U.S. patent application number 10/859780 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-27 for hair styling iron having a pick and comb.
Invention is credited to Park, Hui Suk.
Application Number | 20050236009 10/859780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35135209 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050236009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Hui Suk |
October 27, 2005 |
Hair styling iron having a pick and comb
Abstract
An attachment for a hair styling iron, or a new hair styling
iron, includes a hair pick and plurality of comb teeth. The hair
pick, which is used for selecting and separating hair, may be
moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The
comb teeth are located adjacent to a heating element for extending
into the hair when the hair styling iron contacts and moves along
the length of a bundle of hair. The attachment may be slid over a
heating element arm, wherein a retaining lip hooks around to engage
an inner surface of the heating element arm adjacent to the heating
element. In another embodiment, a new hair styling iron includes
comb teeth adjacent to a heating element of the hair styling iron,
and a hair pick that extends beyond the end of a heating element
arm of the hair styling iron.
Inventors: |
Park, Hui Suk; (Carrollton,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DECKER, JONES, MCMACKIN, MCCLANE, HALL &
BATES, P.C.
BURNETT PLAZA 2000
801 CHERRY STREET, UNIT #46
FORT WORTH
TX
76102-6836
US
|
Family ID: |
35135209 |
Appl. No.: |
10/859780 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/224 ;
132/270 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/002 20130101;
A45D 1/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/224 ;
132/270 |
International
Class: |
A45D 001/00; A45D
002/40; A45D 019/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 21, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0027466 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for use in styling hair comprising: an attachment
body including attachment means for attaching the attachment body
to a heating element arm of a hair styling iron; a hair pick
extending from the attachment body for separating hair on a scalp;
and a plurality of comb teeth extending from the attachment body
and positioned to engage and guide hair that is in contact with a
heating element of the hair styling iron when the attachment body
is attached to the heating element arm.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hair pick extends
beyond the end of the heating element arm when the attachment body
is attached to the heating element arm.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of comb
teeth extend perpendicular to a plane of a heating element surface
when the attachment body is attached to the heating element
arm.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hair pick is
moveably mounted to the attachment body for moving between a
retracted position and an extended position.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the hair pick is
slidably mounted in a pick channel, and wherein the hair pick
includes guides extending from the hair pick to engage channel
walls of the pick channel.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the hair pick slides
along a longitudinal hair pick axis that is substantially parallel
to a longitudinal axis of the heating element arm.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the attachment body
further includes a shell having sidewalls, wherein the shell is
adapted to contact a back side of the heating element arm, and the
sidewalls are adapted to contact the sides of the heating element
arm, and wherein the mounting means further includes a retaining
lip extending from the sidewalls for contacting the front of the
heating element arm adjacent to the heating element.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the hair pick is
moveably mounted to the attachment body for moving between a
retracted position and an extended position.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the shell is made
from a thermal insulating material.
10. A hair styling iron for use in styling hair comprising: a pair
of heating element arms pivotally coupled by a hinge at a hinge end
of the heating element arms; a heating element at a heating element
end of one of the heating element arms; a hair pick extending from
the heating element end of one of the heating element arms for
manipulating hair on a scalp; and a plurality of comb teeth
extending from the heating element arm to engage and guide hair
when the hair is in contact with the heating element.
11. The hair styling iron according to claim 10 further including a
removable shell at the heating element end of one of the heating
element arms, wherein the hair pick and the comb teeth are
connected to the removable shell.
12. The hair styling iron according to claim 11 wherein the shell
is made from a thermal insulating material, and wherein the shell
does not contact the heating element when the heating element arms
are closed.
13. The hair styling iron according to claim 10 wherein the hair
pick extends beyond the heating element end of the heating element
arm.
14. The hair styling iron according to claim 10 wherein the
plurality of comb teeth extend perpendicular to a plane of a
heating element surface of the heating element.
15. The hair styling iron according to claim 10 wherein the hair
pick is moveably mounted to the heating element end of the heating
element arm for moving between a retracted position and an extended
position.
16. The hair styling iron according to claim 15 wherein the hair
pick is slidably mounted in a pick channel, and wherein the hair
pick includes guides extending from the hair pick to engage channel
walls of the pick channel.
17. The hair styling iron according to claim 15 wherein the hair
pick slides along a longitudinal hair pick axis that is
substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the heating
element arm.
18. The hair styling iron according to claim 10 further including
two heating elements, with one heating element at the heating
element end of each heating element arm, wherein the heating
elements have flat surfaces, and further including a removable
shell at the heating element end of one of the heating element
arms, wherein the comb teeth and an extendable hair pick are
connected to the removable shell.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to hair styling
devices, and more particularly to an attachment for a hair styling
iron having a pick and comb.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Fashionable hairstyles frequently require the straightening
of a person's hair to remove a curl from the hair. Since heat may
aid in the straightening of hair, stylists or individuals styling
their own hair frequently use a hair styling iron to remove hair
curls. Such a hair styling iron is preferably a flatiron, such as
styling iron 20 shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, styling iron 20
includes two heating element arms 22 pivotally connected by hinge
24. One or more heating elements 26 is mounted at the end and on
the inside face of each heating element arm 22. When heating
element arms 22 are moved toward a closed position, the inside
faces of heating element arms 22 come together to heat and flatten
a selected bundle of hair 28.
[0005] Before the hair is heated, a bundle of hair strands of a
manageable size is selected from the scalp of the person having
their hair straightened. A brush 30 having a rat-tail or pick 32 is
frequently used to separate selected bundle of hair 28 from the
remaining hair on the scalp of the person. Brush 30 may also be
used to separate, distribute, and align the strands of hair in
selected bundle of hair 28 before heating element 26 is applied to
bundle 28 and styling iron 20 is drawn over the length of hair
28.
[0006] In the prior art, the person styling the hair must
frequently alternate between using pick 32, brush 30, and styling
iron 20 as different bundles of hair 28 are selected around the
person's scalp. This constant changing and swapping tools takes
time and increases the possibility that the hair styling tools will
be dropped and broken or contaminated. This frequent swamping also
fatigues the stylist. If the stylist is being paid for
straightening the hair, the speed of the operation is important to
the profitability of the stylist. If the stylist can spend less
time straightening hair, the stylist will be able to service more
customers and increase profits.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and
apparatus for styling hair that provides a means for separating
hair and directing hair over a heated surface of a hair styling
iron.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An attachment for a hair styling iron, or a new hair styling
iron, includes a hair pick and plurality of comb teeth. The hair
pick, which is used for selecting and separating hair, may be
moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The
comb teeth may be located adjacent to a heating element for
extending into the hair when the hair styling iron contacts and
moves along the length of a selected bundle of hair.
[0009] In one embodiment, an attachment body includes means for
attaching the attachment body to a heating element arm of a hair
styling iron. One attachment means uses a retaining lip that hooks
around to engage the inner surface of the heating element arm,
which is adjacent to the heating element. A hair pick extends from
the attachment body for separating hair on a scalp. And a plurality
of comb teeth extend from the attachment body from locations
positioned to engage and guide hair that is in contact with a
heating element of the hair styling iron when the attachment body
is attached to the heating element arm.
[0010] In another embodiment, a new hair styling iron includes comb
teeth adjacent to a heating element of the hair styling iron, and a
hair pick that extends beyond the end of a heating element arm of
the hair styling iron.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which like numbers designate like parts, and in which:
[0012] FIGS. 1 is a perspective view of a person having their hair
straightened with a conventional brush and hair styling iron known
in the prior art;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person having their hair
straightened with a hair styling iron and a pick and comb
attachment in accordance with the method and apparatus of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pick and comb attachment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pick and comb attachment
when it is attached to a heating element arm of a hair styling
iron;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the hair styling iron
having the pick and comb attachment on a heating element arm;
and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pick and comb attachment
taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular with
reference to FIG. 2, there is depicted a person having their hair
straightened with the use of hair styling iron 20 and pick and comb
attachment 40 attached to a heating element arm 22. Heating element
arms 22 each have a hinge end near hinge 24, and a heating element
end near heating elements 26. In a preferred embodiment, heating
elements 26 have flat surfaces that cooperate with each other to
straighten hair.
[0019] As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, pick and comb attachment 40
includes shell 42, which is shaped and adapted to be removably
mounted to the heating element end of heating element arm 22 of
hair styling iron 20 (See FIG. 4). A plurality of comb teeth 44
extend or protrude from shell 42 so that they engage hair strands
that are contacting the heating element surface 26.
[0020] Pick 46 extends from shell 42 so that it can be used as a
parting tool for selecting and separating a bundle of hair 28 (See
FIG. 2) on a person's scalp. Pick 46 is long enough to extend from
a top layer of hair down to a person's scalp. In a preferred
embodiment, pick 46 extends about five to six centimeters from the
end of shell 42, and is parallel with a longitudinal axis of
heating element arm 22. Pick 46 is preferably made of plastic, with
a conical, rounded point, which reduces the chance of scratching or
penetrating the skin on a person's scalp.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 3, shell 42 of a preferred embodiment
has an opening 48 for receiving an end of a heating element arm 22,
which includes a heating element 26. Inserting a heating-element
end of heating element arm 22 into opening 48 and sliding pick and
comb attachment 40 on to the end of arm 22 is the preferred means
of attaching pick and comb attachment 40 to hair styling iron
20.
[0022] Shell 42 is adapted to wrap around the back of heating
element arm 22, as may be seen in the section view of FIG. 6, which
looks toward the end of heating element arm 22 along line VI-VI in
FIG. 4. Shell 42 contacts heating element arm 22 at walls 50 on the
back side of arm 22, and at side walls 52 on the sides of arm 22,
as illustrated in FIG. 6. Shell 42 is preferably made of plastic,
or other thermal insulating material, and it does not contact
heating element 26.
[0023] A plurality of comb teeth 44 extend from the end of side
walls 52, preferably in a plane perpendicular to the face or
surface of heating element 26. Comb teeth 44 extend beyond the
surface of heating element 26 so that comb teeth 44 can engage hair
that comes in contact across the face of heating element 26. Comb
teeth 44 should not be so long that they interfere with heating
elements 26 coming together to flatten hair, or so long that
operation of the styling iron becomes difficult. As shown in FIGS.
3 and 6, comb teeth 44 are preferably located at the ends of side
walls 52 on both sides of heating element 26. With comb teeth 44 on
both sides, hair strands in hair bundle 28 may be combed,
separated, aligned, and held in straight alignment across heating
element 26 as the heat straightens the hair.
[0024] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, comb
teeth 44 may be implemented with other hair separating and aligning
means, such as bristles or tines like those used on conventional
brushes. The bristles may be made of natural material or synthetic
material. A combination of comb teeth and bristles may be used.
Comb teeth may be used on one side of heating element 26 while
bristles are used on the other side. The hair separating and
aligning means should not make it unduly difficult to draw styling
iron 20 along the length of hair bundle 28 when heating elements 26
are close together, in contact with hair bundle 28.
[0025] Retaining lips 54 are also located at the end of side walls
52 for holding shell 42 in place at the end of heating element arm
22. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, retaining lip 54 extends inward, and
perpendicular to side wall 52 at the end of side wall 52 to engage
or contact the inner face 56 of heating element arm 22 adjacent to
heating element 26. Thus, shell 42 is attached or held in place on
the end of heating element arm 22 by contacting heating element arm
22 on the back side at walls 50, on the sides of heating element
arm 22 by side walls 52, and on the inner face 56 of heating
element arm 22 by retaining lips 54. As pick and comb attachment 40
is slid over the end of heating element arm 22 it may be held in
place by a friction fit between the inside of shell 42 wrapping
around and contacting the shape of heating element arm 22, without
interfering with the surface of heating element 26 or the closing
of arms 22.
[0026] While the preferred method of attaching pick and comb
attachment 40 is a friction fit having surfaces that wrap around
the end of heating element arm 22, alternative attachment means may
be used in other embodiments. For example, some adhesives that
resist higher temperatures may be used to glue or adhere shell 42
to the back of heating element arm 22. If glue is used, retaining
lips 54 may not be needed, but comb teeth 44 would still extend
beyond the surface of heating element 26, at the sides of heating
element 26. The adhesive may be placed on the inside of walls 50
and side walls 52.
[0027] Other embodiments may use straps or bands behind heating
element 26 closer to hinge 24, where the bands may wrap around
heating element arm 22 so that the band does not interfere with
heating element 26 or the closing of heating element arms 22.
[0028] Yet another embodiment may use small screws that penetrate
through walls 50 into the surface of the back of heating element
arm 22. If screws or similar fasteners are used, such fasteners
should be short so that they do not penetrate the back of heating
element arm 22 and interfere with electrical wires or heating
element 26.
[0029] If the back of heating element arm 22 has holes or other
ridges or contours, shell 42 may be custom designed to mount, grip,
or attach to the specific shape of heating element arm 22. A custom
shell may extend into openings or have lips that grip ridges or
slots that may appear on the sides or back of heating element arm
22. Shell 42 may have finger-like projections that snap into slots
or indentions in the shape of heating element arm 22 as shell 42 is
pressed and snapped onto the back of heating element arm 22.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, hair pick 46 extends from the end
of shell 42, with a longitudinal axis of hair pick 46 substantially
parallel with a longitudinal axis of heating element arm 22, and
the longitudinal axis of opening 48. In a preferred embodiment,
pick 42 moves from a retracted position 58 to an extended position
60 along the longitudinal axis of hair pick 46. Extended position
60 is shown with dotted lines in FIG. 3. The movement indicated by
arrow 64 in FIG. 3 may be actuated by sliding hair pick 46 using
pick slider button 62 that moves along button slot 66.
[0031] Hair pick 46 passes through an opening 70 (see FIGS. 3 and
4) as it extends from shell 42, where opening 70 preferably has a
shape conformed to the cross-sectional shape of hair pick 46. As
shown in FIG. 6, hair pick 46 may have a rectangular
cross-sectional shape, which keeps it from rotating when located in
opening 70 that has a rectangular shape.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, pick slider button 62 in button slot 66
extends above shell 42 where it may be easily moved with a finger
or thumb. The end of hair pick 46 near slider button 62 may include
guides 68 that slide along channel walls 70 of pick channel 74.
Guides 68 are preferably friction fit between channel walls 70 so
that pick 46 stays in place, whether extended or retracted. Guides
68 may have an outward spring force to more forcefully engage
channel walls 70. Detents or another such mechanical locking device
may be used in various places along pick channel 74 in order to
secure pick 46.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, hair pick 46 is extendable,
wherein it moves or slides along its longitudinal axis between a
retracted and extended position. In alternative embodiments of the
present invention, hair pick 46 may move in other ways. For
example, hair pick 46 may rotate about a pivot point similar to the
way a blade in a pocket knife opens. A pivoting hair pick 46 may
rotate in a plane parallel or perpendicular to a plane of the
surface of heating element 26. Additionally, a pivoting hair pick
46 may be set when extended in several different positions, or at
several different angles, with respect to shell 42. For example,
while hair pick 46 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 extending from
shell 42 with the longitudinal axis of hair pick 46 substantially
parallel with the longitudinal axis of heating element arm 22, the
longitudinal axis of hair pick 46 may be perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of heating element arm 22, or may be at another
angle with respect to shell 42.
[0034] When hair pick 46 is moveable and located in a retracted
position, all portions of hair pick 46 are preferably held close
to, or contained within, shell 42 so that hair pick 46 is unlikely,
or less likely, to snag or poke other objects.
[0035] While in a preferred embodiment hair pick 46 is movable
between retracted and extended positions, alternative embodiments
of the present invention may include a hair pick that is fixed or
stationary with respect to shell 42.
[0036] A first embodiment of the present invention described above
comprises an attachment that is added or retrofitted to a styling
iron that is known in the prior art. A second embodiment of the
present invention is a new hair styling iron that has a hair pick
and comb teeth integrally formed into a heating element arm of a
hair styling iron. In this second embodiment, hair pick 46 is
coupled directly to heating element housing 90, which is the
portion of heating element arm 22 that supports and covers the back
side of heating element 26. If hair pick 46 is fixed, or not
movable, hair pick 46 is molded directly into heating element
housing 90, where it extends out from heating element arm 22 in a
way similar to that shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, if pick 46 is
movable, heating element housing 90 may include a channel similar
to pick channel 74 in which hair pick 46 may slide between a
retracted position and an extended position.
[0037] In this second embodiment of the invention, comb teeth 44
may be molded directly into heating element housing 90, adjacent to
heating element 26, so that they extend perpendicularly beyond the
outer surface of heating element 26.
[0038] The design of hair pick 46 and comb teeth 44 on the new
styling iron are much the same as described above with reference to
pick and comb attachment 40, except that on the styling iron
embodiment, these features are molded into, which supports,
encases, and covers the back side of heating element 26. Heating
element housing 90 is preferably made of plastic, and may be the
same plastic material that forms the entire heating element arm
22.
[0039] When using a styling iron with the pick and comb features of
the present invention, the operator first extends the hair pick and
uses the hair pick to part and select a selected bundle of hair 28
(See FIG. 2). Hair bundle 28 should include a manageable number of
hair strands that can form a thin layer of hair over the surface of
heating element 26.
[0040] After the bundle of hair 28 is selected, the operator may
close the heating element arms 22 so that heating elements 26
contact the bundle on two sides near the scalp and so that comb
teeth 44 penetrate into hair bundle 28. Then the operator may draw
the styling iron over the length of bundle of hair 28 with a
relatively fast stroke so that the comb engages the hair and
separates and aligns the strands of hair. These initial strokes may
be used to comb the hair with comb teeth 44 so that the hair will
be straight, separated, and fully extend from the scalp. These
combing steps may eliminate the need to use brush 30 to prepare
bundle of hair 28 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0041] Next, the operator once again closes heating elements 26 on
bundle of hair 28 near the person's scalp and slowly draws the
styling iron along the length of bundle of hair 28 in a direction
away from the person's scalp. With the slow movement, heat from
heating element 26 is allowed to straighten and flatten the hairs
of hair bundle 28 because the slow movement causes heating element
26 to remain in contact with the hair for a longer time. Comb teeth
44 help maintain the straight alignment of hair across the surface
of heating element 26 while the heat is penetrating and
straightening the hairs. Comb teeth 44 may also provide some
tension on the strands of hair that further straightens the hair
while it is in contact with heating element 26. This additional
benefit is not realized when a separate brush or comb is used with
a styling iron.
[0042] These steps are then repeated for each subsequent newly
selected bundle of hair 28 until the desired hairstyle is produced.
It should be apparent to persons skilled in the art of styling hair
that the present invention reduces the need for swamping between a
brush and a styling iron because the functions of the brush and
styling iron are combined in the present invention. This
combination produces additional benefits such as the separation,
alignment, and tensioning of hair as it passes over the surface of
heating element 26.
[0043] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the
invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The
embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical
application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and
equitably entitled.
* * * * *