U.S. patent application number 12/481332 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for dual mode flat iron.
Invention is credited to ANTHONY KIT LUN LEUNG.
Application Number | 20090301509 12/481332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41399165 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090301509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEUNG; ANTHONY KIT LUN |
December 10, 2009 |
DUAL MODE FLAT IRON
Abstract
A styling iron 1 comprises a first section 2, a second section 3
and a third section 4. The first section 1 comprises a handle end 5
and a distal end 6 that includes a heated plate 7 having a hair
contact surface 8 of a flat configuration. The second section 3
comprises a proximal end 9 and a distal end 10 that includes a
heated plate 11 having two hair contact surfaces 12 and 13, each
facing opposite directions. The first of these hair contact
surfaces 12 is of a flat configuration. The second of these hair
contact surfaces 13 is of a concave configuration. The third
section 4 comprises a handle end 14 and a distal end 15 that
includes a heated plate 16 having a hair contact surface 17 of a
convex configuration. A conventional, electrically powered heat
element (not shown) of the type generally known in the art for flat
irons and hair styling irons is located internally in each of the
first section 2, the second section 3 and the third section 4.
Inventors: |
LEUNG; ANTHONY KIT LUN;
(North Point, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence Cruz;Conair Corporation
One Cummings Point Road
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
41399165 |
Appl. No.: |
12/481332 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61059958 |
Jun 9, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/202 20130101;
A45D 2/001 20130101; A45D 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/269 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20060101
A45D001/04 |
Claims
1. A hair styling appliance comprising a first member having a
proximal section and a distal section; a second member having a
proximal section and a distal section; a third member having a
proximal section and a distal section; a hinged section at which
each of said first, second and third members are pivotally attached
to each other and each being rotatable with respect to the others,
such that the second member is positioned between the first member
and the third member; a first hair contact surface adapted to
contact a user's hair, said first hair contact surface being
mounted to the distal end of said first member and said first hair
contact surface is a flat plane; a second hair contact surface
adapted to contact a user's hair, said second hair contact surface
being mounted to the distal end of said second member on a first
side of said second member such that it faces the first hair
contact surface, and said second hair contact surface is a flat
plane; a third hair contact surface adapted to contact a user's
hair, said third hair contact surface being mounted to the distal
end of said third member and said third hair contact surface is
convex from an end view perspective; and a fourth hair contact
surface adapted to contact a user's hair, said fourth hair contact
surface being mounted to the distal end of said second member on a
second side of said second member such that it faces the third hair
contact surface, and said fourth hair contact surface is a concave
from an end view perspective and configured to mate with said third
hair contact surface when said second member and said third member
are closed together.
2. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising an electrical cord attached to said appliance for
delivering electrical energy to said appliance; an
electrically-powered heat element adapted to provide heat to at
least one of said first, second, third or fourth hair contact
surfaces.
3. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising an electrical cord attached to said appliance for
delivering electrical energy to said appliance; a plurality of
electrically-powered heat elements, each one corresponding to and
adapted to provide heat to one of said first, second, third or
fourth hair contact surfaces.
4. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking said first
member to said second member or for selectively locking said second
member to said first member.
5. A hair styling appliance according to claim 2, further
comprising an electrically-powered ion emitter for emitting ions
from said appliance.
6. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, further
comprising a pair of electrically-powered ion emitters for emitting
ions from said appliance.
7. A hair styling appliance according to claim 2, further
comprising a set of control buttons for turning said appliance on
and off and for controlling temperature of said heat element; and a
display for displaying information relative to operation of said
appliance.
8. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, further
comprising a set of control buttons for turning said appliance on
and off and for controlling temperature of said heat elements; and
a display for displaying information relative to operation of said
appliance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority from U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61059958 filed on Jun. 9, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to personal hair care
appliances and, more particularly, to styling irons of a type
generally known as "flat irons."
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Known flat irons for styling hair typically comprise two
paddle-like members each having a handle end and a heated end. The
handle ends are joined to one another to form a hinge, while the
heated ends are free so they can be opened and closed away from and
toward each other, respectively. The heated ends typically have a
smooth, thermally conductive surface, such as metal, to transfer
heat from an internal electrical heater to a user's hair when the
hair is placed in contact with the thermally conductive surfaces,
referred to as "heated plates".
[0006] Certain flat irons have smooth heated plates to impart a
straightening style to a user's hair. In operation, a swatch of
user's hair is positioned between the two heated plates and, via
the hinge, the plates are closed toward one another. The flat iron
is drawn away from the user's scalp so that the hair runs through
and is in contact with both plates. Heat from each plate is
transferred to the hair.
[0007] Other flat iron style appliances have plates with contours
such as ridges, or such as general curves, to impart non-straight
styles to the user's hair. A known configuration is to provide one
heated plate as having a convex shape when viewed from a distal
end, and to provide the other heated plate as having a
complementary concave shape so that they close together in close
fashion.
[0008] To utilize more than one of the various types of
configurations of heated plates, a user must purchase more than one
styling iron or flat iron.
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
styling iron or "flat iron" type device for styling a user's hair
in which both straightening and curved styling can be achieved with
a single device.
[0010] This object and other objects are achieved by the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0011] in a preferred mode of the present invention, a styling iron
comprises a first section, a second section and a third section.
The first section comprises a handle end and a distal end that
includes a heated plate having a hair contact surface of a flat
configuration. The second section comprises a proximal end and a
distal end that includes a heated plate having two hair contact
surfaces, each facing opposite directions. The first of these hair
contact surfaces is of a flat configuration. The second of these
hair contact surfaces is of a concave configuration. The third
section comprises a handle end and a distal end that includes a
heated plate having a hair contact surface of a convex
configuration. A conventional, electrically powered heat element
(not shown) of the type generally known in the art for flat irons
and hair styling irons is located internally in each of the first
section, the second section and the third section. Each handle end
and the proximal end are joined together at a joint to which the
first section and the second section rotate about in a hinged
manner relative to the proximal end of the third section. An
electrical cord extends therefrom to deliver electrical energy from
an external source in a manner generally known. The proximal end of
the third section includes control buttons and a display to operate
such functions as ON/OFF and set temperatures or times or the
display visual signals. These control and display functions and
associated components are of a type generally known.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appliance according to a
first embodiment of the present invention shown in a fully closed
position.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an appliance according to a
first embodiment of the present invention shown in a partially
closed position.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an appliance according to a
first embodiment of the present invention shown in a partially
closed position.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention shown in a fully opened
position.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention shown in a fully closed
position.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention shown in a partially closed
position.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an end view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention shown from the proximal
end.
[0021] FIG. 10 is an end view of an appliance according to a first
embodiment of the present invention shown from the distal end.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, in a preferred mode of the present
invention, a styling iron 1 comprises a first section 2, a second
section 3 and a third section 4. The first section 1 comprises a
handle end 5 and a distal end 6 that includes a heated plate 7
having a hair contact surface 8 of a flat configuration. The second
section 3 comprises a proximal end 9 and a distal end 10 that
includes a heated plate 11 having two hair contact surfaces 12 and
13, each facing opposite directions. The first of these hair
contact surfaces 12 is of a flat configuration. The second of these
hair contact surfaces 13 is of a concave configuration. The third
section 4 comprises a handle end 14 and a distal end 15 that
includes a heated plate 16 having a hair contact surface 17 of a
convex configuration. A conventional, electrically powered heat
element (not shown) of the type generally known in the art for flat
irons and hair styling irons is located internally in each of the
first section 2, the second section 3 and the third section 4.
[0023] Each handle end 5, 14 and the proximal end 9 are joined
together at a joint 18 to which the first section 2 and the second
section 3 rotate about in a hinged manner relative to the proximal
end 9 of the third section 4. An electrical cord 19 extends
therefrom to deliver electrical energy from an external source in a
manner generally known. The proximal end 9 of the third section 4
includes control buttons 20 (three buttons shown side-by-side in
the drawing figures) and a display 21 to operate such functions as
ON/OFF and set temperatures or times or the display visual signals.
These control and display functions and associated components are
of a type generally known.
[0024] Each of the first section 2 and the third section 4 are
provided with an extending locking member 22, 23. Each locking
member 22, 23, respectively, engages with one of locking openings
24, 25 on opposite sides of the second section 3. A moveable
locking element 26 mounted to the second section 3 slides to
selectively lock or unlock, one at a time, each of the first
section 2 and third section 4 relative to the second section 3. The
sliding element 26 openings 24, 25 are each configured to receive a
portion of a respective one of the locking members 22, 23 in a
manner so that only one locking member 22, 23 is engaged at a time.
Similar locking mechanisms for securing tong-style appliances
having two hinged portions including hair appliances are generally
known in the art and any one of various such mechanisms can be used
with the present invention. Thus, in one mode, the styling iron 1
can be opened and closed with respect to the first section 2 and
the third section 4, where opposing flat surfaces 7 and 12 are used
like a standard flat iron, while the second section 3 remains
locked in a position closed with respect to the third section 4. In
another mode, the second section 3 and the third section 4 can be
opened and closed with respect to each other so that the styling
iron 1 functions as a standard flat iron with mating convex and
concave surfaces 17 and 13, while the first section 2 remains
locked to and closed with respect to the third section 4.
[0025] A first ionic port 27 is provided on the same side as the
first hair contact surface 12 of the second member 3, and a second
ionic port 28 is provided on the same side as the second hair
contact surface 13 of the second member 3. An ion generator (not
shown) of a type generally known is located internally inside the
second member 3, which generates ions to be emitted from the ionic
ports 27, 28 while the appliance 1 is operating. Optionally, a
button and control (not shown) can be included to selectively turn
the ionic generator on and off, or to control its intensity.
[0026] Various coatings may be applied to one or more of the heated
surfaces, such as ceramic or nanosilver. The heated surfaces may be
of other materials such as glass or ceramic and they may be covered
with fabrics including woven fabrics for hair styling and heat
transfer. Steam output capability may be provided to the styling
iron 1 of the present invention including one or more water
reservoirs that convert water to steam for emission during use.
[0027] A fabric coating 29 or flocking material, or other type of
material, may be applied to one or both of the outer surfaces of
the distal ends of the first and third sections 2, 4.
[0028] While the preferred mode of the present invention has been
disclosed, it is possible to modify or enhance the present
invention without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
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