U.S. patent application number 11/555969 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-03 for rotary curling iron.
Invention is credited to Edward Gniadek.
Application Number | 20070095810 11/555969 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37994914 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070095810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gniadek; Edward |
May 3, 2007 |
ROTARY CURLING IRON
Abstract
A motorized and heated curling iron having interchangeable heads
enables easy and consistent operation with reduced wrist and arm
fatigue.
Inventors: |
Gniadek; Edward; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
P.O. BOX 2786
CHICAGO
IL
60690-2786
US
|
Family ID: |
37994914 |
Appl. No.: |
11/555969 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60732750 |
Nov 2, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
219/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/225 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20060101
A45D001/04 |
Claims
1. A curling iron formed with a handle supporting a shaft assembly
connected in turn to a head, comprising: the head is formed of a
sleeve terminating in a cap; a pivoting clamp is mounted to the
head and adapted to capture the hair of an individual or of a
person whose hair is to be curled; the curling iron is formed and
arranged so that the handle is manipulated by the user so that the
shaft enables rotation of the head including said clamp; the
curling iron is motorized to provide rotational force by a motor; a
power supply cord supplies electrical power to the curling iron to
provide both motive force and heat; a reversing motor switch
controls movement of and the direction of rotation of said motor; a
gearbox provides direct mechanical force from said motor, to the
head through a mechanical assembly; a commutator drive assembly
provides both mechanical and electrical interconnection; brushes
and conductors formed in commutator drive assembly enable the
transmission of electrical energy for operating a heating element
located in the head; said motor is a DC motor; a dual power supply,
combining DC from a power converter to said motor and line voltage
to a heating element; said shaft assembly incorporates a socket
connected to a sleeve receiver through said commutator assembly
permitting line electrical power to pass from a power cord to
brushes and thence through conductors to a heating element; a
sleeve receiver mechanically fastened to said commutator assembly
adapted to receive a sleeve of selected size and diameter; a clutch
assembly transmitting force from a motor to said drive, said clutch
assembly includes a driving member and a driven member having
respective friction faces; the mechanical connection and operation
of said receiver enables a user to substitute sleeves of different
diameter, geometry outer surface pattern, material, in heated,
pre-heated, or unheated configuration; a resistance heating element
contained within said sleeve and covered at its end by a cap, said
element being energized by an AC power supply from household AC
circuits which is directly carried through cord through said
commutator assembly.
2. A curling iron formed with a handle supporting a shaft assembly
connected in turn to a head, comprising: the head is formed of a
sleeve terminating in a cap; a pivoting clamp is mounted to the
head and adapted to capture the hair of an individual or of a
person whose hair is to be curled; the curling iron is formed and
arranged so that the handle is manipulated by the user so that the
shaft enables rotation of the head including said clamp; the
curling iron is motorized to provide rotational force by a motor; a
power supply cord supplies electrical power to the curling iron to
provide both motive force and heat; a reversing motor switch
controls movement of and the direction of rotation of said motor; a
gearbox provides direct mechanical force from said motor, to the
head through a mechanical assembly; a commutator drive assembly
provides both mechanical and electrical interconnection; brushes
and conductors formed in commutator drive assembly enable the
transmission of electrical energy for operating a heating element
located in the head; said motor is a DC motor; a dual power supply,
combining DC from a power converter to said motor and line voltage
to a heating element.
3. The curling iron of claim 1, further comprising: said shaft
assembly incorporates a socket connected to a sleeve receiver
through said commutator assembly permitting line electrical power
to pass from a power cord to brushes and thence through conductors
to a heating element.
4. The curling iron of claim 2, further comprising: a sleeve
receiver mechanically fastened to said commutator assembly adapted
to receive a sleeve of selected size and diameter.
5. The curling iron of claim 3, further comprising: a clutch
assembly transmitting force from a motor to said drive, said clutch
assembly includes a driving member and a driven member having
respective friction faces;
6. The curling iron of claim 4, further comprising: the mechanical
connection and operation of said receiver enables a user to
substitute sleeves of different diameter, geometry outer surface
pattern, material, in heated, pre-heated, or unheated
configuration;
7. The curling iron of claim 2, further comprising: a resistance
heating element contained within said sleeve and covered at its end
by a cap, said element being energized by an AC power from
household AC circuits which is directly carried through cord
through said commutator assembly said motor being a DC motor.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/732,750, filed Nov. 2, 2005 and having the
same title and inventor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention is a motorized and heated curling iron with
interchangeable heads selectable in various sizes and
configurations to meet particular tasks. Because of greater
flexibility for different tasks and motorized rotation, the
invention is particularly advantageous for operators such as
professionals who are subject to wrist and arm fatigue from
repetitive motion. More compact workstations are also enabled
because of the use of multiple attachments.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Electric curling irons are known, typically using resistance
heating elements energized by an AC power from household AC
circuits.
[0006] Both DC and AC motors are known, however small DC motors are
more efficient and readily available than an AC motor with similar
power, while heating elements draw far more current than can easily
be supplied in DC.
[0007] The invention provides a unique combination of electrical
and mechanical features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A motorized and heated curling iron uses electrical power to
provide motive force and heat energy for curling of hair.
Interchangeable heads are selectable in various sizes and
configurations to meet particular tasks. Motorized rotation enables
easy and consistent operation with reduced wrist and arm
fatigue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motorized curling iron,
viewed from the front.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the motorized
curling iron of FIG. 1, viewed from the front, including the motor
and clutch.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clutch and drive
assembly of the motorized curling iron.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the commutator
drive assembly of the motorized curling iron in a view from the
rear.
[0013] FIG. 5 is perspective view of the preferred head of the
motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative head of the
motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another alternative head of
the motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Curling Iron 10 is formed with a handle 12 supporting shaft
assembly 14 connected in turn to head 16. Head 16 comprises in part
sleeve 18 terminating in cap 20. Clamp 22 captures the hair of an
individual or of a person whose hair is being curled by a
beautician or cosmetologist, referred to herein as the user.
[0017] Curling iron 10 is arranged so that handle 12 is manipulated
by the user so that shaft 14 enables rotation of head 16 including
clamp 22.
[0018] Power supply cord 24 supplies electrical power from power
supply 25 to curling iron 10 to provide both motive force and heat.
Reversing motor switch 26 controls movement of and the direction of
rotation of motor 28. Gearbox 30 provides direct mechanical force
from motor, ultimately to head 16, through the mechanical assembly
described below.
[0019] Commutator drive assembly 32 provides both mechanical
interconnection and through brushes 34 and conductors 36 which
enable the transmission of electrical energy for operating heating
element 38.
[0020] Resistance heating element 38 may preferably be a fiber or
mesh conductive cylinder contained within sleeve 18 and covered at
its end by cap 20. Element 38 is energized by AC power from
household AC circuits which is directly carried through cord 24
through commutator assembly 32.
[0021] Motor 28 is preferably a DC motor because small DC motors
are more efficient and readily available than an AC motor providing
similar mechanical power. Thus cord 24 is preferably fitted with
dual power supply, 25, combining DC from a power converter to motor
28 and line voltage to heating element 38. Appropriate insulation,
grounding and ground fault circuit interruption can be adapted. An
additional advantage of a DC motor is the ease of configuration and
economy in reversing switch 26.
[0022] Shaft assembly 14 incorporates a socket 50 connected to a
sleeve receiver 52 comprising a portion of commutator assembly 32.
Electrical power passes from power cord 24 to brushes 34 through
conductor array 56. This can be wired to correspond to typical AC
electrical "hot" and "common" protocols. Commutator assembly is
electrically connected through conductors 36 to energize heating
element 38.
[0023] Conductors 56 are formed as a plurality of conductive bands
corresponding in number to the number of conductors 36 and brushes
34. In this manner, rotation is permitted while electrical power is
transmitted to element 38. In the preferred embodiment four brushes
34 and conductors 36, 56 enable adequate power transmission for
heating a rotating element.
[0024] Sleeve receiver 52 mechanically interlocks commutator
assembly 32 to handle 12. The socket 50 is formed to receive a
projecting shaft 57, preferably of a "D" shaped section and is
thereby adapted to receive alternate sleeves of selected size,
diameter and configuration, described more fully below. Other
shaft--socket configurations could be adapted, such as a hex
configuration, but the "D" has an advantage in providing only a
single orientation.
[0025] Clutch assembly 40 transmits force from motor 30 to
commutator assembly 32. As commutator assembly rotates, so does
socket 50 for force transmission to shaft 57 and thence head 16.
Clutch assembly 40 includes a driving member 62 and a driven member
64 having respective friction faces 66, 68. In a preferred
embodiment faces 66, 68 are formed in a manner analogous to gear
teeth. Driving member 62 is offset in gearbox 30, thereby
permitting rotation of driven member 64 in turn attached to
commutator assembly 32. Driven member 64 and assembly 32, therefore
are substantially on the central axis of curling iron 10. Should
the lever 22 and sleeve 18 combination encounter rotational
resistance, such as by a hair snag, clutch assembly 40 will release
under load by distortion of the assembly. Other clutch face
arrangements could be adapted, such as a spring loaded crown
gear.
[0026] The mechanical connection and operation of receiver 52
enables a user to substitute sleeves of different diameter, outer
surface pattern, material, or the like, permitting the curling iron
to be used for different curling techniques. Thus sleeve 16 is
typical, but sleeve 80 of larger diameter, or sleeve 82 of shorter
length may be substituted. Elimination of conductors 36 in shaft
57, and substituting a nonconductive shaft could permit use of an
unheated roller, or a pre-heated, non-electrical roller. With
switch 26 open, and no rotation, even a flat, non-rotating hair
treatment member could be used.
[0027] Additionally a rheostat assembly 84 permits control of power
transmitted to element 38 and a strain relief 86 protects cord
24.
[0028] While the present invention has been disclosed and described
with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent,
as noted above that variations and modifications may be made
therein. It is also noted that the present invention is independent
of the electromechanical interactions, and is not limited to the
particular rotary curling iron shown. It is, thus, intended in the
following claims to cover each variation and modification that
falls within the true spirit and scope of the present
invention.
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