U.S. patent application number 10/686497 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for hair treatment system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONAIR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Carlucci, Vito James.
Application Number | 20040163661 10/686497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32312484 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040163661 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carlucci, Vito James |
August 26, 2004 |
Hair treatment system and method
Abstract
There is provided a hair treatment system and method that
utilizes a hair styling tool suitable for styling hair and an
application cloth suitable for applying a substance to selected
portions of a person's hair. The application cloth and the hair
styling device cooperate, via hair contacting elements and/or a
securing frame, to provide an effective, efficient and versatile
system that facilitates the effective transfer of any of a variety
of different hair treatment substances in accordance with various
specialized or required hair styling or conditioning
procedures.
Inventors: |
Carlucci, Vito James;
(Stratford, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles N.J. Ruggiero, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
10th Floor
One Landmark Square
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
CONAIR CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
32312484 |
Appl. No.: |
10/686497 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60422215 |
Oct 31, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101; A45D
2/001 20130101; A45D 34/04 20130101; A45D 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/222 |
International
Class: |
A45D 002/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hair treatment system comprising: a hair styling tool having a
pair of pivotally connected arms; one or more hair contacting
elements connected to said hair styling tool; a securing frame that
can be connected to said one or more hair contacting elements
and/or said hair styling tool; and an application cloth for
applying a substance to selected portions of a person's hair.
2. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair styling
tool is a heatable flat iron.
3. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair styling
tool is a heatable curling iron.
4. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair styling
tool is heatable to thermally communicate with said hair contacting
elements.
5. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair
contacting elements have an upper flat contacting surface.
6. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair
contacting elements have an upper corrugated contacting
surface.
7. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said securing
frame has an outer clamping element that connects to said
contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool.
8. The hair treatment system of claim 7, wherein said connection is
selective and said securing frame removable from said contacting
elements and/or said hair styling tool.
9. The hair treatment system of claim 7, wherein said securing
frame has an inner clamping element that is pivotally connected to
said outer clamping element.
10. The hair treatment system of claim 8, wherein said outer
clamping element and said inner clamping element cooperate to hold
said application cloth therebetween.
11. The hair treatment system of claim 9, wherein said application
cloth is connected to said contacting elements and/or said hair
styling tool so that said application cloth is against an upper
heatable contacting surface of said contacting elements.
12. A securing frame for securing a hair application cloth to a
hair styling tool comprising: a first clamping element for
connection to said hair styling tool; a second clamping element,
said first and second clamping elements being pivotally connected
together, wherein said first and second clamping elements cooperate
to hold the application cloth therebetween.
13. The securing frame of claim 12, wherein said first clamping
element has one or more first securing elements.
14. The securing frame of claim 13, wherein said second clamping
element has one or more second securing elements.
15. The securing frame of claim 14, wherein said first securing
elements can penetrate the application cloth and traverse said one
or more second securing elements.
16. The securing frame of claim 15, wherein said one or more second
securing elements can receive said one or more first securing
elements when said first clamping element and said second clamping
element are clamped together to retain the application cloth
therebetween.
17. A method for applying a substance to selected portions of a
person's hair comprising the steps of: providing a hair styling
tool, one or more hair contacting elements connected to said hair
styling tool, a securing frame connected to said one or more hair
contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool, and an
application cloth for applying a substance to selected portions of
a person's hair; and securing said application cloth to said hair
styling tool by said securing frame.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of applying
a hair treatment substance to selected portions of a person's hair
via said application cloth in combination with said hair styling
tool as desired.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said hair treatment substance
is heat-activated and said hair styling tool is heatable.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said application cloth is
secured to said hair styling tool so that said heat-activated hair
treatment substance in said application cloth can be activated
while in contact with said selected portions of hair during use of
said hair styling tool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a hair styling system. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a hair treatment
system and method utilizing a hot hair iron.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Flat iron hair straighteners and/or crimpers are well known.
Typically, these devices have two pivoting arms with at least one
arm having a heating surface suitable for making direct contact
with the hair of a user. These devices can be configured to provide
a variety of different styling effects to the hair. For example, as
locks of hair are gripped between the two arms, the hair can be
straightened, curled or crimped depending on the configuration of
the heating surface.
[0005] Furthermore, it is also well known to apply various
substances to the hair in the treatment and/or styling of hair.
These substances are often in liquid semi-liquid (e.g., gel) form
and are typically applied to the hair via a person's hand and/or a
delivery vessel with a dispensing outlet. Examples of substances
commonly applied to the hair include moisturizing agents,
anti-static agents, de-tangling agents, straighteners,
conditioners, and shine enhancers. Certain of these various
substances are intended to be applied in a dry form or when the
hair itself is dry. For example, it is desirable to apply certain
substances only to the distal ends or portions of the hair rather
than to the scalp. Another example is when it is desirable to apply
a substance during a final styling step such as brushing or
blow-drying. Consequently, techniques have been developed to
facilitate these different applications. For example, certain
substances are applied to the hair via a medium such as a cloth or
fabric. Typically, a piece of cloth or fabric is impregnated or
soaked in the hair treatment substance to be applied to the hair
and is then applied to the hair as appropriate to achieve a desired
effect (e.g., applied directly to the distal ends of the hair or to
selected groups of hair).
[0006] In using a piece of cloth or fabric to apply a substance to
the hair, it is often necessary to drape or wrap the saturated
cloth over and/or about the hair or head to facilitate the
effective transfer of the substance to the hair. Further, it is
also often necessary to apply heat, via a blow dryer, for example,
to facilitate the effective transfer of certain heat sensitive
substances.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an effective, efficient and
versatile system that facilitates the effective transfer of any of
a variety of different hair treatment substances in accordance with
various specialized or required hair styling or conditioning
procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
system, and related method, for efficiently and effectively
applying any of a variety of substances to selected portions of a
person's hair via a cloth.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
system, and related method, for applying any of a variety of heat
sensitive substances to selected portions of a person's hair via a
cloth in combination with a heatable hair styling tool.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
system, and related method, for applying any of a variety of
substances to selected portions of a person's hair via a cloth in
combination with a straightening and/or curling iron.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by a hair treatment system with a hair
styling tool having a pair of pivotally connected arms, one or more
hair contacting elements that can be permanently or removably
connected to the hair styling tool, a securing frame that can be
permanently or removably connected to the one or more hair
contacting elements and/or the hair styling tool, and an
application cloth for applying a substance to desired, selected
portions of a person's hair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hair styling or
conditioning system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of a contacting plate in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the contacting plate of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the contacting plate of FIG.
2;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first frame element in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second frame element in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the first frame element of FIG. 5
and second frame element of FIG. 6 cooperating to hold an
application cloth in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there
is shown a hair treatment system in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment of the present invention generally represented by
reference numeral 1. Preferably, treatment system 1 has a hair
styling tool 2, one or more heatable hair contacting elements 4
connected to hair styling tool 2, one or more securing frames 6
connected to hair styling tool 2 and/or hair contacting elements 4,
and one or more application fabric or cloth 8 cooperative with hair
contacting elements 4 via frames 6.
[0020] While the preferred aspects described herein relate, by way
of example, to a styling tool as shown in FIG. 1, system 1 of the
present invention may additionally and/or alternatively use any of
a variety of other styling tools, such as, for example, curling
irons, hair setters, setting rollers, and other like devices. Also,
although a heat-activated substance is, by way of example, used to
illustrate certain preferred aspects of the present invention, a
variety of additional and/or alternative substances including, but
not limited to, moisturizing agents, anti-static agents,
de-tangling agents, straighteners, conditioners, shine enhancers
and/or other heat-activated substances.
[0021] Hair styling tool 2 preferably has a pair of pivotally
connected arms 10. Each arm 10 preferably has a hand gripping
portion 12 and a hair engaging portion 14. Each arm 10 has a
proximal end 16 and a distal end 20. Arms 10 are preferably
pivotally connected at proximal end 16 thereof via a hinge 18.
Hinge 18 preferably biases arms 10 apart. The bias associated with
hinge 18 can be selectively overcome via a user interaction. For
example, hand gripping portions 12 are preferably shaped, sized
and/or configured to enable a user to efficiently overcome the bias
of hinge 18.
[0022] Hair engaging portions 14 are preferably located at distal
ends 20 of arms 10 and arms 10. Arms 10 can be manipulated, for
example, via gripping portions 12 so that the arms pivot relative
to each other about hinge 18 to selectively move hair engaging
portions 14 between a closed, relatively parallel state, and an
open, relatively angled state. Hair engaging portions 14 are
preferably suitable for selectively mounting, holding and/or
retaining hair contacting elements 4 and/or frames 6.
[0023] In one aspect of the present invention, hair engaging
portions 14 of each arm 10 form paddles that face each other so as
to be selectively closed or clamped together and open or separated
apart. In this aspect of the invention, hair engaging portions 14
are suitable to be clamped about selected portions of hair to apply
heat and/or provide a styling effect thereto. Depending on the
shape, size and/or configuration of hair engaging portions 14 and
the technique employed, hair can be straightened, shaped and/or
otherwise styled as desired.
[0024] Arms 10 can preferably be made of any suitable material
and/or combination of materials for providing safe and effective
handling. Also, arms 10 may have any appropriate shape or
configuration sufficient to accommodate a variety of different
applications in use.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, in a preferred aspect of the
present invention, heatable hair contacting elements 4 selectively
cooperate with hair engaging portions 14 to provide additional
and/or alternative hair styling options. Contacting elements 4 may
be fixed or removable with respect to hair engaging portions 14 and
can have any shape, size and/or configuration appropriate for their
intended use. For example, contacting elements 4 can have an upper
surface 24 that is flat or smooth for straightening hair,
corrugated for crimping hair, or otherwise formed to provide other
hair styling effects.
[0026] Contacting elements 4 can have an engaging groove 26 as
shown in FIG. 4, preferably in a lower surface 28 thereof and with
guides 29, for cooperating with a complementary engaging tongue 30
associated with hair engaging portions 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The
tongue 30 can be either in and/or on the paddles. The tongue and
groove connection can be used to facilitate the interchangeability
of the various contacting elements 4. Also, in one aspect of the
present invention tongue 30 and groove 26 can be thermally
interactive such that heat generated via hair styling tool 2 can be
selectively transferred to an engaged contacting element 4 via
tongue 30 of hair engaging portions 14. Further, the tongue and
groove connection can inhibit or prevent vertical displacement of
contacting elements 4 with respect to hair engaging portions 14. In
another aspect of the invention, hair engaging portions 14 can each
have a lock/release mechanism 32 suitable to selectively secure
contacting elements 4 in position and, in combination with the
tongue and groove connection, prevent any lateral displacement of
contacting elements 4 with respect to hair engaging portions
14.
[0027] Contacting elements 4 can also have a fastener 34 with a
locking element 32 for cooperating with a lock/release mechanism 33
associated with hair engaging portions 14 as shown in FIG. 1, to
removably connect contacting elements 4 to hair engaging portions
14. Fastener 34 can additionally and/or alternatively be suitable
to removably connect frames 6 to contacting elements 4 and/or hair
engaging portions 14. For example, in one aspect of the present
invention, hair engaging portions 14 are each provided with one or
more flanges 36, shown in FIG. 1. Flanges 36 are preferably
configured so that contacting elements 4 and/or frames 6 can be
snap-fit thereover. Other configurations may additionally and/or
alternatively be used.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, in a preferred aspect of
the present invention, frames 6 preferably have two clamping
elements, a first upper clamping element 38 and a second lower
clamping element 40. First clamping element 38 preferably has a
grasping portion 39 and can preferably be removably connected to
hair styling tool 2. Second clamping element 40 can preferably be
pivotally connected to first clamping element 38 via a pin 41 that
cooperates with a socket 43 in first clamping element 38.
Preferably, first and second clamping elements 38, 40 can
selectively, securely hold or retain cloth 8 therebetween. For
example, in one aspect of the present invention, first clamping
element 38 can have one or more first securing elements 42, best
shown in FIG. 1. Also, second clamping element 40 can likewise have
one or more second securing elements 44, best shown in FIG. 1.
First securing elements 42 can preferably penetrate cloth 8 and
traverse second securing elements 44. While second securing
elements 44 can preferably receive first securing elements 42 when
first clamping element 38 and second clamping element 40 are
clamped or closed together. Thus, cloth 8 can preferably be secured
between first and second clamping elements 38, 40 via first and
second securing elements 42, 44, and can be operatively connected
to hair styling tool 2 via frames 6.
[0029] It is noted that other configurations and/or arrangements
may additionally and/or alternatively be used to operatively
connect cloth 8 to hair styling tool 2. For example, snaps, clips,
Velcro.TM. straps, or any similar type connection may be used.
Alternatively, cloth 8 can be modified to facilitate cooperation
between hair styling tool 2 and cloth 8. For example, cloth can be
formed into a sock (not shown) with an open end suitable to slip
over the hair styling tool in an operatively appropriate
manner.
[0030] Preferably, each contacting element 4 is formed of a
suitable heat conductive material such as, for example, a metallic
material and/or a ceramic material.
[0031] Cloth 8, as best shown in FIG. 7, is preferably suited to be
selectively secured or clamped between clamping elements 38, 40 of
each frame 6. One or more pieces of cloth 8 may be used as desired
for accomplishing a desired hair styling effect. Cloth 8 can have
any of a variety of shapes, sizes and/or configurations appropriate
to effectively cooperate with frames 6 and/or hair styling tool 2.
Cloth 8 can be single-layered or multi-layered. Cloth 8 is
preferably appropriately absorbent to selectively absorb and/or
hold, as desired, any of a variety of different substances (e.g.,
hair treatments). Cloth 8 can be disposable and/or reusable. Cloth
8 can be made of a paper and/or fabric construction. The absorbency
and heat resistance characteristics associated with cloth 8 are
preferably sufficient for its intended use. For example, hair
styling tool 2 may operate at temperatures in excess of 200.degree.
C. Thus, cloth 8 is preferably able to safely withstand these
temperatures. Also, cloth 8 is preferably able to effectively
absorb substances of a variety of different consistencies and/or
viscosities.
[0032] Having described some of the preferred aspects of the
present invention, the method for implementing the present
invention to efficiently and effectively apply a substance to
selected portions of a person's hair includes providing a hair
styling tool such as, for example, the styling tool previously
described herein. The styling tool is preferably operatively
connected to contacting elements 4, securing frames 6, and cloth
8.
[0033] Referring again to FIG. 1, in use, one or more pieces of
cloth 8 are preferably secured to hair styling tool 2 via securing
frames 6. That is, the one or more pieces of cloth 8 are preferably
sandwiched between clamping elements 38, 40 of each frame 6 such
that securing elements 42, 44 thereof can securely hold the one or
more pieces of cloth in place. Each frame 6 can be connected to
hair styling tool 2 at any time, as desired, before and/or after
cloth 8 is secured to frames 6. Frame 6 may be connected to hair
styling tool 2 in any suitable manner (e.g., fasteners 34 and/or
flanges 36). The one or more pieces of cloth 8 can have thereon the
desired hair treatment substance. Cloth 8 may be provided with the
desired hair treatment substance at any time, as desired, before
and/or after cloth 8 is secured to frames 6.
[0034] Once the one or more pieces of cloth 8 are properly secured
to frames 6, and the frames are properly secured to the hair
styling tool 2, the hair styling tool, which preferably has a
heater (not shown) operatively connected to a power source (not
shown) via a power cord 15, can be activated to provide heat either
directly to the one or more pieces of cloth 8 or indirectly thereto
via contacting elements 4.
[0035] The hair treatment substance can then be applied to selected
portions of the person's hair via the one or more pieces of cloth 8
in combination with hair styling tool 2 as desired. Thus, the one
or more pieces of cloth 8 preferably cooperate with hair styling
tool 2 so that a heat-activated substance contained in the pieces
of cloth can be activated while in contact with the selected
portions of hair during use of the hair styling tool to apply the
hair treatment substance as desired to the hair.
[0036] The present invention having been thus described with
particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be
obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the present invention as
defined herein.
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