WO2014005419A1

WO2014005419A1 - Hair curling device

Info

Publication number: WO2014005419A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/000460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhuangfa DENG
Original assignee: Deng Zhuangfa
Priority date: 2012-07-04
Filing date: 2013-04-22
Publication date: 2014-01-09
Also published as: KR20140002071U; WO2014005342A1; US20140007898A1; CN202680933U

Abstract

A hair curling device includes an elongated heating member (11), a handle member (20), a powering arrangement (30) including a motorized unit (31) supported in said handle member (20), and a clamping arm (41) pivotally moved between an opened position that the clamping arm (41) is tilted from the heating member (11) and a closed position that the clamping arm (41) is in contact with a heating surface of the heating member (11). The clamping arm (41) is driven to rotate around an axis of the heating member (11) by the motorized unit (31) such that after the clamping arm (41) is moved at the closed position for retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm (41) and the heating surface of the heating member (11), the clamping arm (41) is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member (11).

Description

HAIR CURLING DEVICE

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair setter, and more particular to a hair curling device, wherein the clamping arm is automatically rotated to wind up the hair of the user around the heating member for curling the hair thereof.

100021 Description of Related Arts

[0003] A traditional hair curling device comprises a heating barrel coaxially extended from an elongated handle, wherein the user must whirl the hairs around the heating barrel by the rotational movement of the handle. Heat is applied at the external surface of the heating barrel to thermally contact with the hairs of the user so as to curl the hairs of the user. However, the traditional hair curling device has several drawbacks. The entire handle must be rotated by the holding hand of the user in order to rotate the heating barrel. It is not ergonomical that the user is difficult to hold the handle tight and to rotate the handle at the same time, especially when the hair curling device is connected to the power source with an electric cable. When mishandling the handle, the hair curling device may be accidentally dropped on the floor or even burns the head skin of the user. In addition, it is difficult for the user to control the desired tightness of the hairs when whirling the hairs around the heating barrel.

[0004] An improved hair curling device further comprises a clamp assembly for grasping a lock of hair at the heating barrel, such as US Pub. No. 2012/0145180. Fig. 5 shows a conventional hair curling device with the clamp assembly which comprises a ring 1 freely and concentrically rotated at the handle 2 and a clamp 3 pivotally coupled at the ring 1. The clamp 3 can be pivotally moved at an opened position that the clamp 3 is tilted with respect to the heating barrel 4 and can be pivotally moved at a closed position that the clamp 3 is in contact with the heating barrel 4. Therefore, after the clamp 3 is pivotally moved to grasp a Jock of hair between the heating barrel 4 and the clamp 3, the ring 1 is rotated to drive the clamp 3 to rotate in order to wind the hair in a curly shape. In particular, the lock of hair, especially the portion close to the root of the hair, is initially grasped by the clamp 3. During the rotation, the lock of hair is grasped and wound toward the end of the hair.

[0005] However, the improved hair curling device also has several drawbacks. The clamp 3 is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the handle 2 by rotating the ring 1 between the thumb and index finger of the holding hand of the user. In other words, the handle 2 will be held only by three fingers of the holding hand. Therefore, it is not ergonomical that the user is difficult to hold the handle 2 tight and to rotate the ring 1 at the same time by one hand. In addition, during the rotation of the ring 1 , the clamp 3 is revolved around the heating barrel 4 in order to wind the lock of hair around the heating barrel 4. The lock of hair, especially for long hair, may be accidentally stunk at the clamp base 5 of the clamp 3 where the pivot joint is located. In other words, the hairs will be pulled, burnt, and/or broken by the rotation of the ring 1 once the hairs are stunk at the clamp base 5. Or, the heating time will be prolonged because it will take longer time for the user to remove the hairs being stunk at the clamp base 5. Furthermore, the tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel 4 cannot be controlled by merely rotating the ring 1 by thumb and index finger of the user's holding hand. In other words, the rotational speed of the ring 1 cannot be controlled precisely. It is worth mentioning that the curliness of the hair can be controlled not only by the heating temperature of the heating barrel 4 but also by the heating time of the heating barrel 4. The heating time is the time the hair being stayed around the heating barrel 4. In other words, when the rotational speed of the ring 1 is reduced, the heating time at the heating barrel 4 for the hair will be prolonged. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to rotate the ring 1 at a constant rotational speed for controlling the hairs being stayed around the heating barrel 4.

Summary of the Present Invention

[0006] The invention is advantageous in that it provides a hair curling device, wherein a clamping arm is automatically rotated to wind up the hair of the user around the tubular heating member for curling the hair thereof.

[0007] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, wherein the clamping arm is powered by a powering arrangement to rotate at a constant speed in a controllable manner, such that the tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel and the curliness of the hairs will be easily controlled by the user.

[0008] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, which comprises a safety member provided at the extension end of the heating member in a non-rotatable manner for preventing the hairs being stunk at the extension end of the heating member when the heating member is rotated. [0009] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, wherein the clamping arm is driven to rotate at two opposite directions, i.e. clockwise direction and counter clockwise direction, such that the hair curling device of the present invention can be operated by both left-handed user and right-handed user. [0010] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, wherein the gear unit of the powering arrangement is a concealed and compact gear unit for minimizing the size thereof and for preventing the lubricate being leaked.

[0011] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, wherein the powering arrangement is located in a handle member and is arranged in a manner that the center of mass of the powering arrangement is located at the mid-portion of the hair curling device so as to enable to hold the hair curling device stably and securely.

[0012] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, wherein the heating temperature of the heating member is controllable to control the curliness of the hairs.

[0013] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, which does not require to alter the original structural design of the hair curling device, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the hair curling device incorporating with the powering arrangement.

(0014] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for providing a powered hair curling device for curling the hairs.

[0015] Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.

[0016] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages arc attained by a hair curling device which comprises:

[0017] an elongated heating member defining an outer heating surface; [0018] a handle member coaxially extended from the heating member;

[0019] a powering arrangement which comprises a motorized unit supported in the handle member for generating a reversible rotational power; and

[0020] a clamp unit which comprises a clamping arm pivotally moved between an opened position that the clamping arm is tilted from the heating member and a closed position that the clamping arm is in contact with the heating surface of the heating member, wherein the clamping arm is driven to rotate around an axis of the heating member by the motorized unit, such that after the clamping arm is moved at the closed position for retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm and the heating surface of the heating member, the clamping arm is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member.

[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a method of curling a lock of hair by a hair curling device, comprising the steps of:

[0022] (a) retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm and a heating surface of the heating member, wherein the clamping arm is pivotally moved between an opened position that the clamping arm is tilted from the heating member and a closed position that the clamping arm is in contact with the heating surface of the heating member;

[0023] (b) activating a motorized unit of the powering arrangement to drive the clamping arm to rotate around an axis of the heating member for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member; and [0024] (c) generating heat at the heating surface of the heating member for curling the lock of hair.

[0025] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

[0026] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

|0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the hair curling device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the heating barrel of the heating member according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the heating barrel having a conical shape.

[0031 ] Fig. 5 illustrates a conventional hair curling device.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0032] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a hair curling device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the hair curling devide comprises an elongated heating member 10, a handle member 20, a powering arrangement 30, and a clamp unit 40. [0033] The heating member 10 comprises a tubular heating barrel 1 1 made of thermal conductive material and a heat generating element 12 disposes in the heating barrel 1 1 , whereit when the heat generating element 12 is activated for generating heat, the heat is transmitted to £fi outer heating surface of the heating barrel 1 1. The heating member 10 further defines an extension end at the heating barrel 1 1 and a top end thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the heating barrel 1 1 has a cylindrical shape that a diameter of the top end of the heating barrel 1 1 equals to a diameter of the extension end thereof, such that the heating barrel 1 1 has a uniform diameter. Alternatively, the heating barrel 1 1 ' can be configured to form a conical shape, as shown in Fig. 4, that the diameter of the heating barrel 1 1 ' is gradually reduced from the extension end to the top end. Accordingly, the conical shape of the heating barrel 1 1 ' can also smoothly guide the lock of hair being whirled therearound so as to vary the curliness of the lock of hair along the heating barrel 1 .

[0034] The handle member 20 is coaxially extended from the heating member 10, wherein the handle member 20 is a hollow member having a compartment therein. In particular, the handle member 20 is coaxially extended from the extension end of the heating barrel 11 to form an elongated structure. Accordingly, the handle member 20 comprises two handle casings, i.e. two half-casings, coupled with each other to define the compartment within the handle casings. 0035J The powering arrangement 30 comprises a motorized unit 1 supported in the handle member 20 for generating a reversible rotational power. The motorized unit 31, having an output shaft, is supported in the compartment of the handle member, wherein the motorized unit 31 is adapted for selectively generating the reversible rotational power at the output shaft. In other words, the motorized unit 31 controUably generates the reversible rotational power at clockwise direction or at counter clockwise direction.

[0036] The clamp unit 40 comprises a clamping arm 41 pivotally moved between an opened position and a closed position. At the opened position, the clamping arm 41 is tilted from the heating member 10 for retaining a lock of hair being placed between the clamping arm 41 and the heating member 10. At the closed position, the clamping arm 41 is in contact with the heating surface of the heating member 10 for retaining the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10.

|0037] Accordingly, the clamping arm 41 is driven to rotate around an axis of the heating member 10 by the motorized unit 31 , such that after the clamping arm 41 is moved at the closed position for retaining the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10, the clamping arm 41 is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member 10. In particular, the lock of hair will be guided to whirl around the clamping arm 41 as well when the clamping arm 41 is rotated around the axis of the heating member 10. Preferably, the clamping arm 41 is made of thermal conductive material, such that the heat at the heating surface of the heating member 10 will transmit to the clamping arm 41 for curling the lock of hair after the lock of hair is whirled around the heating member 10.

[0038] The motorized unit 31 is embodied as an electric motor supported within a mid-portion of the handle member 20 to evenly distribute the weight of the motorized unit 31 at the handle member 20. The motorized unit 31 is selectively controlled to generate a forward rotational power to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around the heating member 10 at the clockwise direction and to generate a reverse rotational power to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around the heating member 10 at the counter clockwise direction. Therefore, both right-handed user and left-handed user can operate the hair curling device of the present invention. Likewise, the hair curling device of the present invention can curl the hair at different curling directions as well.

[0039] According to the preferred embodiment, the powering arrangement 30 fiirther comprises a fixation shaft 32 extended from the handle member 20 to the heating member 10 and a rotatable casing 33 rotatably and coaxially coupled at the fixation shaft 32.

[0040] The fixation shaft 32 is an elongated member coaxially extended from the handle member 20 to the extension end of the heating barrel 1 1. In other words, the heating member 10 will not be rotated when the user holds at the handle member 20.

[0041] The rotatable casing 33 is rotatably coupled at the fixation shaft 32 to enclose the fixation shaft 32 therein. In particular, the rotatable casing 33 is freely rotated about the fixation shaft 32 at 360 degrees. The clamping arm 41 is pivotally coupled at the rotatable casing 33, such that when the rotatable casing 33 is driven to rotate by the motorized unit 31 , the clamping arm 41 is rotated around the heating member 10. In other words, only the rotatable casing 33 is rotated to drive the clamping arm 41 moving around the heating member 10 while the heating member 10, the handle member 20, and the fixation shaft 32 are immovable.

[0042J As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the clamp unit 40 further comprises a pivot joint 42 for pivotally coupling the clamping arm 41 at the rotatable casing 33. Accordingly, the clamping arm 41 , preferably having a tapered shape, defines a free end and a pivot end pivotally coupled at the rotatable casing 33 via the pivot joint 42. The tapered end of the clamping arm 41 can easily retain the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating barrel 1 1 initially, so as to enable the lock of hair being smoothly whirled around the heating barrel 1 1. [0043] The pivot joint 42 comprises a pivot shaft 421 pivotally coupled the pivot end of the clamping arm at the rotatable casing 33, a clamp button 422 provided at the rotatable casing 33 for pivotally moving the clamping arm 41 from the closed position to the opened position, and a resilient element 423 supported at the rotatable casing 33 for applying an urging spring force against the clamp button 422 so as to retain the clamping arm 41 at the closed position. Accordingly, when a pressing force is applied at the clamp button 422, the clamp button 422 is pivotally depressed via the pivot shaft 421 to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 to the opened position from the closed position. At the opened position of the clamping arm 41, the resilient element 423, which is embodied as a compression spring, is compressed. When the pressing force at the clamp button 422 is released, the compressed resilient element 423 will return back to its original form to pivotally move the clamp button 422 back so as to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 back to the closed position from the opened position.

[0044] The clamp unit 40 further comprises a handle holder 43 coupled at the top end of the heating barrel 1 1 of the heating member 10 in a non-rotatable manner, wherein the handle holder 43 is fixed with respect to the heating member 10, such diat the handle holder 43 will not be rotated when the clamping arm 41 is rotated. Accordingly, the handle holder 43 is made of heat insulated material coaxially coupled at the top end of the heating barrel 11, such that when whirling the lock of hair, the user is able to hold the handle holder 43 by hand to keep the balance of the hair curling device. Preferably, a silica gel ring is coupled between the handle holder 43 and the heating barrel 11 for preventing the heat from the heating barrel 1 1 being transferred to the handle holder 43. Alternatively, the handle holder 43 can be freely and rotatably coupled at the top end of the heating barrel 11 of the heating member 10, wherein the handle holder 43 is free to rotate at 360° with respect to the heating member 10. |0045| As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the powering arrangement 30 further comprises a safety member 34 radially and outwardly extended from the fixation shaft 32 at a position between the rotatable casing 33 and the heating member 10 for blocking the lock of hair being whirled at the rotatable casing 33. The safety member 34 is formed in a ring shape that the safety member 34 is integrally extended from the fixation shaft 32 at a position between the extension end of the heating barrel 1 1 and the pivot end of the clamping arm 41. Therefore, when the lock of hair is whirled around the heating member 10, the lock of hair is whirled from the pivot end of the heating barrel 1 1 toward the top end of the heating barrel 1 1 where the pivot joint 42 is located. The safety member 34 will block the lock of hair being whirled and stunk at the pivot joint 42 during the rotation of the clamping arm 41. Preferably, the outer diameter of the safety member 34 matches with the outer diameter of the rotatable casing 33 which is larger than the outer diameter of the heating barrel 1 1. It is worth mentioning that since the safety member 34 is radially and outwardly extended from the fixation shaft 32, the safety member 34 is immovable or non-rotatable when the clamping arm 41 is rotated around the heating member 10. [0046J In order to drive the rotatable casing 33 to rotate, the powering arrangement 30 further comprises a gear assembly 35 operatively linked between the motorized unit 31 and the rotatable casing 33 for controllably transmitting the rotational power. The gear assembly 35 comprises a ring- shaped gear element 351 operatively coupled at the rotatable casing 33 and a concealed gear unit 352 operatively linked between the motorized unit 31 and the gear element 351 or transmitting the rotational power from the motorized unit 31 to the rotatable casing 33.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 2, the gear element 351, having the ring shape, defines an outer circumferentially engaging surface operatively coupled with the inner surface of the rotatable casing 33 and an inner circumferentially teething surface operatively linked to the concealed gear unit 352 such that when the gear element 351 is driven to rotate, the rotatable casing 33 is rotated correspondingly. Accordingly, the fixation shaft 32 is extended to pass through the gear element 351 to couple with the handle member 10.

[0048] The concealed gear unit 352 comprises a hollow gearbox 353 rotatably and coaxially received in the handle member 20, a first gear set 354 received in and engaged with the hollow gearbox 353 to operatively link with the motorized unit 31, and a second gear set 355 received in and engaged with the hollow gearbox 353 to operatively link with the rotatable casing 33. [0049] According to the preferred embodiment, the hollow gearbox 353 has a cylindrical shape and defines an inner circumferentially cog surface, wherein the interior space of the hollow gearbox 353 is big enough to receive the first and second gear sets 354, 355. In particular, the hollow gearbox

353 is arranged to transmit the rotational power from the first gear set 354 to the second gear set 355 through the inner circumferentially cog surface.

[0050] The first gear set 354 is operatively linked between the output shaft of the motorized unit 31 and the inner circumferentially cog surface of the hollow gearbox 353, wherein the first gear set

354 is arranged to transmit the rotational power from the motorized unit 31 to drive the hollow gearbox 353 to rotate within the handle member 20. [0051] The second gear set 355 is operatively linked between the inner circumferentially teething surface of the gear element 351 and the inner circumferentially cog surface of the hollow gearbox 353, wherein the second gear set 355 is arranged to transmit the rotational power from the hollow gearbox 353 to drive the gear element 351 to rotate around the fixation shaft 32 so as to drive the rotatable casing 33 to rotate. [0052] It is worth mentioning that the hollow gearbox 353 forms a concealed barrel to receive the first and second gear sets 354, 355, such that the size of the gear assembly 35 can be substantially minimized and the lubricate within the hollow gearbox 353 can be retained for preventing being leaked out of the gear assembly 35.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 2, the powering arrangement further comprises a circuit board 36 supported within a lower portion of the handle member 20, wherein the motorized unit 31 is operatively linked between the gear assembly 35 and the circuit board 36 to form a compact operating structure within the handle member 20. The circuit board 36 contains a heat control circuit of the heating member 10 for controlling the heating temperature at the heating surface of the heating member 10 and a motor control circuit of the motorized unit for controlling the operation of the motorized unit, wherein the heat control circuit and the motor control circuit are integrated at the circuit board 36 to form an integrated circuit board. Accordingly, the circuit board 36 is an elongated board structure disposed at the lower portion of the handle member 20, wherein the circuit board 36 has a cable terminal provided at the bottom end of the handle member 20 to operatively connect with an extension cable and a motorized terminal to operatively link to the motorized unit 31. It is worth mentioning that the configuration of the powering arrangement 30 can substantially reduce the size of the handle member 20 to receive the powering arrangement 30 that the circuit board 36 is activated to control the operation of the motorized unit 31 and then to transmit the rotational power to the rotatable casing 33 through the gear assembly 35. Therefore, the locations of the circuit board 36, the motorized unit 31 , and the gear assembly 35 at the sequent order can substantially save the installing space of the powering assembly 30. [0054] The powering assembly 30 further comprises an operating control 37 for controlling the operations of the motorized unit 31 and the heating member 10. The operating control 37 comprises a plurality of operational buttons provided at an outer side of the handle member 10. Accordingly, a heat operation button 371 is provided at the outer side of the handle member 10 and is operatively linked to the circuit board 36 for switching the heating member 10 in an on and off manner. In addition, the heat operation button 371 can adjustably control the heating temperature of the heating member 10. It is worth mentioning that when the heat operation button 371 is pressed, the heating member 10 will generate heat at the heating surface thereof. In addition, the heating temperature of the heating barrel 1 1 can be selectively adjusted by the heat operation button 371. When the heating member 10 is switched on by the depression of the heat operation button 371 , the user is able to press on the heat operation button 371 at one side with the "+" indication in order to increase the heating temperature. Likewise, the user is able to press on the heat operation button 371 at another side with the "-" indication in order to reduce the heating temperature. Preferably, the "on" indication and the "+" indication are formed at one side of the heat operation button 371 while the "off indication and the "-" indication are formed at another side of the heat operation button 371. Once the user presses on the "off' side at the heat operation button 371, the heating member 10 will stop generating heat at the heating surface thereof. In other words, the user is able to control the heat operation button 371 to keep and adjust the heat at the heating surface of the heating member 10.

[0055] A motorized activation button 372 is provided at the outer side of the handle member 20 and is operatively linked to the circuit board 36 for switching the motorized unit 31 in an on and off manner. In particular, the motorized activation button 372 has two side portions (left and right portions) that when one side of the motorized activation button 372 is pressed, the motorized unit 31 will generate the forward rotational power and when another side of the motorized activation button 372 is pressed, the motorized unit 31 will generate the reverse rotational power. It is worth mentioning that once the depression force at the motorized activation button 372 is released, the motorized unit 31 will be deactivated to stop generating the rotational power. In other words, the clamping arm 41 will stop rotating when the depression force at the motorized activation button 372 is released. [0056] The operating control 37 further comprises an operational indicator 373 provided at the outer side of the handle member 10 and operatively linked to the circuit board 36 for indicating the heating member 10 in an on and off manner. Accordingly, the operational indicator 373 comprises a light generator operatively linked to the circuit board 36 and arranged in such a manner that the operational indicator 373 will generate light effect when the heating member 10 in switched on.

[0057] Accordingly, through the circuit board 36 and the operating control 37, the heating temperature at the heating surface of the heating member 10 is adjustably controlled between 80°C to 240°C. The revolving speed of the clamping arm 41 is adjustably controlled between 10 and 30 rpm, preferably between 14 and 25 rpm. The rotational speed of the output of the motorized unit 31 at an idle state, i.e. only the motorized unit 31 itself, is adjustably controlled about 5000±20% rpm. The rotational speed of the output of the motorized unit 31 at a loaded state, i.e. the hair being whirled, is adjustably controlled about 1600±20% rpm. In other words, through the gear assembly 35 to reduce the rotational speed, the rotational power from the motorized unit 31 is transmitted to the rotatable casing 33 to rotate the clamping arm 41 from the output of the motorized unit 31 between 1600-5000 rpm to the output of the clamping arm 41 between 10 and 30 rpm. It is worth mentioning that the gear assembly 35 is a four-step transmission unit that the gear ratio of the first to third steps is 12/36 and the gear ratio of the fourth step is 12/42, wherein the total speed reducing ratio is about 94.5: 1.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 3, the present invention further comprises a method of curling the lock of hair by the hair curling device which comprises the following steps. [0059] (1) Retain the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Accordingly, the user is able to apply the pressing force at the clamp button 422, such that the clamp button 422 is pivotally depressed via the pivot shaft 421 to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 to the opened position from the closed position. The lock of hair can be placed between the heating member 10 and the clamping arm 41. Preferably, the lock of hair close to the root thereof is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Once the lock of hair is placed, the user is able to release the pressing force at the clamp button 422, the clamp button 422 is pivotally moved back so as to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 back to the closed position from the opened position.

[0060] (2) Activate the motorized unit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around the axis of the heating member 10 for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member 10. Accordingly, when the clamping arm 41 is rotated, the lock of hair is whirled from the root of the hair to the tip thereof. During the whirling movement, the safety member 34 will block the lock of hair being whirled and stunk at the pivot joint 42. Therefore, the lock of hair can be smoothly whirled around the heating member 10.

[0061 J In particular, after the lock of hair is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10, preferably being retained at the middle of the heating barrel 1 1 or close to the extension end thereof, the user is able to activate the motorized unit 31 by pressing the motorized activation button 372 by the thumb of the holding hand. Once the clamping arm 41 is started to rotate, the starting portion of the lock of hair is pushed by the clamping arm 41 and whirled around the heating barrel 1 1 , as shown in Fig. 4. When the clamping arm 41 is kept rotating, the lock of hair is continuously guided and pushed to whirl around the heating barrel 1 1. At the same time, a portion of the lock of hair will be continuously rerained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Fig. 4 also illustrates the mid-portion of the lock of hair being retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10 while the starting portion of the lock of hair is whirled around the heating barrel 1 1 and the clamping arm 41. The clamping arm 41 is kept rotating until the tip portion of the lock of hair is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10, such that the lock of hair, from the starting portion to the tip portion, will be whirled around the heating barrel 1 1. It is worth mentioning that the safety member 34 will block the tip portion of the lock of hair being whirled and stunk at the pivot joint 42. [0062] In addition, the user is able to select which rotational direction of the clamping arm 41 being rotated. By pressing one side of the motorized activation button 372, such as the left portion thereof, the motorized unit 31 will generate the forward rotational power. By pressing another side of the motorized activation button 372, such as the right portion thereof, the motorized unit 31 will generate the reverse rotational power. Once the lock of hair is whirled, the user is able to stop the rotational movement of the clamping arm 41 by releasing the pressing force at the motorized activation button 372. When whirling the lock of hair, the user is able to hold the handle holder 43 by hand to keep the balance of the hair curling device. Accordingly, since the clamping arm 41 is powered by motorized unit 31 to rotate at a constant speed in a controllable manner, the tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel 11 and the curliness of the hairs will be easily controlled by the user. [0063] (3) Generate heat at the heating surface of the heating member 10 for curling the lock of hair. After the lock of hair is whirled, the user is able to press the heat operation button 371 , such that the heating member 10 will generate heat at the heating surface thereof. It is worth mentioning that the curvature of the hair can be selectively controlled by the heating time and heating temperature of the heating member 10. The user is able to prolong the heating time by press-and-hold the heat opera ion button 371. The user is also able to adjust the heating temperature of the heating member 10 through the heat operation button 371. Once the pressing force applied at the heat operation button 371 is releas d, the heating member 10 will stop generating heat at the heating surface thereof.

[0064] (4) Once the lock of hair is curled, activate the motorized unit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate. The lock of hair will be automatically released from the clamping arm 41 and the heating member 10. It is worth mentioning that when the lock of hair is whirled around the heating barrel 1 1 , only the tip portion of the lock of hair is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10 at a position close to the top end thereof. Therefore, when the motorized unit 31 is kept activating to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate about the heating barrel 1 1 , the tip portion of the lock of hair will be released from the engagement between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Likewise, the user is also able to release the lock of hair from the clamping arm 41 by pressing the clamp button 422 to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 to the opened position from the closed position.

[0065] It is worth mentioning that the user is able to hold the handle member 20 by the holding hand and operate the hair curling device by the thumb. In other words, the user can securely hold the handle member 20 with the palm and four fingers. The operation of the hair curling device can be operated by the depression of the operating control 37 via the thumb of the user.

[0066] Accordingly, the user is also able to switch on the heating member 10 to generate heat at the heating surface of the heating member 10 before curling the hair around the heating member 10. Once the heating surface of the heating member 10 is heated up at a predetermined heating temperature, the lock of hair can be retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Then, the motorized unit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 can be activated to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around the axis of the heating member 10 for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member 10. During the whirling of the lock of hair, the heating member 10 will keep applying the heat to the lock of hair in order to curl the lock of hair. Once the tip portion of the lock of hair is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10, i.e. the lock of hair is whirled around the heating member 10, the lock of hair is already curled. Therefore, when the clamping arm 41 is kept rotating, the engagement at the tip portion of the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10 will be released so as to automatically release the lock of hair from the hair curling device of the present invention. It is worth mentioning that the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 is controlled to adjust the heating time of the lock of hair from the starting portion of the lock of hair to the tip portion thereof. When the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 is reduced, the heating time will be prolonged. Likewise, when the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 is increased, the heating time will be reduced. In other words, once the tip portion of the lock of hair is released from the clamping arm 41 , the lock of hair is curled. It is worth mentioning that the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 and the heating temperature can be adjustably controlled by the user to control the curliness of the hair. [0067] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

[0068] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

[0069] What is Claimed is:

[0070] 1. A hair curling device, comprising:

[0071] an elongated heating member defining an outer heating surface;

[0072] a handle member coaxially extended from said heating member;

[0073] a powering arrangement which comprises a motorized unit supported in said handle member for generating a reversible rotational power; and

[0074] a clamp unit which comprises a clamping arm pivotally moved between an opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member and a closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with said heating surface of said heating member, wherein said clamping arm is driven to rotate around an axis of said heating member by said motorized unit, such that after said clamping arm is moved at said closed position for retaining a lock of hair between said clamping arm and said heating surface of said heating member, said clamping arm is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around said heating member.

[0075] 2. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said powering arrangement further comprises a fixation shaft extended from said handle member to said heating member and a rotatable casing which is rotatably and coaxially coupled at said fixation shaft and is coupled with said clamping arm, such that when said rotatable casing is driven to rotate by said motorized unit, said clamping arm is rotated around said heating member.

[0076] 3. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said clamping arm is pivotally coupled at said rotatable casing.

[0077] 4. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said powering arrangement further comprises a safety member radially and outwardly extended from said fixation shaft at a position between said rotatable casing and said heating member for blocking the lock of hair being whirled at said rotatable casing,

[0078] 5. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said safety member is immovable when said clamping arm is rotated. [0079] 6. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said powering arrangement further comprises a gear assembly operatively linked between said motorized unit and said rotatable casing for controllably transmitting said rotational power, wherein said gear assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing.

[0080] 7. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said powering arrangement further comprises a gear assembly operatively linked between said motorized unit and said rotatable casing for controllably transmitting said rotational power, wherein said gear assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing.

[0081] 8. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 6, wherein said concealed gear unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and coaxially received in said handle member, a first gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said motorized unit, and a second gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said rotatable casing.

[0082] 9. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 7, wherein said concealed gear unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and coaxially received in said handle member, a first gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said motorized unit, and a second gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said rotatable casing.

[0083] 10. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said powering arrangement further comprises a circuit board supported within a lower portion of said handle member, wherein said motorized unit is operatively linked between said gear assembly and said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within said handle member.

[0084] 11. A method of curling a lock of hair by a hair curling device which comprises a heating member coaxially extended from a handle member, a clamping arm, and a powering arrangement, comprising the steps of: [0085] (a) retaining a lock of hair between said clamping arm and a heating surface of said heating member, wherein said clamping arm is pivotally moved between an opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member and a closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with said heating surface of said heating member; [00861 (b) activating a motorized unit of said powering arrangement to drive said clamping arm to rotate around an axis of said heating member for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around said heating member; and

[0087] (c) generating heat at said heating surface of said heating member for curling the lock of hair. [0088] 12. The method as recited in claim 1 1 wherein, in the step (b), said motorized unit is activated to adjustably generate a reversible rotational power so as to selectively drive said clamping arm to rotate either at a clockwise direction or at a counter clockwise direction.

[0089] 13. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the step (b) further comprises the steps of: [0090] (b.1 ) providing a fixation shaft which is extended from said handle member to said heating member to support said heating member by said handle member in an immovable manner;

[0091] (b.2) rotatably and coaxially coupling a rotatable casing at said fixation shaft, wherein said clamping arm is pivotally coupled at said rotatable casing; and

[0092] (b.3) driving said rotatable casing to rotate by said motorized unit in order to rotate said clamping arm around said heating member.

[0093] 14. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein the step (b.l) further comprises a step of radially and outwardly extending a safety member from said fixation shaft at a position between said rotatable casing and said heating member for blocking the lock of hair being whirled at said rotatable casing, [0094] wherein said safety member is immovable when said clamping arm is rotated, [0095] wherein, the step (b.2) further comprises a step of controllably transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing via a gear assembly of said powering arrangement, wherein said gear assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing,

[0096] wherein said concealed gear unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and coaxially received in said handle, a first gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said motorized unit, and a second gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said rotatable casing,

[0097] wherein, the step (b.2), further comprises a step of configuring a circuit board supported within a lower portion of said handle at a position that said motorized unit is operatively linked between said a gear assembly and said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within said handle. [0098] 15. The method, as recited in claim 1 1 , wherein a heating temperature at said heating surface of said heating member is adjustably controlled between 80°C to 240°C, a revolving speed of said clamping arm is adjustably controlled between 10 to 30 rpm, a rotational speed of an output of said motorized unit at an idle state is adjustably controlled about 5000 rpm, and said rotational speed of said output of said motorized unit at a loaded state is adjustably controlled about 1600 rpm.