U.S. patent application number 10/845350 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for curling iron cover.
Invention is credited to Leblanc, Cherryll A..
Application Number | 20050252521 10/845350 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35308249 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050252521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leblanc, Cherryll A. |
November 17, 2005 |
Curling iron cover
Abstract
A curling iron cover including a tubular body for receiving the
heating wand of a curling iron. The tubular body has a closed
portion and an open portion connected together by means of a
tapered portion. The outer diameter of the tapered portion reduces
toward the open portion. The open portion has external helical
threads and a pair of longitudinal slots that bisect the open
portion so as to define a pair of clamping arms. A clamping ring is
snugly, yet slidably and rotatably, fitted upon the open portion.
The clamping ring has internal helical threads that mate with the
external helical threads of the open portion such that rotating the
ring drives the ring against the tapered portion to press the
clamping arms inwardly against the heating wand of a curling iron
positioned in the tubular body.
Inventors: |
Leblanc, Cherryll A.;
(Beaumont, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen R. Greiner, Esquire
GREINER LAW OFFICES, P.C.
Suite 110
6701 Democracy Blvd.
Bethesda
MD
20817
US
|
Family ID: |
35308249 |
Appl. No.: |
10/845350 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/00 20130101; A45D
2001/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/268 |
International
Class: |
A45D 002/12 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A curling iron cover, comprising: a tubular body being adapted
to receive the heating wand of a curling iron, said tubular body
including: a closed portion; a tapered portion having a first end
and a second end opposite said first end, said first end having a
relatively larger diameter than that of said second end, said first
end being connected to said closed portion; an open portion being
connected to said second end of said tapered portion, said open
portion having an outer diameter that is less than that of said
first end, said open portion being provided with external helical
threads and a pair of longitudinal slots that bisect said open
portion so as to define a pair of clamping arms; and, a clamping
ring snugly, yet slidably and rotatably, fitted upon said open
portion, said clamping ring having internal helical threads being
adapted to mate with said external helical threads whereby rotating
said ring drives such against said tapered portion and presses said
clamping arms inwardly to selectively grasp the heating wand of a
curling iron within said tubular body.
2. The curling iron cover according to claim 1 further comprising a
pair of nonslip pads respectively secured to one of said clamping
arms.
3. The curling iron cover according to claim 1 wherein said closed
end is provided with a plurality of apertures for maximum airflow
through said closed end.
4. The curling iron cover according to claim 3 wherein said closed
end is provided with a plurality of longitudinal fins project
radially outwardly therefrom that prevent said apertures from
becoming blocked when said cover is positioned upon a horizontal
support.
5. The curling iron cover according to claim 1 wherein one of said
slots is sized to receive the lever arm of a curling iron.
6. The curling iron cover according to claim 1 wherein said open
portion is provided with an enlarged terminal end that serves as a
stop to prevent said ring from becoming detached from said tubular
body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to special
receptacles or packages for tools.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Women have long treated their hair with curling irons to
obtain a fashionable look. While successful in improving
appearance, curling irons have burned many curious children and
inattentive adults. In an effort to cure this problem, insulative
covers for curling irons have been proposed, but they have seen
limited use. Most are too cumbersome to repeatedly attach to, and
detach from, a curling iron. Others are so easily removed from a
curling iron that they offer no protection to children. Still
others are poor insulators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In light of the problems associated with the known apparatus
for preventing curling iron burns by swathing a curling iron in an
insulative layer, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide an insulative cover that is easy for an adult to fix upon a
curling iron but is difficult for a child to remove. The cover
requires neither special tools nor prolonged training to apply. It
is, in fact, particularly intuitive to use.
[0004] It is another object of the invention to provide a curling
cover of the type described that can be employed with curling irons
of many makes and models.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in a curling iron cover for the
purposes described that is lightweight in construction, inexpensive
to manufacture, and dependable in use.
[0006] Briefly, the curling iron cover in accordance with this
invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a tubular body
for receiving the heating wand of a curling iron. The tubular body
has a closed portion and an open portion connected together by a
tapered portion. The outer diameter of the tapered portion reduces
toward the open portion. The open portion has external helical
threads and a pair of longitudinal slots that bisect the open
portion so as to define a pair of clamping arms. A clamping ring is
snugly, yet slidably and rotatably, fitted upon the open portion.
The clamping ring has internal helical threads that mate with the
external helical threads of the open portion such that rotating the
ring drives the ring against the tapered portion to press the
clamping arms inwardly against the heating wand of a curling iron
positioned in the tubular body. Apertures provided to the tubular
body ensure rapid cooling of the curling iron. Longitudinal fins on
the exterior of the tubular body prevent the apertures from
becoming blocked and dissipate radiant heat.
[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become readily apparent upon further
review of the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention may be more readily described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top view of a curling iron cover in accordance
with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the curling
iron cover of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
curling iron cover showing an alternate positioning of the locking
ring.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the curling iron cover
positioned upon a curling iron.
[0013] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring now to the FIGS., a curling iron cover in
accordance with the present invention is shown at 10. Cover 10
includes a tubular body 12 adapted to receive the heating wand 14
of a conventional curling iron 16. Body 12 is provided with a
closed end 18 and an opposed open end 20 having a relatively
smaller outer diameter than that of closed end 18. A tapered
portion 22 located proximate the midpoint of body 12 connects ends
18 and 20. Adjacent tapered portion 22, end 20 is provided with
external helical threads 24. A pair of longitudinal slots 26 and 28
penetrates the top and bottom of end 20 bisecting body 12 and
threads 24 to form a pair of clamping arms 30. A clamping ring 32,
having internal helical threads 34 that mate with threads 24, is
movably positioned on end 20. By rotating ring 32, the cooperative
action of threads 24 and 34 drives ring 32 into tapered portion 22
causing arms 30 to selectively grasp wand 14.
[0015] Body 12 is provided with a constant internal diameter along
its length--one sufficient to contain wand 14. So, to provide ends
18 and 20 with different outer diameters, the wall thickness of
body 12 varies. As shown, the wall thickness of end 18 is about
twice that of end 20. Portion 22 varies evenly in thickness along
its length, having the same thickness as end 18 at its junction
therewith and having the same thickness as end 20 at its junction
therewith.
[0016] Closed end 18 is provided along its opposite sides with a
plurality of apertures 36 for dissipating heat emanating from wand
14 positioned within body 12. A plurality of longitudinal fins 38
project radially outward from end 20 at 30.degree. intervals
between apertures 36 to prevent apertures 36 from becoming blocked
when cover 10 is positioned atop a vanity or countertop and to
maintain unimpeded air circulation through end 20. Fins 38 also
serve to conduct heat outwardly from the interior of body 12 where
it can be dissipated to the environment.
[0017] Open end 20 is provided with an enlarged terminal portion 40
remote from threads 24. As shown, terminal portion 40 has somewhat
greater internal and external diameters than the balance of open
end 20. Internally, portion 40 serves to accommodate the front end
of the enlarged handle 42 of curling iron 16. Externally, however,
portion 40 acts as a stop to prevent ring 32, which is snugly
fitted against the balance of open end 20, from slipping from body
12 and potentially becoming lost.
[0018] Slots 26 and 28 divide open end 20 into a pair of arms 30
having C-shaped cross-sections capable of grasping the top, bottom
and sides of curling iron 16. To enhance the grip of arms 30 on
curling iron 16, nonslip rubber pads 44 having high coefficients of
friction are secured to the inner ends of arms 30 at tapered
portion 22 and threads 24. Pads 44 extend from slot 26 to slot 28
in opposition to one another and have C-shaped cross-sections. With
pads 44 firmly pressed against curling iron 16, it is extremely
difficult to withdraw curling iron 16 from body 12 without
unscrewing ring 32 first.
[0019] Although slots 26 and 28 have substantially the same length,
slot 26 is somewhat wider than slot 28 so as to accommodate the
upstanding lever arm 46 of curling iron 16. As is well known, lever
arm 46 is employed to elevate a C-shaped hair clamp 48 from wand
14. Arm 46, like handle 42, is designed by the curling iron
manufacturer to remain cool to the touch so it need not be enclosed
by cover 10.
[0020] Ring 32 is configured to press evenly against tapered
portion 22. Thus, the forward end of ring 32 is provided with a
mouth 50 having a gradually diminishing diameter for receiving
portion 22. The rate at which mouth 50 diminishes in diameter is
substantially the same as the taper of portion 22 so that mouth 50
and portion 22 can be engaged flush against one another.
[0021] Such flush engagement permits a user to tighten ring 32 to
an optimum degree to secure cover 10 in place and, later, easily
untighten ring 32 for access to curling iron 16.
[0022] From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that use of
cover 10 is straightforward. Once a user of curling iron 16 has
finished curling her hair, such is first turned "off" to stop wand
14 from generating heat. Then, with ring 32 partially engaged with,
or disengaged from, threads 24 as shown in FIG. 3, wand 14 is
inserted into open end 20 of body 12 until lever arm 46 is fully
seated in slot 26. Next, ring 32 is rotated against threads 24 to
the position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to press arms 30 and
pads 44 inwardly against curling iron 16. Curling iron 16 cannot
now burn the user of inattentive passersby. The curling iron 16
enclosed in cover 10 will cool slowly and can be conveniently
stored in a drawer or other convenient place.
[0023] To gain full access to curling iron 16, the steps outlined
above need only be reversed. The process of uncovering curling iron
16 requires about as much time as covering it--mere seconds. The
strength or dexterity possessed by an average adult is all that is
required to accomplish either task.
[0024] While the invention has been described with a high degree of
particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that modifications may be made thereto. For example, cover 10 is
preferably made from a heat-resistant plastic that is a poor
conductor of heat but could be formed from a multitude of other
substances known in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that
the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment
described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *