WO2006101498A1

WO2006101498A1 - Cutaneous heating element

Info

Publication number: WO2006101498A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/013084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter R. Evanyk
Original assignee: Powerpulse Technologies, L.P.
Priority date: 2005-03-18
Filing date: 2005-04-19
Publication date: 2006-09-28

Abstract

An electrically powered heating element (60) quickly reaches operating temperature because the heating element is formed on the outside or cutaneous surface (58) of a support to allow generated heat to radiate outwardly from the heating element directly for use instead of heating another surface and then using the other surface.

Description

CUTANEOUS HEATING ELEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to heat generating devices. In particular, the invention relates to a hair curler, a hair straightener, a flat clothes iron, or any other such device in which a heating element can be located on the outside of a support surface with electrical insulation over the heating element to protect the user thereof such that the heating element is cutaneously associated with the support. 2. Description of the Prior Art

Hair management devices such as hair curlers and hair straighteners are well known in the art. The hair curler generally has a metal barrel that has a resistive heating element on the inside thereof which, when energized with an electrical power source, causes the heating element to generate heat. Because the heating element is generally in physical contact with the metal barrel through some type of heat transfer medium, the heat from the heating element causes the metal barrel to get hot so that it can be used to curl hair.

The same principle applies to hair straighteners that have a heating element that transfers heat to a heat conducting surface that is electrically insulated to protect the user from electrical contact. The electrical insulation conducts heat, however, so that heat is transferred from the heating element to a user intended purpose.

Flat irons for ironing clothes have a flat plate that is heated electrically. Such irons are discussed in commonly assigned copending provisional patent application entitled "Portable Energy Consuming Device", filed August 10, 2004, S.N. 60/600,208 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

While these devices serve well in their intended use, they do have a major problem and that problem is the time that it takes to heat the barrel or heating surface. The typical barrel in a curling iron is made of steel and the steel mass requires a significant period of time to heat before it is ready to use. In like manner, once the steel mass is at the proper temperature, it takes a significant time to cool down to ambient temperature.

Applicant's have addressed this problem previously in commonly assigned Provisional Patent Application S.N. 60/545,783 filed February 19, 2003 that is entitled Heating Element and Circuit for a Hair Management Device and that is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In that application, one heating element is a light bulb (they heat and cool quickly) that is encased in an elongated hollow tube formed from a thin metal sheet of copper, brass, aluminum, or the like because such metals heat and cool much faster than steel. Thus, with such heating element and hollow tube, both heat relatively quickly and cool relatively quickly when compared to steel.

It would be advantageous to have a hair management device, a flat clothes iron, or other heated device that heats and cools even more rapidly than that disclosed in the above mentioned Provisional Patent Application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously places the heating element in a cutaneous relationship with the outer surface of a support such as a cylindrical column of either hollow or solid bakelite or other electrically insulating material. Thus, the present invention has the heating element on the outside of a barrel of, for example only, a curling iron where the barrel is generally formed as an elongated cylinder that is hollow or non-hollow and is made of metal or non- metal. In the case of a metal barrel, the heating element is electrically insulated from the barrel and may be in the form of a resistive ribbon heating element. The resistive heating element is also electrically insulated from the user to prevent electrical shock. If the barrel is formed of steel, some of the heat generated by the heating element will go to heat the barrel. However, since the heat is on the outside of the barrel, the heat enables the use of the curling iron long before the steel barrel is at the proper temperature. Once at the proper temperature, the steel barrel will enable a uniform temperature gradient along the barrel length. However, the steel barrel still has the problem of cooling quickly. This problem is solved with the present invention by preferably placing the heating element in cutaneous relationship with the outside of a heat insulating, elongated, non-heat conducting, cylindrical form such as bakelite, mica, or other non-heat conducting material. In one embodiment, the heating element may be a resistive ribbon that will be spaced sufficiently close together to generate a substantially uniform temperature gradient along the length of the non-heat conducting cylindrical form.

In another embodiment, the heating element may be a hollow cylindrical shaped length of electrically conductive material such as a thin ceramic resistive layer that can be placed over a solid or hollow cylindrical form that is preferably non-heat conducting. The cylindrical form simply provides a support for the thin ceramic layer. It may be a solid or hollow cylindrical tube of bakelite, mica, Teflon^® or other well known insulating material.

In yet another embodiment, two spaced, hollow, cylindrical tubes of thin ceramic material, each of which is electrically conducting, may be separated by a thin electrically insulating, but heat conducting layer of material such as mica or other such material. In all cases, preferably an electrically insulating, but heat conducting, layer is placed over the outside of the heating element, the ceramic layer, to protect the user. A hair straightener device may also advantageously use the present invention. In that case, the resistive heating element is placed on a rectangular support that is electrically insulated from the resistive heating element and then the heating element is covered with an electrical insulation of any well known type to protect the user from electrical shock. As described above, the rectangular support may be metal or non-metal. Also, the resistive heating element may be a resistive ribbon heating element, a ceramic heating element, or any other well- known type of resistive heating element such as resistive wire.

Further, the heating element may be designed to operate with either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The novel invention may be used with both portable or non-portable heat generating devices as described in commonly assigned copending provisional patent applications S.N. 60/545,783 and S.N. 60/600,208, both of which have been incorporated herein by reference above.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device that both heats to the desired temperature and cools much faster than the prior art heating devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair management device that has the heating element on an outside surface of the device rather than on the inside.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a barrel on a curling iron on the outside of which the heating element is placed.

It is also an object of the present invention to form the barrel on the curling iron with a non- metallic material that carries the heating element in cutaneous relationship on the outside thereof with an electrical insulating layer placed over the heating element to protect the user from electrical shock. It is yet another object of the present invention to form the barrel on the curling iron with a metallic material that has the heating element insulated from, and in cutaneous relationship with, the outside of the barrel insulation.

It is also an object of the present invention to use a hair straightener as the hair management device that has the heating element on the cutaneous surface of the device rather than on the inside.

Thus, the present invention relates to a method of forming an electrically powered heat generating device comprising the steps of forming a support surface; placing a heating element over the support surface in electrical insulating cutaneous relationship such that the heat developed by the heating element is conducted outwardly from the device thereby enabling the device to heat quickly and cool quickly, and covering the heating element with a thin layer of material that is non-electrically conductive to protect the user from accidental direct contact with the heating element.

The present invention also relates to an electrically powered heat generating device comprising a support surface; and a heating element placed on the support surface in cutaneous relationship such that the heat developed by the heating element is conducted outwardly, and a thin covering of non-electrically conductive material over the heating element thereby enabling the device to heat quickly and cool quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other more detailed objects of the present invention will be more fully disclosed when taken in conjunction with the following Detailed

Description of the Drawings in which like numerals represent like objects and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art curling iron shown and disclosed in commonly assigned copending provisional patent application S.N. 60/545,783 incorporated herein by reference previously;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a prior art hot air brush shown and disclosed in commonly assigned incorporated provisional patent application S.N. 60/545,783;

FIG. 3 A is a perspective view of the basic concept of the present invention; FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the present invention shown incorporated with a barrel portion only of a curling iron;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the barrel portion shown in FIG. 3 to more clearly illustrate the placement of the heating element on the cutaneous surface of a support portion of the curling iron; FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a barrel of a heating device, such as a curling iron, illustrating the use of a resistive ribbon heating element associated with the cutaneous surface of the barrel to provide the heat for the unit;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cylindrical form that may be used as a support for a cutaneously placed heating element; FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a ceramic heating element received in the cylindrical metallic end cap that provides electricity to heat the element;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a metallic end cap that can receive the end of a cylindrical ceramic heating element to conduct electricity thereto; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the end jaws of a hair straightener device that can be advantageously used with the present invention; FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a flat clothes iron utilizing the novel cutaneous heating element of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of the novel flat clothes iron of FIG. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As used herein, the term "cutaneous surface" is intended to mean the outer surface or outer skin of a support for an electrical heat generating device; the support having an outer surface skin and, in some cases, an inner surface, the electrical heating element being placed on the outer surface skin of the support to generate heat so that the heat extends outwardly from the cutaneous surface of the support rather than to a housing or the like that must be heated before the device can be used. Obviously, a thin layer of an electrical insulating, but heat conducting, material such as mica and the like may be placed over the heating element to protect the user from electrical shock. Even so, the electrical heating element is associated with the cutaneous surface of the support and thus is cutaneously associated with the heating device.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the prior art curling iron 10 disclosed in commonly assigned copending provisional patent application S.N. 60/545,783. It has a non-heat conducting handle 12 and a barrel 14 as the heat maintaining surface. An ON/OFF switch 16 and a temperature selection switch 18 are associated with the handle 12. Electrical contacts 20 on the bottom end 19 of the handle 12 allow the batteries within the handle 12 to be charged when placed in a charging device in a well-known manner when the device is not being used. The hollow elongated heat transfer tube 14 has an interior portion in which a novel heat source such as a light bulb 50 (not shown in FIG. 1) is placed. It also has an outer end 31 and an inner end 33 that is removably coupled to the top end 21 of the handle portion 12 in any well known manner such as by threads, screws, removable pins, and the like at point 22. A cap 30 is removably attached to the outer end w31 of the elongated hollow heat transfer tube 14. Also perforations 32 are shown in the elongated hollow heat transfer tube. The perforations extend through the wall of hollow tube 14 to enable radiant energy from the light bulb (within) to be applied to the hair of the user. A conventional hair engaging plate or arm 24 is pivotally coupled to the hollow heat transfer tube 14 at the pivot points of the rest support 28 and is pivotable away from and toward the hollow heat transfer tube with the use of thumb rest 26 in a conventional manner.

This device provides usable heat much faster than other prior art devices because the tube is made of a material such as brass or aluminum which does not have the mass of steel and heats much faster. Also light bulbs also are known to provide high temperatures and to heat quickly and cool quickly.

The combination provides a significant improvement over the prior art devices. FIG. 2 is a side view of a prior art hot air brush 34 that embodies the heating system used in FIG. 1. Again, it embodies a hollow handle portion 36 for holding an internal power source (e.g. batteries) and has a contact 38 in the base thereof for placing the device in a holder for charging the battery or batteries. Again, an ON/OFF switch 42 and temperature control switch 40 are placed in the handle 36. An attachment point 44 allows the elongated hollow tube (similar to tube 14 in FIG. 1) to be attached thereto. A hollow, selectively rotatable, brush portion 46 is placed over the elongated hollow tube and attached thereon with the cap 48. Again, orifices or perforations 32 are formed in the brush portion 46 to allow radiant energy from the heat source to be emitted. Bristles 52 extend outwardly in a perpendicular relationship to the brush portion 46 as is well known in the art.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a novel heating element of the present invention shown in its simplest form. The electrically powered heat generating device 54 comprises a non-electrically conductive, and preferably a non-heat conductive, support 56 having a cutaneous surface 58. An electrical heating element 60 is placed on or associated with the cutaneous surface 58 such that the heat generated by the heating element 60 is primarily conducted outwardly from the cutaneous surface as shown by the arrows 62 rather than inwardly toward the support 56. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the invention used as a barrel for a hair curling device. The barrel 64 comprises a non-electrically conductive inner support 66 that, in this case, is in the form of an elongated cylinder and has a cutaneous or outer surface 68. An electrical heating element 76 is associated with the cutaneous surface 68.

Heating element 76 is also shown as an elongated cylindrical tube. In this embodiment, the heating element 76 may be a thin layer of resistive electrically conductive material such as a ceramic material, well known in the art. In order to protect the user of the hair curler from electric shock, an outer layer of thin non- electrically conductive material 74 in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder covers the heating element 76. Such thin outer layer in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder may also be formed of a material that is heat conductive, but not electrically conductive. Such ceramic is also well known in the art.

By attaching the heating element as constructed and shown in FIG. 3B to a handle as shown in FIG. 1 , a hair curler is formed. This hair curler differs greatly from that shown in FIG. 1 , however. In FIG. 1 , the heating element is on the interior of the hollow tube 14. This means that the hollow tube 14 must itself be heated to the proper temperature before the device can be used. Although the hollow tube shown in FIG. 1 is made of a material such as brass or aluminum that heats much faster than steel, it still requires a significant period of time to reach the proper temperature. An internal power source in the handle 12 causes the heating element 76 to generate heat and allows portable operation of the device. The handle 12 may also have an external power connector 20 that allows the device to reach the desired operating temperature while simultaneously causing the internal power source to be recharged while the curling iron is supported by a means (not shown) in any well known manner. As disclosed in the above identified commonly assigned and incorporated copending provisional patent application, S.N. , filed August 10, 2004, and titled "Portable

Energy Consuming Device", a switch associated with the device, such as a curling iron handle, is opened when the curling iron is placed on the stand to disconnect the internal power source from the heating element and connect the internal power source to a charging source external of the handle 12. When the curling iron or other unit is removed from the stand, the external power source is disconnected and the internal power source is reconnected to the heating element to make the unit portable. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the novel heating element could be heated and used strictly by either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The preferred embodiment uses at least DC to enable the device to be used as a portable device. The heating element shown in FIG.3A and FIG 3B heats much faster than the unit shown in FIG. 1 because the heating element is on the outside surface, the cutaneous surface 68 of the support form 66, which in this case is bakelite, Teflon^®, or other similar non-heat conductive and non-electrically conductive material, and therefore the heat goes primarily outwardly toward the hair of the user and is substantially at the desired heating temperature in approximately one (1) minute. Tests have shown that the heating element on the cutaneous surface reached a temperature of approximately 108⁰C (256°F) in one (1) minute and a temperature of approximately 190°C (374°F) in four (4) minutes. With the unit shown in FIG. 3B, there is no metal covering over the heating element and thus no heat is wasted in trying to heat a metal covering as is the case with the prior art.

In certain applications, only one heating element 76 may be required to generate the heat as described above. If still more heat is required, the barrel in FIG. 3B may be modified as shown to add a second layer 72 of electrically conducting resistive ceramic heating material. This layer 72 is electrically insulated from the first resistive ceramic layer 76 with an electrical insulating layer 78 of any well known type in the art. In this case, the outer surface of the electrical insulating layer 78 becomes a second cutaneous surface 70. The second layer of electrically conductive resistive ceramic heating material 72 is placed on the second cutaneous surface 70 to generate additional heat. An outer non- electrically conductive or protective layer 80 (74 in FIG. 3A) is placed over the second layer of electrically conductive resistive ceramic 72 to protect the user from electrical shock or direct contact.

In such case, the inner support 66 has an outer or first cutaneous surface 68 over which the electrically conductive ceramic heating element 76 is placed. An electrically non-conductive insulator 78 is placed over the heating element 76 to form an electrical insulator. The second layer of electrically conductive resistive ceramic heating material 72 is placed over the insulator 78 to form a second cutaneous surface 70. Finally, an electrically non-conductive outer layer 80 is placed over the second cutaneous surface 70 to protect the user from direct contact with the heating element 72 to minimize the chance of getting burned or electrically shocked.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the barrel 64 shown in FIG. 3B illustrating the two electrically conductive layers 72/76 (such as ceramic), the internal support form 66, and the non-electrically conductive insulation layer 78.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention in which the resistive heat generating element is a ribbon type resistive element that generates heat when a current is passed through it. hi FIG. 5, the barrel 82 comprises a hollow tubular support member 84 having a cutaneous surface 85 on which is wound a ribbon type resistive heating element 86. A protective heat-conductive, but non-electrically conductive, layer 88 is placed over the resistive heating element 86 to protect the user as stated above.

Electrical connections to the ribbon type resistive heating element 86 may be made through connectors 90.

Clearly modifications could be made to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The hollow tubular support member 84 could be a solid non-heat conductive support member of bakelite, Teflon^®, or the like, such as shown in FIG. 6. hi the above referenced commonly assigned copending applications, there is described a pulse time modulated circuit that can be used advantageously with the present invention to increase the life of the internal power source (such as batteries). In such case, a temperature sensing device, such as a thermistor, is used in the pulse time modulated circuit to control the pulse time modulation to maintain the desired temperature. The heat sensor, such as an LM 34, needs to be in heat sensing relationship with the heating element. As shown in FIG. 6, a recess 94 is formed in the cutaneous surface of solid support 92 over which the heating element (72/76 in FIG. 3B and 86 in FIG. 5) is to be placed. Recess 94 is an ideal location for the LM 34 heat sensor. The sensor electrical leads 96 can exit the solid support 92 through a passage way drilled therein. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a hollow tubular heating element 104 with an electrically conducting cap 98 (preferably metal) that connects to the end of the hollow tubular heating element 104. Because the heating element is hollow and tubular, it is desired the electrical current be applied uniformly about the perimeter of the tubular heating element 104. Cap 98 accomplishes this purpose. As shown in FIG. 8, the cap 98 is formed with an annular groove or recess 100 into which the perimeter of the heating element 104 is inserted as shown in FIG. 7. The groove 100 is sufficiently small to allow a press fit of the perimeter of the heating element to be inserted and make electrical contact with the sides 102 and the base of groove 100 in the cap 98. An electrical lead 106 is connected to the cap 98 to provide the electrical current thereto. Such a cap 98 can be used on each end of a hollow tubular heating element 104.

The novel invention can also be used to form the paddles of a hair straightener. Such paddles are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9. The paddles 108 and 109 are pivotally connected at end 110 to a handle (not shown for simplicity of the drawings) in a manner well known in the art. Appropriate levers are provided to enable the user to open and close the paddles to grasp the hair between them and then as heat is applied to the hair, the paddles are moved to straighten the hair. Each of the paddles 108 and 109 is formed with a support 112 having a cutaneous surface 114 on which is placed the heating element 116.

Heating element 116 may be of any desired type. The outer surface of the heating element 116 is covered with an electrically insulative material to protect the user from electrical shock or from direct contact with the heating element 116.

The invention could also be used advantageously with a flat clothes iron. The bottom surface of such a flat iron is shown in FIG.10. A support 120 could be shaped in the form of a flat iron base plate 122. It may be made of a material that is either heat conductive or non-heat conductive material. Because the heat extends outwardly directly from the heating element 126, shown here as a resistive flat ribbon, ironing temperatures can be reached even before the flat iron base 122 reaches the desired temperature even if the heating element is formed of a heat conductive material. Thus, the heating element 126 is placed or formed on the cutaneous surface 124 of the support 120 created by the base plate 122. Electrical connections are made to the heating element 126 (shown as a resistive type ribbon element) through connections 128.

As seen in the side view of the base plate 120 shown in FIG. 11, the heating element 126 is covered by a smooth, non-electrically conductive layer 130 for purposes described previously. Also as shown in FIG. 11, the base plate 120 has an inner side 130 that is designed in a well known manner to mate with a flat iron body with a handle to create the final product.

Thus, there has been disclosed a novel electrically powered heat generating device that quickly reaches the desired operating temperature because the heating element is placed on the outside or cutaneous surface of a non- electrically conducting support and covered with only a thin layer of heat conductive but non-electrically conductive material.. The support can be a hollow tube or a solid tube to form a hair curling iron or a flat plate to form items such as hair straighteners or flat clothes irons. The heating element may be formed of a resistive ceramic heating element, a resistive ribbon type heating element, a resistive wire heating element, or any other type of appropriate heating material. A non-electrically conductive, but heat conductive, surface is placed over the heating element to protect the user from direct contact with the heating element to prevent severed burns or possible electrical shock. The novel cutaneous heat generating device may be operated with either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). It may also use an internal power source such as batteries to provide a portable device. It may also be used strictly with AC to provide a non portable device. A stand may be provided as is well known in the art to enable an internal power source (e.g. batteries) to be charged by an external power source (AC or DC) and, simultaneously if desired, the device preheated whenever the device is placed on the stand. When the device is removed from the stand, it operates as a portable device and is operated by the internal power source alone..

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements or method steps in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

Claims

I. CLAIM:

1. A method of forming an electrically powered heat generating device that quickly reaches operating temperature comprising the steps of: forming a non-electrically conducting support having a cutaneous surface; associating an electrical heating element with the cutaneous surface of the support such that the heat generated by the heating element is primarily conducted outwardly from the cutaneous surface rather than inwardly; and covering the electrical heat generating element with a smooth heat conductive but non-electrically conductive material to form a heat producing surface that prevents a user from directly contacting the heating element.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of; associating a non-heat conducting handle with the non-electrically conducting support to enable the device to be manually used; and coupling a power source to the device to provide power for the electrical heating element.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of forming the support in the shape of a hollow cylinder of non-heat conducting material to form a portable hair curling device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of forming the support in the shape of a solid cylinder of non-heat conducting material to form a portable hair curling device.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of forming the support in the shape of a flat plate of non-heat conducting material having a cutaneous surface and an inner surface.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: forming the flat plate as the base plate of a flat iron; and connecting a flat iron body with the handle to the inner surface of the flat iron body to form a flat iron.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: coupling first and second flat plate supports, each having a distal end and a proximal end, together at their proximal end with the cutaneous surfaces facing each other, and pivotally attaching the first and second plate supports at their proximal ends to the handle for pivotal movement with respect to each other to form a hair straightener device.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing an external power connection for the device to enable the use of an external power source to provide power for the device.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing an internal power source for the device to enable it to be used as a portable device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: providing an internal power source for the device; and enabling the use of a selected one of the external power source and the internal power source to provide power for the device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a support further comprises the step of forming the support of a non-heat conducting material having the cutaneous surface for receiving the electrical heating element.

12. A method of forming an electrically powered flat iron having a heat generating surface comprising the steps of: forming a flat support plate in the shape of a flat iron base with a cutaneous surface and an inner surface, the flat iron base inner surface being designed to mate with a flat iron body to form a flat iron; placing an electrical heat generating element on the cutaneous surface of the flat iron base to provide heat for the iron; and covering the electrical heat generating element with a smooth heat conductive but non-electrically conductive material to form the flat iron base used for ironing.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method of covering the electrical heat generating element with a smooth non-electrically conductive material further comprises the step of using a heat conductive but non-electrically conductive plate of ceramic material.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing an external power connection for the flat iron to enable the use of an external power source to provide power for the device.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing an internal power source for the device to enable it to be used as a portable device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: providing an internal power source for the device; and enabling the use of a selected one of the external power source and the internal power source to provide power for the device.

17. A method of forming an electrically powered heat generating device for specific intended use that quickly reaches the desired operating temperature comprising the steps of: forming a support of heat conductive material having a first cutaneous surface; placing a layer of both non-heat conductive and non-electrically conductive material over the first cutaneous surface of the heat conductive material to form both a heat insulator and an electrical insulator having a second cutaneous surface; and placing an electrical heating element over the second cutaneous surface such that the heat generated by the electrical heating element is primarily conducted outwardly from the second cutaneous surface for the intended purpose rather than inwardly toward the support.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of: forming the support with metal having the first cutaneous surface; using a first sheet of non-heat conducting, non-electrical conducting ceramic material to cover the first cutaneous surface of the support and form the second cutaneous layer; placing an electrically conductive resistive ceramic layer over the second cutaneous surface to form the electrical heating element; and covering the electrical heating element with a heat conducting but non-electrical conducting material.

19. An electrically powered heat generating device that quickly reaches operating temperature comprising: a support having a cutaneous surface; an electrical heating element associated with the cutaneous surface of the support such that the heat generated by the heating element is primarily conducted outwardly from the cutaneous surface rather than inwardly and a heat conducting but non-electrical conducting material covering the electrical heating element.

20. An electrically powered heat generating device as in claim 19 further comprising an external power connection for the device to enable the use of an external power source to provide power for the device.

21. The device of claim 19 further comprising an internal power source for the device to enable it to be used as a portable device.

22. The device of claim 19 further comprising: an internal power source for the device; and switch means associated with the heat generating device for enabling the use of a selected one of the external power source and the internal power source to provide power for the device.

23. The device of claim 19 further comprising: the support being formed with a non-electrically conductive material; a non-heat conducting handle coupled to the non-electrically conducting support to enable the device to be manually used; and a power source coupled to the device to provide power for the device and make the device portable.

24. The device of claim 23 further comprising a non-heat conductive material forming the non-electrically conductive support having the cutaneous surface.

25. The device of claim 24 further comprising a hollow cylinder of non-heat conductive material forming the non-electrically conductive support having the cutaneous surface to form the barrel of a hair curler.

26. The device of claim 24 further comprising a solid cylinder of non- heat conductive material forming the non-electrically conductive support having the cutaneous surface to form the barrel of a hair curler.

27. The device of claim 19 further comprising a plate of non-heat conductive material in any desired shape forming the non-electrically conductive support having the cutaneous surface.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the plate of non-heat conductive material is formed in the shape of the base plate of a flat iron.

29. An electrically powered heat generating device that quickly reaches the desired operating temperature comprising: a support formed of heat conductive material having a first cutaneous surface; a first layer of substantially non-heat conductive and non- electrically conductive material placed over the first cutaneous surface of the heat conductive support material as a heat insulator to form a second cutaneous surface; and an electrical heating element placed over the second cutaneous surface such that the heat generated by the electrical heating element is primarily conducted outwardly away from the second cutaneous surface rather than inwardly toward the support.

30. The device of claim 29 further comprising: a heat conducting metal forming the support having the first cutaneous surface; and a heat conductive but non-electrical conductive sheet of material covering the electrical heating element.

31. The device of claim 30 further comprising: a non-heat conducting handle coupled to the support to enable the device to be manually used; and an internal power source associated with the device to provide power for the electrical heating element and enable portable use of the device.

32. The device of claim 31 further comprising: an external power connection associated with the device to enable the use of an external power source to preheat the device and to charge the internal power source; and a switch associated with the device to enable the internal power source to provide power for the heating element as a portable device when the external power source is disconnected.