U.S. patent application number 11/148375 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for hair curling iron.
Invention is credited to Suhp Hur.
Application Number | 20060278251 11/148375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37523017 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060278251 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hur; Suhp |
December 14, 2006 |
Hair curling iron
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a hair curling iron. The hair curling iron
of the present invention includes an iron body and a compression
clip assembly. The iron body has a heating body having a bar shape
with a circular cross-section, and a handle which is coupled to an
end of the heating body. The compression clip assembly has a
compression clip having an arc cross-section corresponding to an
outer surface of the heating body. The compression clip assembly is
coupled to the heating body such that the compression clip
detachably contacts the outer surface of the heating body. The
compression clip assembly further has a clip cover which is coupled
to the compression clip such that a space is defined between the
clip cover and the compression clip, and a clip heater which is
inserted into the space defined between the clip cover and the
compression clip. In the hair curling iron of the present
invention, heat is transferred from a clip heater to the hair of a
user through a compression clip, thus preventing excessive heat
from being transferred to the user's hair, thereby preventing
damage to the hair, enhancing the efficiency of the hair curling
operation, and eliminating a safety hazard.
Inventors: |
Hur; Suhp; (Gwangmyeong-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEIN, MCEWEN & BUI, LLP
1400 EYE STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
37523017 |
Appl. No.: |
11/148375 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/232 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20060101
A45D001/04 |
Claims
1. A hair curling iron, comprising: an iron body, provided with a
heating body having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and
a handle coupled to an end of the heating body; and a compression
clip assembly provided with a compression clip having an arc
cross-section corresponding to an outer surface of the heating
body, the compression clip assembly being coupled to the heating
body such that the compression clip contacts the outer surface of
the heating body, wherein the compression clip assembly comprises:
a clip cover coupled to the compression clip such that a space is
defined between the clip cover and the compression clip; and a clip
heater inserted into the space defined between the clip cover and
the compression clip.
2. The hair curling iron as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising: a wire inlet formed at a predetermined position in the
iron body so that a clip heater wire enters the iron body through
the wire inlet; and a wire outlet formed at a predetermined
position in the iron body so that the clip heater wire, drawn into
the iron body, exits the iron body towards the clip heater through
the wire outlet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates
generally to hair curling irons and, more particularly, to a hair
curling iron which compresses and heats the hair of a user to
create a wave or curl in the user's hair.
[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, hair curling
irons have been widely used for creating waves in hair. Various
kinds of hair curling irons have been developed. Of them,
representative hair curling irons were proposed in Korean Utility
Model Application No. 2001-27013, which was submitted in 2001 and
entitled `HAIR IRON`, and in Korean Utility Model Application No.
2003-30715, which was submitted in 2003 and entitled `IRON HAVING
PLATE-SHAPED HEATER`.
[0003] Each of the above-mentioned conventional hair curling irons
includes an iron body having a bar shape with a circular
cross-section, and a compression clip assembly which is coupled to
and crosses the iron body.
[0004] The iron body has a heating body, and a handle which is
longitudinally coupled to an end of the heating body.
[0005] Furthermore, a ceramic heater is installed in the heating
body. A power wire, which passes through the handle, is connected
to the ceramic heater to supply operating voltage to the ceramic
heater.
[0006] Both a power switch and a temperature adjusting switch are
provided on the handle.
[0007] The compression clip assembly has a compression clip and a
push lever which are parallel to each other. The compression clip
assembly further has a clip heating pad which is coupled to a
surface of the compression clip, and a connection part which
couples adjacent ends of the compression clip and the push lever to
each other.
[0008] The connection part forms a closed loop so that an opening
is defined at a central portion of the connection part by the
closed loop.
[0009] The iron body is inserted in the opening of the connection
part of the compression clip assembly having the above-mentioned
construction. The compression clip assembly is coupled to the
heating body of the iron body by a pair of coupling bolts and
allows the compression clip to rotate towards and away from the
heating body.
[0010] The usage of such a conventional hair curling iron will be
explained herein below.
[0011] First, a user turns on the power switch to supply power to
the ceramic heater. Then, the heating body is heated by the ceramic
heater so that the temperature of the heating body is
increased.
[0012] When the temperature of the heating body is increased to a
desired temperature, the user places an appropriate amount of hair
between the heating body and the compression clip.
[0013] Thereafter, the user manipulates the push lever such that
the compression clip is brought into contact with the heating
body.
[0014] Subsequently, the user maintains the compression clip, which
contacts the heating body, and pulls the hair curling iron in a
direction moving away from the user's head.
[0015] While the user pulls the hair curling iron in a direction
moving away from the user's head, heat is transferred from both the
ceramic heater and the clip heating pad to the clipped hairs under
predetermined pressure applied by the compression clip, thus
creating curls in the user's hair.
[0016] As such, because heat is transferred from the clip heating
pad as well as from the heating body to the hair, the conventional
hair curling iron can reduce the time required to curl the hair. In
addition, the hair curling iron can curl a relatively large amount
of hair at one time.
[0017] However, in the conventional hair curling iron, the clip
heating pad comes into direct contact with the hair. Therefore,
there is a problem in that excessive heat may be transferred to the
hair so that the hair may be damaged. Furthermore, the temperature
of the compression clip, which comes into direct contact with the
hair, may be similar to or greater than the temperature of the
heating body. This interferes with hair curling, thus deteriorating
the efficiency of the hair curling operation. Moreover, if the clip
heating pad contacts the user's body, such as the scalp, during
use, the user may be injured. As such, the conventional hair
curling iron is problematic in that a safety hazard exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object
of the present invention is to provide a hair curling iron in which
heat is transferred from a compression clip to the hair of a user
in an indirect contact manner.
[0019] In order to accomplish the above object, the present
invention provides a hair curling iron, including: an iron body,
provided with a heating body having a bar shape with a circular
cross-section, and a handle coupled to an end of the heating body;
and a compression clip assembly provided with a compression clip
having an arc cross-section corresponding to an outer surface of
the heating body, the compression clip assembly being coupled to
the heating body such that the compression clip contacts the outer
surface of the heating body. The compression clip assembly includes
a clip cover coupled to the compression clip such that a space is
defined between the clip cover and the compression clip; and a clip
heater inserted into the space defined between the clip cover and
the compression clip.
[0020] The hair curling iron may further include a wire inlet
formed at a predetermined position in the iron body so that a clip
heater wire enters the iron body through the wire inlet; and a wire
outlet formed at a predetermined position in the iron body so that
the clip heater wire, drawn into the iron body, exits the iron body
towards the clip heater through the wire outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling iron,
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling
iron of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling iron,
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an
exploded perspective view of the hair curling iron of FIG. 1.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hair curling iron according
to the embodiment of the present invention includes an iron body 10
having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and a compression
clip assembly 30 which is coupled to and crosses the iron body
10.
[0027] The iron body 10 includes a heating body 20, and a handle 11
which is longitudinally coupled to an end of the heating body
20.
[0028] Furthermore, a ceramic heater 21 is installed in the heating
body 20.
[0029] Both a power switch 12 and a temperature adjusting switch 13
are provided on an intermediate portion of the handle 11. A wire
inlet 11a is formed in a rear end of the handle 11 through which
power wires 21b and 34b enter the iron body 10.
[0030] The power wires 21b and 34b pass through the interior of the
handle 11 after entering the handle 11 through the wire inlet 11a,
and are connected to the ceramic heater 21 to apply operating
voltage to the ceramic heater 21.
[0031] The compression clip assembly 30 includes a compression clip
31, a push lever 32 which is parallel to the compression clip 31,
and a connection part 35 which couples adjacent ends of the
compression clip 31 and the push lever 32 to each other. The
compression clip assembly 30 further includes a clip cover 33 which
is coupled to the compression clip 31 such that a space 33a is
defined between the clip cover 33 and the compression clip 31 in an
arc cross-sectional shape. The compression clip assembly 30 further
includes a clip heater 34 which is provided in the space 33a
defined between the clip cover 33 and the compression clip 31, and
a stopper 36 which seals the space 33a defined between the clip
cover 33 and the compression clip 31.
[0032] The connection part 35 forms a closed loop so that an
opening 35a is defined at a central portion of the connection part
35 by the closed loop.
[0033] The power wire 21b, which is drawn into the iron body 10
through the wire inlet 11a, passes through the interior of the
handle 11, a wire outlet 20a and the stopper 36 and is connected to
the clip heater 34.
[0034] The iron body 10 is inserted in the opening 35a of the
connection part 35 of the compression clip assembly 30 having the
above-mentioned construction. The compression clip assembly 30 is
rotatably coupled to the heating body 20 of the iron body 10 by a
pair of coupling bolts such that the compression clip 31 rotates
towards and away from the heating body 10.
[0035] The usage of the hair curling iron according to the
embodiment of the present invention will be explained herein
below.
[0036] First, a user turns on the power switch 12 to supply power
both to the ceramic heater 21 and to the clip heater 34. Then, the
heating body 20 and the compression clip 31 are respectively heated
by the ceramic heater 21 and the clip heater 34, so that
temperatures of the heating body 20 and the compression clip 31 are
increased.
[0037] When the temperatures of the heating body 20 and the
compression clip 31 reach desired temperatures, the user places an
appropriate amount of hair between the heating body 20 and the
compression clip 31.
[0038] Thereafter, the user manipulates the push lever 32 such that
the compression clip 31 is brought into contact with the heating
body 20. Then, the inserted hairs are held between the heating body
20 and the compression clip 31.
[0039] Subsequently, the user maintains the compression clip 31,
which contacts the heating body 20, and pulls the hair curling iron
in a direction moving away from the user's head.
[0040] While the user pulls the hair curling iron in a direction
away from the user's head, heat is transferred both from the
ceramic heater 21 and from the clip heater 34 to the clipped hairs
under predetermined pressure applied by the compression clip 31,
thus creating curls in the user's hair. At this time, the hair
comes into indirect contact both with the ceramic heater 21 and
with the clip heater 34 which serve as heat sources.
[0041] As such, because the present invention is provided with the
clip cover 33 which defines the space to receive the clip heater 34
along with the compression clip 31, heat is transferred from the
clip heater 34 to the user's hair through the compression clip 31.
Therefore, the compression clip 31 prevents excessive heat from
being transferred from the compression clip assembly 30 to the
hair. Thus, the hair is prevented from damage. As well, the present
invention is able to increase the efficiency of the curling of the
user's hair. In addition, because the clip heater 34 is prevented
from directly contacting parts of the user's body, such as the
scalp, the possibility of a safety hazard occurring is markedly
reduced.
[0042] Moreover, in the present invention, the wire inlet 11a is
formed in the handle 11 for entry of the power wire 21b, which
applies operating voltage to the clip heater 34, into the iron body
10. Furthermore, the wire outlet 35a is formed in the heating body
20. Consequently, an exposed length of the power wire 21b,
supplying operating voltage to the clip heater 34, is
minimized.
[0043] As described above, the present invention provides a hair
curling iron in which heat is transferred from a clip heater to the
hair of a user through a compression clip, thus preventing
excessive heat from being transferred to the hair, thereby
preventing damage to the hair, enhancing the efficiency of the hair
curling operation, and preventing a safety hazard.
[0044] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention
has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
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