U.S. patent application number 11/250049 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for split-barrel locking mechanism for hair appliance.
Invention is credited to Kam Fai Fung.
Application Number | 20060076032 11/250049 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36203525 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060076032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fung; Kam Fai |
April 13, 2006 |
Split-barrel locking mechanism for hair appliance
Abstract
A hair-straightening device has a handle, a barrel, a spoon and
a thumb rest. The barrel is comprised of an upper barrel and a
lower barrel. The thumb rest includes a spoon lock that enables a
user to choose between using the hair device as a
hair-straightening appliance or as a curling iron. When the thumb
rest is in a pulled back position, the spoon lock is disengaged
from the barrel connector and upper barrel. As such, as the thumb
rest is depressed, the hinge pivots about its axis, causing the
spoon to open with respect to the barrel. The user can then operate
the device as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in the forward
position, the spoon lock engages the barrel connector, which is
connected to the upper barrel end. As the user depresses the thumb
rest, the barrel connector and upper barrel end pivot about the
hinge. This causes the entire upper barrel to open, rather than
just the spoon. The user can then operate the device as a
straightening iron.
Inventors: |
Fung; Kam Fai; (Hong Kong,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN A. GARNER, ESQ.;CONAIR CORPORATION
ONE CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
36203525 |
Appl. No.: |
11/250049 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60618461 |
Oct 13, 2004 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/224 ;
132/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/06 20130101; A45D
2/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/224 ;
132/232 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/00 20060101
A45D001/00; A45D 1/04 20060101 A45D001/04 |
Claims
1. A hair styling device comprising: a barrel including a first
portion and a second portion; a hinge connecting said first portion
and said second portion; a clamp member to hold a user's hair; and
a locking mechanism adapted to be placed in a first position to
enable separation of said clamp member from said barrel or a second
position to enable separation of said first portion from said
second portion.
2. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising
an actuator to enable a user to separate said clamp member from
said barrel when said locking mechanism is in said first position
or to separate said first portion from said second portion when
said locking mechanism is in said second position.
3. A hair styling device according to claim 2, further comprising a
connection member extending from said barrel in contact with said
actuator.
4. A hair styling device according to claim 3, wherein said
actuator is unobstructed by said connection member when said
locking member is in said first position to enable said clamp
member to rotate about a hinge away from said barrel; and said
actuator is obstructed by said connection member when said locking
member is in said second position to enable said first portion to
rotate about a hinge away from said second portion.
5. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising a
spring to bias said first portion away from said second
portion.
6. A hair styling device according to claim 5, wherein said locking
mechanism comprises: a latch on one of said first or second
portions; and a switch and a plate on the other of said first or
second portions.
7. A hair styling device according to claim 6, wherein said plate
obstructs said latch, preventing said first portion from being
separated from said second portion, when said switch is in a second
position.
8. A hair styling device according to claim 6, wherein said latch
is unobstructed by said plate, enabling said first portion to be
separated from said second portion, when said switch is in a first
position.
9. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising 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.
10. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein a distal
end of said first and/or said second portions are made from a
material to maintain said distal end at a temperature lower than
said first and/or second portions.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/618,461 filed on Oct. 13, 2004,
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to hair appliances and, more
particularly, to a locking mechanism for a hair-straightening
device, especially of the type that enables a user to easily
alternate between a hair straightening device and a curling
iron.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 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 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.
[0004] It is also known in the art to provide hair-curling devices,
which use electrical heating elements to heat a cylindrical surface
around which a strand of hair is wrapped to apply heat to the hair.
These curling irons also have a spring-biased clamp, having a
partial cylindrical section, which engages the cylinder around
which the strand of hair is wrapped. The clamp facilitates curling
of the hair by holding the hair firmly against the cylinder. The
clamp is typically biased against the cylinder and is pivoted away
from the cylinder by the pressing of a handle by the user. When the
handle on the clamp is released, the clamp engages the
cylinder.
[0005] While various known hair-straightening devices and
hair-curling devices exist generally, there is a need for a device
that comprises both a hair straightening-device and a hair-curling
device in one easily interchangeable device. Other known devices
require using two separate devices for the tasks of straightening
hair and curling hair. This increases the cost for having multiple
hair appliances as well as taking up more space in an often limited
area such as a bathroom or salon area. Such shortcomings make it
desirable to provide a mechanism that would conveniently enable a
hair appliance to comprise both a hair-straightening device and a
hair-curling device in one appliance.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a hair-styling
device that overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings.
[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
hair appliance that combines the features of a hair-straightening
device and a hair-curling device in one easily convertible
appliance. These and other objects are described below or inherent
with respect to the present invention.
[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a
hair-appliance comprises a handle, a barrel, a spoon and a thumb
rest. The barrel is comprised of an upper barrel and a lower
barrel. The hair appliance can also include an on/off switch, a
power indicator, a charging socket and a cool-tip for easier
handling of the hair device.
[0009] The thumb rest includes a spoon lock that enables a user to
choose between using the hair device as a hair-straightening
appliance or as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in a pulled
back position, the spoon lock is disengaged from the barrel
connector and upper barrel. As such, as the thumb rest is
depressed, the hinge pivots about its axis, causing the spoon to
open with respect to the barrel. The user can then operate the
device as a curling iron.
[0010] When the thumb rest is in the forward position, the spoon
lock engages the barrel connector, which is connected to the upper
barrel end. As the user depresses the thumb rest, the barrel
connector and upper barrel end pivot about the hinge. This causes
the entire upper barrel to open, rather than just the spoon. The
user can then operate the device as a straightening iron.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of a hair device according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of the hair device according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a side, partial section view of a preferred
embodiment of a hair device according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2B is a partly magnified view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism unlocked.
[0015] FIG. 2C is a partly magnified view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism locked.
[0016] FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism unlocked and the device in the closed
position.
[0017] FIG. 3B is a front perspective view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism unlocked and the device in the open
position.
[0018] FIG. 3C is a partly magnified view of FIG. 3A according to
the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism locked and the device in the closed
position.
[0020] FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism locked and the device in the open
position.
[0021] FIG. 4C is a partly magnified view of FIG. 4A according to
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the hair device according to an
alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the hair device of FIG.
5A.
[0024] FIG. 5C is a partly magnified view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism unlocked according to an alternate embodiment
of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 5D is a partly magnified view of the hair device with
the locking mechanism locked according to an alternate embodiment
of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hair device according to
another alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the present invention is
described in the preferred embodiments as directed to a hair
appliance 10 that can be used as either a hair-straightening device
or a curling iron. The hair appliance 10 may include a handle 12, a
barrel 14, a spoon 16 and a thumb rest 18. The barrel 14 is
comprised of an upper barrel 20 and a lower barrel 22. The hair
appliance 10 can also include an on/off switch 24, a power
indicator 26, a charging socket 28 and a cool-tip 30 for easier
handling of the hair device 10.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the thumb rest 18 includes a
spoon lock 32 that enables a user to choose between using the hair
device 10 as a hair-straightening appliance or as a curling iron.
FIG. 2B shows the device 10 in the unlocked position. The thumb
rest 18 is in a pulled back position. This causes the spoon lock 32
to be disengaged from the barrel connector 34 and upper barrel 20.
As such, as the thumb rest 18 is depressed, the hinge 36 pivots
about its axis, causing the spoon 16 to open with respect to the
barrel. The user can then operate the device 10 as a curling
iron.
[0029] FIG. 2C shows the device 10 in the locked position. The
thumb rest 18 is in the forward position. This causes the spoon
lock 32 to engage the barrel connector 34, which is connected to
the upper barrel end 38. As the user depresses the thumb rest 18,
the barrel connector 34 and upper barrel end 38 pivot about the
hinge 36. This causes the entire upper barrel 20 to open, rather
than just the spoon 16. The user can then operate the device 10 as
a straightening iron.
[0030] FIGS. 3A to 3C show the entire device 10 with the spoon lock
32 in the back, unlocked position. A user could disengage the spoon
lock 32 from the barrel connector 34 by pulling the thumb rest 18
backward with his or her thumb. By then depressing the thumb rest
18, the spoon 16 would pivot about the hinge 36 to an open
position. The user could then place hair about the barrel 14 and
release the thumb rest 18 to grasp the hair for curling.
[0031] FIGS. 4A to 4C show the entire device 10 with the spoon lock
32 in the forward, locked position. A user could engage the spoon
lock 32 with the barrel connector 34 by pushing the thumb rest 18
forward with his or her thumb. By then depressing the thumb rest
18, the spoon lock 32 would engage the barrel connector 34, which
is connected to the upper barrel end 38. As such, the barrel
connector 34 and the upper barrel end 38 would pivot about the
hinge 36. This would cause the upper barrel 20 to open, rather than
just the spoon 16. A user could then place hair between the plates
40 of the upper barrel 20 and lower barrel 22 to grasp hair for
straightening.
[0032] FIGS. 5A-5D show an alternate embodiment of the present
invention. This embodiment can use a switch 52, a plate 54 and a
latch 56 to enable a user to use a hair appliance as either a
hair-straightening device or a curling iron. When the switch 52,
located on the lower barrel, is in a first position, as shown in
FIG. 5C, the plate 54 catches the latch 56, which is located on the
upper barrel, and prevents the upper barrel from being separated
from the lower barrel. At this point, the user can use the hair
appliance as a curling iron.
[0033] When the switch 52 is in a second position, as shown in FIG.
5D, the latch 56 is unobstructed by the plate 54. This enables the
upper barrel to be separated from the lower barrel. At this point,
the user can use the hair appliance as a straightening iron.
[0034] FIG. 6 shows another alternate embodiment, which uses a
locking mechanism with a cam 60. As the switch 62 is rotated, the
cam 60 rotates and obstructs the upper barrel from being separated
from the lower barrel. When the switch 62 is rotated in the
opposite direction, the cam 60 rotates along with it and the upper
barrel is unobstructed so that it may be separated from the lower
barrel.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *