U.S. patent application number 10/619826 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for hair curling iron with concave/convex heating surfaces.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wahl Clipper Corporation. Invention is credited to Altamore, Nicolo.
Application Number | 20040124188 10/619826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29780537 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040124188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Altamore, Nicolo |
July 1, 2004 |
Hair curling iron with concave/convex heating surfaces
Abstract
A curling iron is provided including a first leg with a bottom
surface and a second leg with a top surface, the bottom and top
surfaces being in opposed relationship to each other and having a
nested convex/concave shape. In the preferred embodiment, both of
the legs are heated. Also, in one embodiment, the first leg is
biased against a second leg, and a release lever is provided for
selectively overcoming the biasing force and separating said legs.
In another embodiment, the first leg is pivotable relative to the
second leg, and a clamp lever is provided for controlling the
pivoting action.
Inventors: |
Altamore, Nicolo; (Rockford,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREER, BURNS & CRAIN
300 S WACKER DR
25TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Wahl Clipper Corporation
|
Family ID: |
29780537 |
Appl. No.: |
10/619826 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60395910 |
Jul 15, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
219/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/06 20130101; A45D
2/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/225 |
International
Class: |
A45D 001/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A curling iron comprising: a first leg with a bottom surface and
a second leg with a top surface, said bottom and top surfaces being
in opposed relationship to each other and having a nested
convex/concave shape.
2. The curling iron of claim 1 wherein both said legs are
heated.
3. The curling iron of claim 1 wherein said first leg is biased
against a second leg, and a release lever is provided for
selectively overcoming the biasing force and separating said
legs.
4. The curling iron of claim 1 wherein said first leg is pivotable
relative to said second leg, and a clamp lever is provided for
controlling the pivoting action.
5. A curling iron comprising: a pair of legs having opposed
concave/convex surfaces, where both said surfaces are heated.
6. The curling iron of claim 5 wherein a first one of said pair of
legs is biased against a second leg of said pair of legs, and a
release lever is provided for selectively overcoming the biasing
force and separating said legs.
7. The curling iron of claim 5 wherein a first leg of said pair of
legs is pivotable relative to a second leg of said pair of legs,
and a clamp lever is provided for controlling the pivoting action.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a non-provisional application based on U.S. Ser. No.
60/395,910 filed Jul. 15, 2002 and entitled: Hair Curling Iron With
Concave/Convex Heating Surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates generally to hair styling
appliances, and particularly to curling irons.
[0003] Conventional curling irons used by consumers and
professional stylists employ an unheated clamp against a heated
barrel. Hair caught by the clamp and pressed against the barrel is
styled as desired by the user or stylist. Often a rotating or
twisting motion is used to obtain the desired look.
[0004] In some cases, it has been difficult, using conventional
curling irons, to obtain gentle flips or waves at the hair ends
using conventional curling irons. In other cases, it has been
difficult to both straighten and provide gradual flips or waves
with the same iron.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for a curling iron which can achieve
gradual flips or curves at the hair ends, and which can also
straighten hair where needed. Furthermore, there is a need for a
curling iron which can create a ribbon-like hair look.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The above-identified needs are met or exceeded by the
present curling iron, which features a pair of clamping arms or
jaws, each of which is heated. In addition, corresponding opposed
surfaces of the jaws are configured to form nesting convex/concave
surfaces, with one surface having a convex shape and being received
in the concave shape of the other surface.
[0007] Another feature of the present curling iron is that both of
the opposed surfaces are free of obstructions such as teeth,
ridges, ribs or bristles. As such, the surfaces are smooth for
promoting a clamping/ironing action on the hair strands. The
present curling iron is designed to straighten hair and, when
rotated slightly at the end of the stroking movement through the
hair, to provide a slight flip to the hair ends. When a group of
hair strands are clamped between the jaws, and the iron is rotated
during the stroking movement, a ribbon-like appearance is created
to the clamped hair strands.
[0008] More specifically, a curling iron is provided including a
first leg with a bottom surface and a second leg with a top
surface, the bottom and top surfaces being in opposed relationship
to each other and having a nested convex/concave shape. In the
preferred embodiment, both of the legs are heated. Also, in one
embodiment, the first leg is biased against a second leg, and a
release lever is provided for selectively overcoming the biasing
force and separating said legs. In another embodiment, the first
leg is pivotable relative to the second leg, and a clamp lever is
provided for controlling the pivoting action.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
present curling iron shown attached to a line cord;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
curling iron of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2
and in the direction indicated generally;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the present curling iron; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the curling iron shown
in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hair styling device, generally
designated 10, is shown in a closed position and includes an
elongated, generally tubular first leg 12 and an elongated
generally tubular second leg 14. The first leg 12 has a top surface
16, a bottom surface 18, a styling end 20 and a handle end 22
opposite the styling end. The second leg 14 has a top surface 24, a
bottom surface 26, a styling end 28 and a handle end 30 opposite
the styling end. Both of the handle ends are attached to a handle
32. As is common in the art, the first leg 12 is pivotally secured
to the handle 30 to pivot about a transverse pivot point 34. The
second leg 14 is fixed to project relatively axially from the
handle 32 as is known in the art.
[0015] It is preferred that, in the curling iron 10, the first leg
12 is biased, as by a spring 35 (FIG. 1) against the second leg 14
to apply a clamping force upon hair strands caught between the
opposing, corresponding bottom and top surfaces 18, 24. To open the
legs 12, 14, a release lever 36 is provided to the first leg 12. A
downward force on the release lever 36 overcomes a biasing force
exerted to force the first leg 12 against the second leg 14, and
raises the first leg relative to the second leg.
[0016] In the closed position, seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
corresponding top and bottom surfaces 16, 26 form a generally
cylindrical shape, and the corresponding styling ends 20, 28 form a
generally cylindrical shape of reduced diameter compared to the
surfaces 16, 26. Preferably, the styling ends 20, 28 are made of
heat resistant material for gripping by the user. At a rear end 38
of the handle 32, a line cord 40 is provided, having a plug 42 and
an optional on/off switch 44. It is also contemplated that the
switch 44 could be located elsewhere, including on the handle 32 or
adjacent to the rear end 38. It is contemplated that the length of
the line cord 40 is variable to suit the application (shown
fragmented). Preferably, the cord 40 swivels on handle 32.
[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, an important feature of the
legs 12, 14 is that the opposing corresponding bottom and top
surfaces 18, 24 of the respective legs form a nested concave/convex
relationship. In the preferred embodiment the surface 18 is concave
and the surface 24 is convex, however the reverse is also
contemplated. As seen in FIG. 3, each leg 12, 14 preferably has a
generally "D"-shaped cross-section. Another feature of the legs 12,
14 is that the surfaces 16, 18, 24 and 26 are all smooth, and lack
any bristle, rib, projection or other obstruction which might
impede the movement of the legs 12, 14 through the hair. Still
another preferred feature of the legs 12, 14 is that they are both
heated with respective heating elements 46 located within
respective interior chambers 48, 50. The location of the heating
element 46 may vary to suit the application as is well known in the
art of curling iron manufacture. However, it is also contemplated
that only one of the legs 12, 14 is heated as in conventional
curling irons, provided the nested concave/convex shape of the
opposing surfaces 18, 24 is maintained. If desired, an optional
support stand 52 may be provided (FIG. 2), which preferably pivots
relative to the pivot point 34.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the
present curling iron is generally designated 60. Components which
are shared with the iron 10 have been designated with identical
reference numbers. The main difference between the irons 10 and 60
is that the iron 10 has a spring-biased first leg 12 which is
clamped tightly against the second leg 14 unless the release lever
36 is engaged, as by a user's thumb. In the case of the iron 60,
also known in the art as a Marcel iron, a pivoting first leg 62 is
not biased against a second leg 64, which any biasing force being
provided by the user. To achieve this manipulation, the first leg
62 is connected to a clamp lever 66. Pulling the clamp lever 66
towards the handle 32 places the iron 60 in the closed
position.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the iron
10 is shown and designated 70 in which a first leg 72 is shown with
an upper surface 74 and a lower surface 76, and a second leg 78 is
shown with an upper surface 80 and a lower surface 82. The main
difference between the irons 10, 70 is that the lower surface 76 of
the first leg 72 is convex, and the upper surface 80 of the second
leg 78 is concave. Thus, the nested concave/convex relationship of
FIG. 3 has been reversed.
[0020] In operation, with the user placing a group of hair strands
between the opposing surfaces 18, 24 and in the case of the iron 10
pressing slightly on the release lever 36, and in the case of the
iron 60 gripping slightly on the clamp lever 66, the iron 10, 60
can grasp the trapped hair strands yet slide freely in a stroking
manner from the scalp to the hair tips. Straightening is
accomplished by allowing greater clamping force on the captured
hair. Rotation of the iron 10, 60, as by cocking the user's wrist
during the stroke, adds a flip to the hair. Tighter clamping while
stroking results in a ribbon effect. The combination of
concave/convex surfaces, dual heating and adjustable clamping force
allow a user to obtain a variety of hairstyles previously
unavailable with conventional curling irons. If hair is wrapped
around the iron 10, 60, the hair can be formed into an "O"
shape.
[0021] While specific embodiments of the hair curling iron with
concave/convex heating surfaces of the present invention have been
shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
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