U.S. patent application number 10/775055 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for hair styling appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONAIR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Leung, Anthony Kit Lun.
Application Number | 20050051188 10/775055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33135345 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050051188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leung, Anthony Kit Lun |
March 10, 2005 |
Hair styling appliance
Abstract
This invention provides a hair styling appliance including a
first handle and a second handle, the second handle being
operatively connected to the first handle, a glass surface on at
least one of the first and second handles, and a heater in at least
one of the first and second handles for at least heating the glass
surface.
Inventors: |
Leung, Anthony Kit Lun;
(Hong Kong, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles N.J. Ruggiero, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
One Landmark Square, 10th Floor
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
CONAIR CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
33135345 |
Appl. No.: |
10/775055 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60501120 |
Sep 8, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/224 |
International
Class: |
A45D 001/00; A45D
002/40 |
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A hair styling appliance comprising: a first handle; a second
handle, said second handle being operatively connected to said
first handle; a glass surface being disposed on at least one of
said first and second handles; and a heater being disposed in said
at least one of said first and second handles for at least heating
said glass surface.
2. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface provides a substantially planar working surface.
3. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface provides a textured working surface.
4. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface is two glass surfaces, and wherein one of said glass
surfaces is on said first handle and said other glass surface is on
said second handle.
5. The hair styling appliance of claim 4, wherein said one glass
surface on said first handle substantially opposes said other glass
surface on said second handle.
6. The hair styling appliance of claim 2, wherein each of said two
glass surfaces provides a substantially planar working surface.
7. The hair styling appliance of claim 4, wherein said glass
surface provides a textured working surface for said glass surface
disposed on each of said first and second handles.
8. The hair styling appliance of claim 4, wherein said heater
heats, at least, said glass surface.
9. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface has a surface roughness less than about 4800 Ra(.ANG.).
10. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface has a surface roughness from about 150 Ra(.ANG.) to about
4800 Ra(.ANG.).
11. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface has a surface roughness of about 180 Ra (.ANG.).
12. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising an
adhesive for adhering said glass surface to said at least one of
said first and second handles.
13. The hair styling appliance of claim 12, wherein said adhesive
is thermally conductive.
14. The hair straightening appliance of claim 1, further comprising
a retainer for maintaining said glass surface in thermal
communication with said at least one of said first and second
handles.
15. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface is removably disposed on said at least one of said first
and second handles.
16. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said glass
surface comprises a plate structure.
17. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising an
anti-static material being disposed in or on said glass surface for
providing an anti-static property to said glass surface.
18. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein said first and
second handles provide a thermal conductive path from said heater
to said glass surface.
19. A hair styling appliance comprising: a first handle; a second
handle, said second handle being operatively connected to said
first handle; a smooth material surface being disposed on at least
one of said first and second handles; and a heater being disposed
in said at least one of said first and second handles for at least
heating said smooth material surface.
20. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface is a glass-type material.
21. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface provides a substantially planar working
surface.
22. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface provides a textured working surface.
23. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface is on both said first and second handle.
24. The hair styling appliance of claim 23, wherein said one smooth
material surface on said first handle substantially opposes said
other smooth material surface on said second handles.
25. The hair styling appliance of claim 21, wherein said smooth
material surface provides a substantially planar working
surface.
26. The hair styling appliance of claim 21, wherein said smooth
material surface provides a textured working surface for said
smooth material surface disposed on each of said first and second
handles.
27. The hair styling appliance of claim 21, wherein said heater
heats, at least, said smooth material surface.
28. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface has a surface roughness less than about 4800
Ra(.ANG.).
29. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface has a surface roughness of about 150 Ra(.ANG.) to
about 4800 Ra(.ANG.).
30. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface has a surface roughness of about 180
Ra(.ANG.).
31. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, further comprising an
adhesive for adhering said smooth material surface to said at least
one of said first and second handles.
32. The hair styling appliance of claim 31, wherein said adhesive
is thermally conductive.
33. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, further comprising a
retainer for maintaining said smooth material surface in thermal
communication with said at least one of said first and second
handles.
34. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface is removably disposed on said at least one of said
first and second handles.
35. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface comprises a plate structure.
36. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, further comprising an
anti-static material being in or on said smooth material surface
for providing an anti-static property to said smooth material
surface.
37. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said first and
second handles provide a thermal conductive path from said heater
to said smooth material surface.
38. The hair styling appliance of claim 19, wherein said smooth
material surface is a glass-type material surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a hair styling appliance.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair styling
appliance having a glass working surface for contacting, heating,
straightening and/or shaping hair.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Heated hair may be smoothed, manipulated, and styled more
easily that non-heated hair. There are numerous hair styling tools
and appliances for heated styling of hair. Such hair styling tools
and appliances include hair curlers and plate straighteners of
various configurations having a variety of features.
[0005] A typical feature of these hair styling tools and appliances
includes a metallic heating surface. The metallic heating surface
is heated by either an internal or external heating source. The
metallic heating surface, once heated, is applied to hair being
styled. Ceramic surfaces have also been used for providing the
heating surface of known hair styling tools appliances
[0006] The metallic and ceramic material heating surfaces act as a
thermal conductor for transferring heat generated by the heat
source from the heat source to the hair being styled. While
providing the requisite heat transfer functionality to a certain
extent, the metallic and ceramic heating surface materials provide
a level of frictional resistance to the hair being treated that can
damage the hair. The frictional resistance can be attributed to
surface imperfections and surface variances on the metallic and
ceramic surface materials.
[0007] Microscopic surface variations can snag, shear, and damage
hair. Polishing the metallic and ceramic heating surfaces may be
accomplished, but at a high economic cost.
[0008] Therefore, there exists a need for a hair styling appliance
that heats hair efficiently in a controlled manner without
physically damaging the hair being styled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair
styling appliance having a handle with a glass working surface.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such an appliance that has superior and/or improved heat transfer
to hair being styled.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
such a hair styling appliance having a smooth working surface.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
hair styling appliance having opposing handles with smooth working
surfaces of different materials.
[0013] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide such a hair styling appliance having a heater in thermal
communication with at least one smooth working surface for heating
the smooth working surface.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by a hair styling appliance that has a first
handle, a second handle operatively connected to the first handle,
a glass working surface on at least one of the first and second
handles, and a heater in the at least one of the first and second
handles for at least heating the glass working surface.
[0015] The hair straightening appliance may have the glass working
surface thereof on both of the first and second handles. The glass
working surface on the first handle relatively opposes the glass
working surface on the second handle.
[0016] The hair straightening appliance may provide a substantially
planar, smooth working surface and/or a textured or patterned
smooth working surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the hair
styling appliance of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hair styling appliance of
FIG. 1, but rotated 180 degrees;
[0019] FIG. 3(a) is a sectional view of an exemplary hair styling
appliance of the present invention, including a retainer for
maintaining the smooth working surface in thermal contact with a
handle thereof;
[0020] FIG. 3(b) is a sectional view of an exemplary hair styling
appliance of the present invention, including an adhesive for
maintaining the smooth working surface in thermal contact with a
handle thereof;
[0021] FIG. 4(a) is a side view of an exemplary hair styling
appliance of the present invention, including a heater;
[0022] FIG. 4(b) is a detailed view of the heater of FIG. 4(a);
[0023] FIG. 4(c) is a partial, exploded detail view of the heater
of FIG. 4(a);
[0024] FIG. 5(a) is a side view of an exemplary hair styling
appliance of the present invention, including an alternative
heater;
[0025] FIG. 5(b) is a detailed view of the heater of FIG. 5(a);
[0026] FIG. 5(c) is a partial, exploded detail view of the heater
of FIG. 5(a);
[0027] FIG. 6(a) is a side view of an exemplary hair styling
appliance of the present invention, including an alternative
heater;
[0028] FIG. 6(b) is a detailed view of the heater of FIG. 6(a); and
r FIG. 6(c) is a partial, exploded detail view of the heater of
FIG. 6(a).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring to the figures and, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2,
there is shown a side and top view, respectively, of an exemplary
hair styling appliance in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention, generally represented by reference numeral 5.
Hair styling appliance 5 has a handle 10 and a handle 15. Handle 10
has a distal or free end 12, and likewise handle 15 has a distal or
free end 16. Handle 10 and handle 15 are operatively connected to
each other at a junction or pivot area 30. Junction 30 can be any
suitable connector and/or connecting device or system, including
for example, a hinge, a ball and socket joint, a pivot pin,
etc.
[0030] Handles 10 and 15 are operative to move between a closed
position (shown in the figures herewith) and an open position (not
shown). Positioned in the open position, handles 10 and 15 are
spaced apart at ends 12 and 16, respectively, while still connected
at junction 30. Positioned in the closed position, handles 10 and
15 are spaced at their closest distance to each other. Preferably,
handles 10 and 15 meet (i.e., touch) or nearly touch when in the
closed position.
[0031] Handle 10 and/or handle 15 preferably have a working surface
20 and 25, respectively, thereon. The surface is referred to as a
working surface herein since the material is provided for
contacting and transferring heat from the hair styling appliance to
hair styled (i.e., being worked) using the hair styling appliance
of the present invention. The surface 20 is on a surface of handle
10 that faces handle 15. Likewise, surface 25 is a surface on
handle 15 that faces handle 10.
[0032] In the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures,
working surfaces 20, 25 are smooth surfaces. Preferably, the smooth
working surfaces 20, 25 are glass surfaces.
[0033] Smooth working surface 20 preferably opposes glass working
surface 25, with both preferably being glass, hair placed between
smooth working surfaces may be styled, selectively and/or
exclusively by hair contacting the smooth working surfaces.
[0034] In an aspect of the present invention, the glass working
surfaces of the present invention provides an extremely smooth
working surface for use in styling hair. The smoothness of glass
working surfaces 20, 25 mitigates the likelihood of hair styling
appliance 5 snagging, shearing, tearing, or otherwise physically
damaging hair coming into contact with the glass working surfaces
during the process of styling hair. Glass working surfaces 20, 25
are preferably substantially free of pits and other surface
features that can contribute to roughness of the surface. In
particular, surface features that can typically snag, shear, tear
or otherwise physically damage hair are preferably avoided in glass
working surfaces 20, 25, thereby making the glass surfaces
extremely smooth in comparison to the working surfaces of known
prior art metal and ceramic hair styling appliances.
[0035] The glass surfaces 20, 25 of the present invention may have
a surface roughness average (i.e., Ra) less than about 13,000
Ra(.ANG.), which is the typical Ra value for a ceramic coating.
Preferably, the Ra value glass surfaces is less than about 5,200
Ra(.ANG.), which is the typical for a real ceramic (solid). A more
preferable surface roughness average for glass surfaces 20, 25 is
less than about 4800 Ra(.ANG.), which is the typical Ra value for
an anodized aluminum. A preferable surface roughness average for
glass working surfaces 20, 25 is in the order of about 180
Ra(.ANG.). The notation Ra(.ANG.) indicates that the unit of
measure for the stated roughness average is Angstroms.
[0036] According to the above example, glass surfaces 20, 25 are
about twenty-seven (27) magnitudes smoother than anodized aluminum,
twenty-nine (29) magnitudes smoother than the solid ceramic, and
about seventy-two (72) magnitudes smoother than the ceramic
coating. Thus, glass working surfaces 20, 25 can provide a much or
extremely smooth working surface for heating and styling hair
styled by hair styling appliance 5.
[0037] The relative smoothness of the glass working surfaces 20, 25
compared to other surface materials highlights some of the
advantages of providing the glass working surfaces for styling hair
using hair styling appliance 5. The glass working surfaces provide
a smooth, superior working surface that is less rough and
potentially damaging on the hair being styled.
[0038] In an aspect of the present invention, glass working
surfaces 20, 25 may have the exemplary chemical composition of
C(7.5%), O(32.6%), Na(6.8%), Mg(1.9%) Al(0.5%), Si(41.2%), K(0.5%),
and Ca(9%).
[0039] The specific composition and physical characteristics of
glass working surfaces 20, 25 may be varied to, for example, alter
certain properties of glass working surfaces 20, 25. Examples of
the properties that may be varied include, for example, the heat
transfer ability of glass working surface 20, 25. The shape and/or
thickness of glass surface 20, 25 may be varied to adjust the
thermal conductivity, color, light reflectivity, hardness,
resistance to breaking, and/or other aspects of glass working
surfaces 20, 25.
[0040] The width of glass working surfaces 20, 25 (see FIG. 2,
arrow 100) may preferably vary from about 0.25 inches to about 3
inches. Glass working surfaces 20, 25 having a width of 0.75 inches
and 2 inches are preferred working surface width sizes. The width
of glass working surfaces 20, 25 may be varied for various
considerations such as, for example, the weight, size, and
maneuverability of hair styling appliance 5.
[0041] The glass working surface(s) of the present invention can
encompass glass, glass-type materials, and other surface materials,
although glass is preferred. A pertinent aspect of the present
invention is the smoothness of the working surface of hair styling
appliance 5. Accordingly, a suitable material for use in or as the
coating for surfaces 20, 25 should have a roughness average (i.e.,
smoothness) comparable to glass, as defined above.
[0042] In an aspect hereof, the working surface (including glass
and other materials) may have a coating, such as, for example, an
anti-static coating and/or an acrylic coating applied thereto.
Whether an anti-static, an acrylic, or other type of coating
applied to the working surface, the coating preferably does not
detract from the smoothness of the working surface to which it is
applied. In fact, the coating should improve, if possible, the
roughness average over a glass surface.
[0043] In another aspect hereof, working surfaces 20, 25 preferably
have substantially planar opposing faces when disposed on handles
10, 15, respectively. Optionally, working surfaces 20, 25 can have
non-planar opposing faces that matingly engage with each other
(e.g., wave-shaped plates). Whether working surfaces 20, 25 have
substantially planar opposing faces and/or non-planar opposing
faces that matingly engage with each other, the opposing working
surfaces 20, 25 provide an exceptional contact interface with each
other and hair placed between the working surfaces.
[0044] The smoothness of the working surfaces (i.e., lack of
surface variances and roughness) also contributes to the
exceptional contacting and heat transferring characteristics of the
opposing working surfaces. Thus, hair styling appliance 5 exhibits
improved heat transfer between the opposing working surfaces 20, 25
due, at least in part, to the improved contact area provided at the
interface of the opposing, smooth working surfaces 20, 25 and hair
disposed therebetween.
[0045] The smooth working surfaces 20, 25 may be selectively
removable. Advantages of having removable plates include the
capability to interchange working surfaces of differing sizes,
shapes, thickness, color, and etc.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 3(a), glass working surfaces 20 (25)
can have a mirrored surface 95 positioned between handle 10 (15)
and the glass working surface. The mirrored surface can be
adhesively affixed to the glass working surfaces 20 (25) to prevent
the glass working surface from becoming displaced from handle 10
(25) in the instance the glass working surface is broken. Also, the
reflectivity provided by mirrored surface 95 may be viewed through
glass working surface 20 (25).
[0047] In an aspect of the present invention, hair styling
appliance 5 has a number of controllers for controlling a number of
operational aspects of hair styling appliance S. For example, as
best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, on/off switch 35, including an "on"
button 40 and an "off" button 45, is used to selectively turn hair
styling appliance 5 on and off, respectively. Lamp 60 preferably
provides a visual indication of the on/off. Optionally, lamp 60
provides the heating state of hair styling appliance 5. For
example, when hair styling appliance 5 is "on" and heating to the
selected temperature, lamp 60 intermittently blinks.
[0048] Thumbwheel 50 is provided for controlling the temperature
setting of hair styling appliance 5. Thumbwheel 50 is preferably at
least partially concealed by one of handles 10, 15. In this manner
thumbwheel 50 is not obtrusive and the setting thereof is less
likely to be inadvertently changed. Thumbwheel 50 may control the
heating of hair styling appliance 5 to a number of different
temperature settings. The number of temperature settings may range
from, for example, two to greater than twenty-five different
temperature settings.
[0049] In an aspect hereof, the temperature settings may be
generally characterized into a low setting, a medium setting, a
medium-high setting, and a high setting. Each temperature setting
may encompass more than one of the number of temperature settings
provided for selection by temperature setting thumbwheel 50.
[0050] In one aspect hereof, the selected temperature setting can
be momentarily (i.e., temporarily) increased a number of degrees to
provide an additional burst of heat above the selected temperature
setting. The amount of the temperature increase may be fixed and/or
variable depending on a selected preference and/or the selected
temperature. This feature may be implemented by, for instance, a
"turbo" control (not shown) located on either one or both of
handles 10, 15. The turbo control can, optionally, be incorporated
as an additional feature of on/off switch 35, temperature setting
control 50, or other controls of hair styling appliance 5. For
instance, the turbo control could be optionally incorporated into
temperature setting control 50 and activated by depressing the
temperature setting control.
[0051] Regarding the temperature setting of hair styling appliance
5, it is preferable that the heating of the hair styling appliance
to the selected temperature occur in a very short amount of time,
notwithstanding the selected temperature. Preferably, the time to
heat hair styling appliance 5 to the selected temperature is less
than sixty seconds from a cold start, and most preferably the time
to heat hair styling appliance 5 to the selected temperature is
less than thirty seconds from a cold start.
[0052] In a aspect of the present teachings, hair styling appliance
5 has a flocked outer surface 75. Flocked outer surface 75 can be
brought into contact with hair to add an additional shine to the
hair. Flocked outer surface 75 operates to smooth and add shine to
hair brought into contact therewith. Flocked outer surface may be
constructed of a cloth-like material such as, for example, a felt
material. The inclusion of flocked outer surface 75 is
optional.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 3(a), there is shown a sectional view of
an exemplary hair styling appliance 5 of the present invention. In
particular, a retainer 12 for maintaining smooth glass working
surface 20 in thermal contact with handle 10 is depicted. Retainer
12 provides a retaining edge or lip that maintains smooth and/or
glass working surface 20 in contact with handle 10. In this manner,
glass working surface 20 may be thermally heated upon heating by a
heater 85 disposed in handle 10. Heat generated by heater 85 is
thermally conducted to handle 10 and thereafter to glass working
surface 20. Preferably, the transfer of heat from heater 85 to
handle 10 is controlled and confined to the area in contact with
glass working surface 20.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 3(b), there is shown a sectional view of
an exemplary hair styling appliance 5 of the present invention
having an adhesive 90 for maintaining smooth and/or glass working
surface 20 in thermal contact with handle 10. Adhesive 90 provides
the holding power that maintains working surface 20 in contact with
handle 10. In this manner, glass working surface 20 may be
thermally heated upon heating by a heater 85 disposed in handle 10.
Heat generated by heater 85 is thermally conducted to handle 10 and
thereafter to working surface 20. Preferably, adhesive 90 is
thermally conductive and the transfer of heat from heater 85 to
handle 10 is controlled and confined to the area in contact with
glass working surface 20.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 4(a) to (c), a rope heater assembly 105
is constructed of a resistance wire wound around a glass fiber rope
and insulated with glass fiber tubing. The rope heater is located
between insulating mica plates 110, an aluminum heat spreader 120,
and retainer 12. Aluminum heat spreader 120 operates to disperse
heat generated by rope heater assembly 105. The rope heater is
tensioned into contact with glass working surface 20 by a device,
preferably a spring 115.
[0056] FIGS. 5(a) to (c) are an exemplary hair styling appliance of
the present invention having a PTC (positive temperature
coefficient) heater. The PTC heater is constructed of a
semi-conductive ceramic 130, having a resistance that varies with a
temperature change. The PTC heater assembly 125 includes PTC
semi-conductive ceramic 130 between conductors 135. PTC material
130 and conductors 135 are enveloped by a high temperature, polymid
tape 140. PTC heater assembly 125 is maintained in position against
retainer 12 and glass working surface 20 by a spring 140.
[0057] FIG. 6(a) to (c) are an exemplary hair styling appliance of
the present invention having a mica heater assembly 150. Mica
heater assembly 150 is constructed of a wire wound mica plate 165,
and insulated with additional mica plates 170. Mica plates 170
envelop a contact/heat spreader 175. Flexible mica layers insulate
the heater. Mica heater assembly 170 is maintained in contact with
working surface 20 by virtue of conventional devices, preferably
retainer 12 and spring 180.
[0058] It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the particular hair styling appliance functions and other
aspects of the teachings herein are but examples of the present
invention. Thus, they do not limit the scope or variety of
applications that the present invention may be suitably
implemented. Thus, it should be understood that the foregoing
description is only illustrative of a present implementation of the
teachings herein. Various alternatives and modification may be
devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the
present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended
to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that
fall within the scope of the disclosure herein.
* * * * *