably, handle portion 10 has a first gripping portion or leg 12 and a second gripping portion or leg 14 pivotally cooperating with first leg 12. Preferably, first leg 12 is rigidly connected to one of at least two arms 20 and second leg 14 is rigidly connected to another of at least two arms 20 so as to facilitate a selective pivotal movement of the arms relative to each other. Handle portion 10 can preferably be made of any suitable material for providing safe and effective handling. Also, handle portion 10 can have any appropriate shape or configuration sufficient to accommodate a variety of different applications in use.

Preferably, first leg 12 has a first fastener 16 and second gripping portion has a second fastener 18 for cooperating with first fastener 16 to facilitate selectively securing second leg 14 to first leg 12 such that the arms are selectively securely held in the closed, relatively parallel state shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the selective pivotal movement of at least two arms 20 relative to each other ranges between the closed, relatively parallel state shown if Fig. 1 , and an open, relatively angled state shown in Fig. 2.

Preferably, arms 20 each have a selectively removable heating element 22. Preferably, each removable heating element 22 can be formed of any suitably heat conductive material such as, but not limited to, metallic materials and ceramic materials. Also, heating elements 22 can preferably be fixed or removable and have any appropriate shape or configuration such as, but not limited to, the element configurations 22 and 24, respectively shown in Figs. 2 and 3, sufficient to accommodate a variety of different hair styling effects.

Preferably, arms 20 can be shaped or configured to cooperate with a variety of attachments such as, but not limited to, a brush or comb element 24 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Also, arms 20 can preferably be formed of any material suitable for its intended use.

Referring to Figs. 6 through 9, preferably element 30 is a rotating actuator located approximately midway between handle portion 10 and arms 20. Element 30 preferably cooperates with arms 20 so as to selectively control the extent of gap 40 when arms 20 are in the closed, relatively parallel state. Element 30 preferably rotates from at least one first state 32, in which heating elements 22 are allowed to make contact, and at least one second state 34, in which heating elements 22 are separated when arms 20 are in the closed position. Thus, element 30 preferably allows for the extent of gap 40 to be selectively controlled for accommodating a variety of different hair types. In addition, element 30 preferably facilitates the pivotal movement between arms 20 so as to enable a user to selectively and effectively grip and release locks of hair.

Having described some of the preferred features of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the process or method for styling hair using the present invention preferably includes providing a hair styling device having a handle, a central element for cooperating with the handle and at least two arms that extend from the handle, the central element facilitating a pivotal movement between the at least two extending arms and enabling the at least two extending arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that when the at least two extending arms are in a closed state, a substantially uniform parallel gap is formed therebetween. Next, the extent of the gap can be adjusted via the central element so that the at least two extending arms can accommodate or keep a certain desired volume of hair in close proximity and between at least a portion of the at least two arms while in the closed state. Next, the at least to extending arms can be utilized to selectively engage one or more hairs so that the one or more hairs will occupy at least a portion of the gap when the at least two arms are in the closed state. Then, a user can cause the one or more hairs to interact with at least a portion of the at least two arms so that the one or more hairs can be influenced thereby.

The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A hair styling device comprising:

a handle portion;

at least two arms extending from said handle portion; and

a central element between said handle portion and said at least two arms, wherein said central element enables said at least two arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that when said at least two arms are in a closed, relatively parallel state, a gap can be formed therebetween.

2. The hair styling device of claim 1 , wherein said handle portion has a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion pivotally cooperating with said first gripping portion.

3. The hair styling device of claim 2, wherein said first gripping portion is rigidly connected to one of said at least two arms and said second gripping portion is rigidly connected to another of said at least two arms to facilitate a selective pivotal movement of said arms relative to each

other.

4. The hair styling device of claim 3, wherein said first gripping portion has a fastener and said second gripping portion has a connector for cooperating with said fastener to facilitate selectively securing said second gripping portion to said first gripping portion such that said at least two arms can be securely held in said closed, relatively parallel state.

5. The hair styling device of claim 4, wherein said selective pivotal movement of said at least two arms relative to each other ranges between said closed, relatively parallel state and an open, relatively angled state.

6. The hair styling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least two arms individually have a selectively removable heating element.

7. The hair styling device of claim 6, wherein said each of said removable heating elements can have a different configuration to allow a user to modify the hair styling effect.

8. The hair styling device of claim 1 , wherein said central element is a rotating actuator.

9. The hair styling device of claim 8, wherein said rotating actuator can be selectively rotated to control the extent of said gap between said at least two arms when said at least two arms are in said closed, relatively parallel state.

10. A hair styling device comprising:

a central element between a handle portion and at least two arms extending from said handle portion, wherein said central element facilitates the pivotal movement between said at least two extending arms and enables said at least two extending arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that when said at least two extending arms are in a closed, relatively parallel state, a gap can be formed therebetween.

11. The hair styling device of claim 10, wherein said at least two extending arms have a selectively removable heating elements.

12. The hair styling device of claim 11 , wherein said each of said removable heating elements can have a different configuration to allow a user to modify the hair styling effect.

13. The hair styling device of claim 10, wherein said central element is a rotating actuator.

14. The hair styling device of claim 11 , wherein said rotating actuator can be selectively rotated to control the extent of said gap between said at least two extending arms when said at least two extending arms are in said closed, relatively parallel state.

15. A method for styling hair comprising the steps of:

providing a hair styling device having a handle, a central element for cooperating with the handle and at least two arms that extend from the handle, said central element facilitating a pivotal movement between said at least two extending arms and enabling said at least two extending arms to be selectively adjusted relative to each other such that when said at least two extending arms are in a closed state, a substantially uniform parallel gap is formed therebetween;

adjusting the extent of said gap via said central element so that said at least two extending arms can keep a certain desired volume of hair in close proximity and between at least a portion of said at least two arms while in said closed state;

utilizing said at least two arms to selectively engage one or more hairs so that said one or more hairs can occupy at least a portion of said gap when said at least two arms are in said closed state; and

causing said one or more hairs to interact with at least a portion of said at least two arms so that said one or more hairs can be influenced thereby.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least two extending arms have a selectively removable and interchangeable heating elements.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of removing and interchanging said selectively removable and interchangeable heating elements to accomplish a desired hair styling effect.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said each of said removable and interchangeable heating elements have a different configuration to allow a user to modify said hair styling effect.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said central element is a rotating actuator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said rotating actuator can be selectively rotated to control the extent of said gap between said at least two extending arms when said at least two extending arms are in said closed, relatively parallel state.