U.S. patent application number 11/716765 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for hair straightening and styling appliance.
Invention is credited to Pierre L.M. Julemont.
Application Number | 20080223387 11/716765 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39761414 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080223387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Julemont; Pierre L.M. |
September 18, 2008 |
Hair straightening and styling appliance
Abstract
A handheld hair styling appliance 1 has an electric motor 19,
electric heat element 21, and hair engaging elements 10, 11, 12
including a set of stationary extending parts with respective
shearing edges 40, 41 and a set of movable extending parts having
respective shearing edges 31, 32, whereby when the moving parts
move relative to and in proximity with the stationary parts, the
respective shearing edges of each cooperate to compress strands of
hair therebetween. The movable parts are spring-mounted to a
carriage 29 and are urged into close proximity with the stationary
parts, such that constant pressure is applied to hair strands
positioned therebetween.
Inventors: |
Julemont; Pierre L.M.;
(Argenteau, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence Cruz;Conair Corporation
One Cummings Point Road
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
39761414 |
Appl. No.: |
11/716765 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/118 ;
132/119.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/118 ;
132/119.1 |
International
Class: |
A45D 24/10 20060101
A45D024/10; A45D 24/00 20060101 A45D024/00 |
Claims
1. A hair styling appliance comprising: a handle portion; a head
portion coaxially aligned with said handle portion on a first axis;
a hair engaging assembly comprising a stationary hair engaging
member extending along a second axis which said second axis extends
at a generally right angle from said first axis, and a dynamic hair
engaging member extending along said second axis; a stationary
shearing edge defined on said stationary member; and a dynamic
shearing edge defined on said dynamic member, said stationary
shearing edge and said dynamic shearing edge being positioned
adjacent to each other such that a strand of hair can be positioned
and compressed between said respective shearing edges.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a spring
for causing said dynamic shearing edge to be biased toward said
stationary shearing edge.
3. An appliance according to claim 2, wherein said spring
resistance is selectively adjustable.
4. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an
electric motor; an electric fan; and control switches for
selectively controlling each of said motor and said fan.
5. An appliance according to claim 2, further comprising an angled
surface on said dynamic member adapted to initially contact a
user's hair and to guide force applied to said dynamic member by
said hair in a direction against said spring in order to bias and
move said dynamic member in a direction opposed to said spring.
6. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said stationary
member has a central opening sized and shaped to receive said
dynamic element at least partially therein, and said stationary
shearing edge is defined by a surface along the inner edge of said
central opening, and said dynamic shearing edge is defined by a
surface along the outer edge of said dynamic element.
Description
[0001] Related application-PCT/BE06/000107 Filed Sep. 29, 2006
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to hair straightening and
styling appliances and, more particularly, to a hand held appliance
having an an electrically driven fan and heat element, and hair
engaging means for simultaneously styling or straightening hair
while applying heated air.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various known hair styling appliances exist in which hair is
dried, heated, styled and straightened. Handheld appliances of this
type typically include a heater and fan element, and a comb
attachment. In these types of appliances, straightening is achieved
only by combing. At least one know design comprises multiple flat
surfaces that close against each other to compress hair strands
between flat surfaces. This type of appliance spreads or
distributes force over a relatively large surface area compared to
the hair strands and it is less effective in delivering heated air
to hair while the hair is compressed between the flat surfaces,
preventing flowing, heated air from contacting the hair.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
handheld hair styling appliance in which hair is dried, heated,
styled and straightened while avoiding the shortcomings of known
devices. Another object of the present invention is to provide a
styling appliance that efficiently applies force over a relatively
small surface area to maximize force and minimize effort to achieve
optimum efficiency and convenience. These and other objects are
achieved by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention comprises a handheld hair styling
appliance having an electric motor, electric heat element, and hair
engaging elements including a set of stationary extending parts
with respective shearing edges, and a set of movable extending
parts having respective shearing edges, whereby when the moving
parts move relative to and in proximity with the stationary parts,
the respective shearing edges of each cooperate to compress strands
of hair therebetween. The movable parts are spring-mounted to a
carriage and are urged into close proximity with the stationary
parts, such that constant pressure is applied to hair strands
positioned therebetween. The respective shearing edges for each of
the parts are thin edges so that only a thin profile of hair is
engaged at any given instant, while the appliance is drawn through
the hair as heated air is applied.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1A is a first side view of an appliance according to
the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 1B is a bottom view of an appliance according to the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 1C is a second side view of an appliance according to
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 1D is a top view of an appliance according to the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 1E is a distal end view of an appliance according to
the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of an appliance according
to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 1G is a proximal end view of an appliance according to
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an appliance according to the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a component of an appliance
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] An appliance 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention comprises a handle portion 2, a head portion 3, a
cord swivel 4, a cord extension mount 5, a proximal end 7, and a
distal end 8. A metallic panel 8 and control switch 9 are provided.
A plurality of central hair engaging elements 10 and a plurality of
first side hair engaging elements 11 and a plurality of second side
hair engaging elements 12 are mounted at the head portion 3. A
tension control element 13 is mounted at the distal end 8. The body
making up the handle portion 2 and the head portion 3 is preferably
made of two molded halves, a first body half 14 and a second body
half 15. A panel and switch assembly 16 is comprised of the
metallic panel 8, the switch 9 and multiple components shown in
FIG. 2. A filter cover 17 may be provided at the proximal end 6
which serves as an air intake, and is included in an end assembly
18. A fan and motor assembly 19 is housed internally in the handle
portion 2. A motor and fan switching assembly 20 controls heat and
air flow functions. A heater assembly 21 may comprise a standard
heat element of a type generally known, and is also housed
internally. Air driven by the fan assembly 20 moves air past the
heater assembly 20 and heated air exits past the hair engaging
elements 10, 11, 12. An electric plug 22 and cord 23 deliver power
to the motor and heater assembly. The hair engaging elements 10,
11, 12 make up components of a hair engaging assembly 24 that is
shown in more detail in FIG. 3.
[0016] The hair engaging assembly 24 comprises a central, dynamic
hair engaging assembly 25 that includes a rod 26, a spring 27, a
latch 28, and a base 29 to which each of the central hair engaging
elements 31 are attached. Each hair engaging element 31 comprises a
generally triangular shape with a pair of extending and converting
sides. The sides join near the top apex 35 and form a curved,
angular surface 32. The outside edges of the sides form,
respectively, first and second shearing edges 33, 34, The edges 33,
34 may be generally right-angle edges or they may have a small
bevel shape. The rod 26 is received in a hole 30 to mount the base
29 for linear movement as described below.
[0017] The central hair engaging elements 10 also include a static
central hair engaging assembly 36 which comprises a base 37, a
plurality of extending shearing elements 38, and a central opening
39 in each element 38. The central openings 38 are sized to receive
therein each respective dynamic element 31 so that, as explained
below, each dynamic element moves into and out of proximity from a
respective stationary elements 38. The inner edges of the
stationary shearing elements 38 form first and second shearing
edges 40, 41 on each stationary element 38. An apex 42 is formed at
the top. A gap 43 exists between each stationary element 38. An
adjustment cam 43 having bayonet-type settings is manipulated by
the tension control element 13 to preset tension in the spring
27.
[0018] The first and second side hair engaging elements 11, 12
comprise respective first and second bases 45, 46 that support each
of the plurality of comb-teeth-like elements 11, 12. The bases 45,
46 are fixed for stationary positioning.
[0019] In operation, a user holds the appliance 1 by the handle
portion 2. The user brushes the head portion 3 into the hair as if
using a styling brush. Strands of hair will contact the curved,
angular surfaces 32 when entering the gaps 43. As the hair is
pulled against the angular surfaces 32, the spring 27 is overcome
so that the dynamic elements 31 and their base 29 move together
against the spring 27 in response. This causes the dynamic elements
31 to move away from an adjacent stationary element 38 just enough
to allow the hair to slip closer toward the bases 37, 29, thereby
pinching or compressing the hair between respective shearing edges
31, 32, 40, 41 as the spring 27 urges the dynamic elements 31
toward their starting point, thus clamping against the hair. By the
term "shearing" as used here, it is not used in the sense of
cutting or severing, but is instead used to describe shearing
forces that are applied to the hair strands by two edges that pass
closely adjacent each other so that an object (i.e., hair) spanning
between the two edges is receiving the resultant shearing forces.
By applying shearing forces as described here, and by engaging the
hair only by edges rather than, for example, flat and relatively
large surfaces, the hair strands are not shielded from air flow and
the net force on the hair is concentrated on a much smaller surface
area, thus applying more force than is attainable by a larger
surface area with the same effort. One result is that the hair is
more quickly and more effectively straightened with less effort or
force applied by the user or the spring 27 in the appliance 1.
Spring tension is controlled by turning the tension control element
13. The user may selectively apply heat and air flow using the
control switch 9. As the appliance 1 is pulled through the user's
hair in a brushing manner, the hair may be selectively styled or
straightened.
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