U.S. patent application number 11/209008 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for hair straightening appliance with flocked arms.
Invention is credited to David S. Gardiner, Karen L. Kayser, Leandro JR. Rizzuto.
Application Number | 20060037625 11/209008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35968239 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060037625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kayser; Karen L. ; et
al. |
February 23, 2006 |
Hair straightening appliance with flocked arms
Abstract
A hair-straightening device has a pair of opposing arms joined
by a hinge, which enables the opening and closing of the arms. At
the ends of the arms, opposite the hinge, are plates that are
heated to a temperature sufficient to straighten the hair. The
outer portion of the ends of the arms that are located opposite the
hinge can be covered with a flocking material to provide a cooler
touch to allow a user to obtain a firmer grip with both hands on
the device for more efficient use. In addition, a user can apply
hair products directly to flocked ends of the device and transfer
the hair products to hair that is warmer than when the hair
products are applied directly to the hair.
Inventors: |
Kayser; Karen L.; (Ft.
Lauderdale, FL) ; Rizzuto; Leandro JR.; (Sheridan,
WY) ; Gardiner; David S.; (Stamford, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN A. GARNER, ESQ.;CONAIR CORPORATION
ONE CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
35968239 |
Appl. No.: |
11/209008 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60603717 |
Aug 23, 2004 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/001 20130101;
A45D 7/06 20130101; A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/224 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/00 20060101
A45D001/00 |
Claims
1. A hair styling device comprising: a first arm; a second arm; a
hinge connecting said first arm and said second arm; a first
heatable plate on said first arm for contacting a user's hair and a
second heatable plate on said second arm for contacting a user's
hair; and a flocking material covering at least a portion of said
first and/or second arms.
2. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising a
first heater for heating said first plate and a second heater for
heating said second plate.
3. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein said
flocking material is made from nylon.
4. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein said
flocking material is made from felt.
5. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising
an adhesive to secure said flocking material to said device.
6. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein said
flocking material is adapted to be sprayed on said first and/or
said second arms.
7. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising a
button on said device to control said device.
8. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein said first
and second plates are made from a conductive material selected from
the group consisting of metal, ceramic and glass.
9. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising a
spring within said hinge to bias said first arm and said second arm
away from each other.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/603,717 filed on Aug. 23, 2004,
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to hair appliances and, more
particularly, to an electrical hair-straightening device,
especially of the type having flocked arms to provide a cooler
touch to the outer arms to allow a user to maintain a firmer grip
on the device with both hands, as well as to allow hair products to
be applied to warmer hair for better absorption.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] It is known in the art to provide a hair-straightening
device having a pair of opposing arms joined by a hinge, in which
the arms contain heated metal plates that are adapted to grip a
strand of hair and straighten the hair between the plates through
the use of heat and tension. There have been numerous variations
manufactured with combs or brushes added adjacent to the plates and
variations having steam or ionic features enhancing the heated
plates.
[0006] While various known hair-straightening devices exist
generally, such known devices have the ends of the arms opposite
the hinge heat up to a temperature that is too hot to be
comfortably handled by a user. A user of the device will not be
able to maintain as firm a grip on the device if he or she cannot
hold both the ends adjacent to the hinge as well as the ends
opposite the hinge. This unstable grip would require more
repetitions of pulling the hair through the device in order to
accomplish the same result.
[0007] In addition, such known devices do not allow for hair
products to be applied directly from the hair-straightening device.
Other known devices require the application of hair products
directly to the hair, with the subsequent use of the device. This
means that the hair products are applied to the hair at a cooler
temperature and, therefore, the absorption of such products into
the hair is much less efficient.
[0008] Such shortcomings make it desirable to provide a
hair-straightening device that allows for a user to grip the device
both at the ends of the arms near the hinge, as well as the ends of
the arms opposite the hinge. It is also desirable to provide such a
device that would allow for hair products to be applied directly to
the device and then transferred to the hair when the hair is warmer
rather than apply the hair products directly to the hair.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a hair-styling
device that overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
hair-straightening device that allows a user to obtain a better
grip on the device in order to use it more efficiently as well as
to allow the user to apply hair products to hair when it is in a
condition to be better absorbed. These and other objects are
described below or inherent with respect to the present
invention.
[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a
hair-straightening device comprises a pair of opposing arms joined
by a hinge, which enables the opening and closing of the arms. At
the ends of the arms, opposite the hinge, are plates made of a
material with properties for straightening the hair of a user.
Between the arms and the plates are heaters that heat the plates to
a temperature sufficient to straighten the hair. Various controls
can be used to turn the device on and off, as well as to set the
temperature of the plates.
[0012] The outer portion of the ends of the arms that are located
opposite the hinge can be covered with a flocking material. This
flocking provides a cooler touch than plastic or other similar
materials to allow a user to obtain a firmer grip with both hands
on the device for more efficient use. In addition, a user can apply
hair products directly to the flocked ends of the device and
transfer the hair products to hair that is warmer than when the
hair products are applied directly to the hair. This increases the
absorption of such hair products into the hair.
[0013] The flocking material can be placed on a portion of the arms
by some type of adhesive such as glue, double-sided tape,
spray-adhesive, fastened with snaps, or any other suitable method.
The fabric material can then be cut to the appropriate size and
pressed onto the arms having adhesive. The flocking material can
also be sprayed on. The material can be made of felt, nylon or any
other material that would keep the outer portion of the ends of the
arms insulated from the heaters within the arms.
[0014] The plates can be made from any conductive material such as
metal, ceramic or glass. The use of hard glass creates a burnishing
effect on the hair and improves the straightening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
device according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The present invention is described in the preferred
embodiments as directed to a hair-straightening device having
heated plates with a portion of the arms opposite a hinge being
covered with flocking. This flocking keeps the outer parts of such
arms insulated in order to be comfortably held by a user, as well
as to allow various hair products to be applied to the device
rather than directly to one's hair. It is understood, however, that
the present invention is not limited to such applications and, as
understood by one skilled in the art, may be adapted for
application to other similar uses.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a hair-straightening device
10 comprises a pair of opposing arms 12, 14, which are joined at
one end by a hinge 16. The hinge 16 enables the opening and closing
of the opposing arms 12, 14. Opposite the hinge 16, the opposing
arms 12, 14 hold plates 20, 22, one plate in each arm, made of a
material with properties for straightening the hair of a user.
Between the arms and the plates are heaters (not shown) that heat
the plates 20, 22 to a temperature sufficient to straighten the
hair. Various controls 24 can be used to turn the device 10 on and
off, as well as to set the temperature of the plates 20, 22.
[0020] In order to allow a user of the device to obtain a firmer
grip on the hair, the outer portion of the ends of the arms that
are located opposite the hinge 16 (i.e. the sides within which the
heaters are located) can be flocked. This flocking 30 provides a
cooler touch when the arms are gripped, as compared with plastic or
some other often used material. Without such flocking 30, the ends
of the arms 12, 14 are at a temperature that can be uncomfortable
to grip. By providing this flocking 30, the arms 12, 14 are easier
to hold and a user can obtain a better grip with both hands, while
at the same time, the plates in contact with the hair can remain at
a high temperature. A user having this better grip will be required
to slide the hair through the device 10 fewer times.
[0021] In addition, this flocking 30 would also allow a user to
apply various hair products to hair at a warmer temperature. Many
different hair products can be used on hair and are often applied
directly to the hair at room temperature. By flocking the ends of
the hair-straightening device 10, a user can apply the hair
products directly to the flocked ends of the arms 12, 14 and
transfer the hair products to the hair while the hair is being
heated from the device. Hair products are typically better absorbed
when they are placed on the hair when the hair is at a higher
temperature. Furthermore, the flocking 30 provides a neat and
pleasing appearance.
[0022] This flocking material can be applied by first placing some
type of adhesive to the arms in order to allow the material to
remain on the arms. This can be accomplished using glue,
double-sided tape, spray adhesive, fastened with snaps, or any
other method suitable for this purpose. The fabric material can
then be cut to the appropriate size and pressed onto the arms
having adhesive. In another embodiment of the present invention,
the flocking material can be sprayed on.
[0023] This flocking material can be made of felt, nylon or any
other material that would keep the outer portion of the ends of the
arms opposite the hinge insulated from the heaters. This flocking
could be placed on one or both arms of the device.
[0024] The plates 20, 22 can be made from any conductive material
such as metal, ceramic, or in one embodiment of the present
invention, glass. The use of hard glass creates a burnishing effect
on the hair and improves the straightening.
[0025] A user of the device would grasp the arms 12, 14 adjacent to
the hinge 16 and set the controls 30 to the desired temperature.
The user would then place the hair between the plates 20, 22 and
close the arms 12, 14 onto the hair. The user would then repeatedly
slide the plates 20, 22 from the root side of the hair to the tip
side of the hair. The user can also rotate the device 10 once the
hair is placed between the plates 20, 22 so that the hair runs
between the plates 20, 22, as well as over the flocked material 30.
This would straighten the hair, and allow for the application of
various hair products to warmer hair for better absorption.
[0026] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been described herein, various modifications can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *