U.S. patent application number 10/680177 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for device for treating hair.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sun Luen Electrical Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Invention is credited to Lai, King Yuen Rosita, Yuen, Tsz Hang Stanley.
Application Number | 20050076930 10/680177 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34422173 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050076930 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yuen, Tsz Hang Stanley ; et
al. |
April 14, 2005 |
Device for treating hair
Abstract
A device for treating hair comprising a first arm and a second
arm connected together at one end thereof, wherein each of said
arms comprises a utility portion and a base portion, and wherein at
least one of said utility portions is releasebly engageable with
its respective base portion.
Inventors: |
Yuen, Tsz Hang Stanley;
(Kowloon, HK) ; Lai, King Yuen Rosita; (Shau Kei
Wan, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Assignee: |
Sun Luen Electrical Manufacturing
Co. Ltd
Kowloon
HK
|
Family ID: |
34422173 |
Appl. No.: |
10/680177 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0002 20130101;
A45D 2200/202 20130101; A46B 15/0024 20130101; A46B 2200/104
20130101; A45D 2/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/132 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/06 |
Claims
1. A device for treating hair comprising a first arm and a second
arm connected together at one end thereof, wherein each of said
arms comprises a utility portion and a base portion, and wherein at
least one of said utility portions is releasebly engageable with
its respective base portion.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is disposable
in a first configuration in which said arms are spread apart such
that hair may be positioned therebetween, and a second
configuration in which said arms may be brought together such that
hair may be treated by said device.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is disposable
in a third configuration in which the utility portion of said
second arm is separated from said device such that either one of
said arms may be used for treating hair.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the utility portion of
said second arm is securable to its base by clipping thereto.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base portion of said
second arm is in the form of a glove within which its respective
utility portion is fittable.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said arms
is in the form of a hairbrush.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said arms
is in the form of a comb.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said
utility portions is provided with a plurality of bristles.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for generating
ionized air.
10. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said ionized air
generating means is provided in said first arm.
11. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first arm and said
second arm are pivotably connected together at said end.
12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is a hair
straightener.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is concerned with a device for
treating hair, and in particular but not limited to a device which
may be used to straighten and/or brush hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are a variety of hair treating devices including
hairbrushes, hair combs, crimping irons, curling tongs and hair
strengtheners. A user of more than one of these devices thus often
possesses multiple devices. Storage of these multiple devices can
be troublesome. The present invention seeks to provide a hair
treating device which addresses this problem. The present invention
also seeks to provide a hair treating device that has multiple
uses, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENION
[0003] According to the present invention, there is provided a
device for treating hair comprising a first arm and a second arm
connected together at one end thereof, wherein each of the arms
comprises a utility portion and a base portion, and wherein at
least one of the utility portions is releasebly engageable with its
respective base portion. The device may include a housing made of
plastics although other suitable material such as a metallic
material may be used.
[0004] Preferably, the device may be disposable in a first
configuration in which the arms are spread apart such that hair may
be positioned therebetween, and a second configuration in which the
arms may be brought together such that hair may be treated by the
device. Advantageously, the device may also be disposable in a
third configuration in which the utility portion of the second arm
may be separated from the device such that either one of the arms
may be used for treating hair. In particular, after separated from
the device, the utility portion of the second arm may be securable
back to its base by clipping thereto. The utility portion of the
second arm and the base may be adapted such that the utility
portion can only be secured to the base in a certain orientation in
relation to the device, or alternatively the device may be adapted
such that the utility portion of the second arm can be secured to
the base in more than one orientation in relation to the
device.
[0005] Suitably, the base portion of the second arm may be in the
form of a glove within which its utility portion is fittable or
receivable. Alternatively, the utility portion may be connected to
the base portion in any suitable manner such as by snap
fitting.
[0006] Preferably, at least one of the arms may be in the form of a
hairbrush. In particular, the utility portion may be provided with
a plurality of bristles. Alternatively, at least one of the arms
may be in the form of a comb. The bristles may be grouped in tufts
and are adapted for brushing or straightening hair.
[0007] Advantageously, the device may comprise means for generating
and/or emitting ionized air. In particular, the ionized air
generating and/or emitting means may be provided in the first arm,
and in particular in the utility portion of the first arm. Ionized
air emitted from the device during use thereof may facilitate hair
treatment. For example, when the device is used as a hair
straightener, ionized air may facilitate the straightening of hair.
Ionized air may also be used as a deodorizing agent. Ionized hair
may also facilitate for smoothening hair.
[0008] Preferably, the first arm and the second arm may be
pivotably connected together at the end. Alternatively, the arms
may be connected by a metal spring. A locking mechanism may be
provided to secure the device in its first or second
configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] An embodiment of the invention is described, by way of
example only, with reference to the following drawings in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a device for treating
hair according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view the device shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1
but in a different configuration;
[0016] FIGS. 7 and 8 are alternative perspective views of the
device shown in FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 9 is an alternative perspective view of the device
shown in FIG. 6 but with a part thereof being detached
therefrom;
[0018] FIG. 10 is an alternative perspective view of the device
shown in FIG. 1 but with a part thereof detached therefrom;
[0019] FIG. 11 is an alternative perspective view of the device
shown in FIG. 1 but with a part thereof removed therefrom;
[0020] FIGS. 12 to 15 are top, bottom, side and front views
(respectively) of the device shown in FIG. 11;
[0021] FIGS. 16 to 20 are perspective, top, bottom, side and front
views of the detached part shown in FIG. 9;
[0022] FIG. 21 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 22 shows a bottom view and a partial cross section view
of the device shown in FIG. 21 taken at Y-Y;
[0024] FIG. 23 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1 but a
pair of buttons thereof is depressed; and
[0025] FIG. 24 shows a bottom view and a partial cross section view
of the device shown in FIG. 23 taken at Y-Y.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Turning to the Figures, the invention is illustrated with a
device for treating hair and in particular a device mainly for but
not limited to straightening hair. The device may also be used for
brushing hair.
[0027] The device is generally designated as 1. Turning to FIGS. 1
to 7, the device is generally in the form of a tong and comprises
an upper arm 2 and a lower arm 4 pivotably connected together at an
end 6 thereof. Each of the arms 2, 4 comprises a front portion (or
utility portion) 8, 10 and a handle portion (or base portion) 12,
14 respectively. The handle portions 12, 14 together form a handle
for the device 1. The utility portion 8 of the upper arm 2 is
provided with a plurality of tufts of bristles 16 vertically
depending therefrom and facing the lower arm 4. Similarly, the
utility portion 10 of the lower arm 4 is provided with a plurality
of tufts of bristles 18 vertically extending therefrom and facing
the upper arm 2.
[0028] The utility portion 8 of the upper arm 2 has an enlarged
housing 20 within which an ion generating and emitting means is
provided (not shown). The housing 20 is provided with a plurality
openings 22 on its top side through which air may be drawn inside
the housing 20, and an opening 24 (see FIG. 13) through which
ionized air may exist from the housing 20. The ionized air may be
used for treating hair.
[0029] The lower arm 14 of the device 1 comprises the utility
portion 10 removable from its handle (or base) portion 14. In this
embodiment, the utility portion 10 includes a narrower end 26 (see
FIGS. 9 and 10) which is fittable within the base portion 14. A
clipping means 28 (see FIG. 22) is provided in the utility portion
10 for securing itself to the base portion 14.
[0030] The device 1 is adaptable to a closed configuration (see
FIG. 7) in which the two arms 2, 4 are brought together with the
bristles 16, 18 from opposite sides therefore brought in close
proximity (if not in contact) of each other and an open
configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 4 to 5) in which the arms 2, 4 are
spread apart. The device 1 is provided with a lock (not shown) at
an end thereof for maintaining the closed configuration of the
device 1. The lock is actuable by an end button 30 between a locked
and unlocked position.
[0031] In use, a user may position hair to be treated between the
arms 2, 4 while the device 1 is in its open configuration. The user
can then bring the arms 2, 4 together in the closed configuration
such that the hair can be sandwiched and pressed with the bristles.
Together with a gentle coordinated pulling motion hair may be
straightened with the device 1.
[0032] In addition to straightening hair, the device 1 may also be
used for brushing or grooming hair. To convert the device 1 from a
hair straightener to a hair brush for example (see FIGS. 7 to 24),
the utility portion 10 of the lower arm 4 is detached from its base
14 by depressing the clipping means 28 and removing the utility
portion 10 from the lower arm 4. After separation from the lower
arm 4, both the removed utility portion 10 and the utility portion
8 of the upper arm 2 may be used separately for brushing hair but
not straightening hair. However, since the upper arm 2 is also
provided with the ion generating and emitting means the device 1
after having removed therefrom may be used as a hairbrush with an
ionized air emitter. Hair brushed and treated with ionized air
tends to be smoother and gentler. On the other hand, the removed
utility portion 10 in itself may be used as a regular hairbrush.
The present invention thus provides a combined hair straightening
and hairbrushing device. The advantages of the device include its
multiple functions, ease of storage and versatility.
[0033] It is envisaged that other suitable utility portions such as
a portion in the form of a comb may be adapted to fit to the base
portion 14 such that the device 1 or the utility portions thereof
can be adapted to treat or groom hair in a different manner.
[0034] Specific language is used to describe the preferred
embodiment. Nevertheless, no limitation of the scope of the
invention is thereby intended, such alterations and such further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated
herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in
the art to which the invention relates.
[0035] The invention as described is deemed to incorporate
equivalents to the integers recited where such equivalents would be
apparent to those skilled in the art. The description is provided
by way of example only.
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