U.S. patent application number 13/223245 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-08 for portable hair care product with digital music capabilities.
Invention is credited to Clifford Wright.
Application Number | 20120055502 13/223245 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45769759 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120055502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wright; Clifford |
March 8, 2012 |
PORTABLE HAIR CARE PRODUCT WITH DIGITAL MUSIC CAPABILITIES
Abstract
Disclosed is a portable hair care product that is configured to
store, receive, and play music such as in an electronic format. A
portable hair care device comprises a grasping region sized and
shape to be grasped and held by the hand of a user such that the
user can carry the hair care product. The device also includes an
internal speaker, a digital storage element configured to store a
digital music file, and a processor configured to process the
digital music file and send a signal to the internal speaker for
playing music from the digital music file.
Inventors: |
Wright; Clifford; (San
Diego, CA) |
Family ID: |
45769759 |
Appl. No.: |
13/223245 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61379132 |
Sep 1, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/226 ;
132/271; 34/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/001 20130101;
A45D 20/12 20130101; A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/226 ;
132/271; 34/90 |
International
Class: |
A45D 6/00 20060101
A45D006/00; A45D 20/00 20060101 A45D020/00; A45D 1/00 20060101
A45D001/00 |
Claims
1. A portable hair care device, comprising: a grasping region sized
and shape to be grasped and held by the hand of a user such that
the user can carry the hair care product; an internal speaker; a
digital storage element configured to store a digital music file; a
processor configured to process the digital music file and send a
signal to the internal speaker for playing music from the digital
music file.
2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device is a flat iron.
3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device is a hair dryer.
4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device is a hair curler.
5. A device as in claim 1, wherein the digital music file is an MP3
file.
6. A device as in claim 1, further comprising an interface jack
configured to interface with an external device.
7. A device as in claim 6, wherein the external device is a hard
drive.
8. A device as in claim 6, wherein the external device is a thumb
drive.
9. A device as in claim 6, wherein the external device is a pair of
head phones.
10. A device as in claim 6, wherein the interface jack is a USB
port.
Description
REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT
[0001] This application claims priority of co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/379,132, entitled
PORTABLE HAIR CARE PRODUCT WITH DIGITAL MUSIC CAPABILITIES and
filed on Sep. 1, 2010. The disclosure of the Provisional Patent
Application is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to beauty care products and
more particularly relates to a portable hair care product.
[0003] Various portable devices, such as blow dryers, flat irons,
steamers, or curling irons can be used to style a person's hair. A
person may often spend a great amount of time each day using such
portable hair care devices to style his or her hair. It can be
desirable, while using such devices, to also take advantage of the
time by performing another activity, such as listening to music. In
order to listen to music while styling hair, a person will
typically place a separate music player, such as a radio, CD
player, etc., in the room where the styling is taking place. This
can be inconvenient as it requires extra time and space to arrange
for such a music player.
[0004] Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device for use in
styling one's hair that is configured to play music without
requiring the user to attach separate device such as an external
speaker. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved
hair care device that is adapted to play music.
SUMMARY
[0005] Disclosed is a portable hair care product that is configured
to store, receive, and play music such as in an electronic format.
In an embodiment, there is disclosed a portable hair care device,
comprising: a grasping region sized and shape to be grasped and
held by the hand of a user such that the user can carry the hair
care product; an internal speaker; a digital storage element
configured to store a digital music file; and a processor
configured to process the digital music file and send a signal to
the internal speaker for playing music from the digital music
file.
[0006] Various embodiments of the portable hair care device are
described below. Other features and advantages will be apparent
from the following description of various embodiments, which
illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the disclosed
devices and methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable hair care
device configured to play digital music files.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a set of playback controls
of the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Before the present subject matter is further described, it
is to be understood that this subject matter described herein is
not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may of
course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used
here in is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments
only, and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise,
all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one skilled in the art to which this subject matter
belongs.
[0010] As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon
reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments
described and illustrated herein has discrete components and
features which may be readily separated from or combined with the
features of any of the other several embodiments without departing
from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Any recited
method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any
other order which is logically possible.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable hair care
device comprised of a flat iron 105. Although described herein in
the context of being a flat iron, it should be appreciated that the
portable hair care device can be any of a variety of portable, hand
held hair care devices including, for example, hair dryers, hair
curlers, hair rods, tongs, etc. The musical playing capabilities of
the flat iron 105 could be adapted for other portable hair care
products. The flat iron 105 includes a communication port 110 that
is configured to receive electronic data, such as music data. In an
embodiment, the music data is configured pursuant to digital audio
encoding, including MP3, MP4, as well as any other electronic music
format. The flat iron 105 includes internal components that are
configured to read, decode, and play the music data to produce an
audio signal that is played on a speaker coupled to the flat iron
105. The speaker can be contained within an outer housing of the
flat iron such that there is no requirement to couple an external
speaker to the flat iron.
[0012] The flat iron 105 has a size and shape that is configured
such that a human user can grasp and hold the flat iron in his or
her hand. In this regard, the flat iron 105 has a handle region 115
that is sized and shaped to be held by a user. The flat iron 105
further includes a pair of arms 120 that are pivotably connected to
one another at a first end of the device. In this regard, the arms
can be pivoted toward or away from one another to grasp and release
hair positioned between the arms 120.
[0013] With reference still to FIG. 1, heating elements 125 are
positioned on internal surfaces of the arms 120. When hair is
positioned between the arms and the arms 120 are moved toward one
another, the heating elements 125 heat and straighten the hair in a
well-known manner. The flat iron 105 includes a power source that
is configured to provide electrical power to the components of the
flat iron. The power source can be an alternating current source or
it may be a direct current source. The flat iron 105 can include a
removable or permanent battery.
[0014] A set of music playback controls 130 is located on the flat
iron 105, such as on one of the arms. The controls 130 include one
or more user input elements, such as buttons, that can be used to
control playback of the music audio files contains in the flat iron
105. In the illustrated embodiment, the controls 130 are located on
the surface of one of the arms 120. It should be appreciated that
the controls can be positioned at any of a wide variety of
locations on the flat iron 105.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the set of controls 130.
The controls 130 may include any of a variety of buttons, including
a play button, fast forward button, rewind button, next/previous
track button, stop button, etc. The buttons may be hard buttons
that can be mechanically manipulated (such as pressed) to control
music playback. In another embodiment, the buttons may be virtual
buttons that are displayed on a touch screen such as an Liquid
Crystal Display (LCD) or other type of screen. The touch screen can
be configured to display the buttons in a variety of formats. Any
means for accepting user input regarding control of music playback
can be used.
[0016] With reference still to FIG. 2, the communication port 110
can be any type of port that is configured to receive or transmit
electronic data including digital audio files. In an embodiment,
the port 110 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port that can receive
a USB cable or USB thumb drive. The port 110 is coupled to internal
electronic components configured to send, receive, and store
digital audio files. In this regard, the flat iron 105 includes an
internal memory on which electronic data, such as digital audio
files, can be stored and accessed by the flat iron electronic
components. The internal memory and electronic components are
coupled to the speaker for playing the audio files over the speaker
using the controls 130.
[0017] The flat iron may also include an external stereo jack such
that the flat iron can be attached to an external stereo. This
would permit the user to broadcast t audio digital signal with the
digital music file over a stereo or karaoke machine, for
example.
[0018] The flat iron 105 can also include an interface jack for
connection with a personal computer such as a USB jack, and may
include a means to attach a removable flash memory cartridge or a
means to attach other external non-volatile memory devices. In this
regard, the communication port 110 can serve as the jack or a
separate jack can also be used in addition to the communication
port.
[0019] The flat iron 105 includes a microprocessor in communication
with the controls 130. The microprocessor includes an external
interface in order for the flat iron to interface with a computer
or outside source (such as a thumb drive or other external drive)
to download or receive digital music files. As mentioned, the
microprocessor receives and process any outside inputs for the
user, such as from the controls 130 or features on the flat iron.
The flat iron 105 may also include a wireless communication element
that permits the flat iron 105 to wirelessly communicate with
external device, such as to send or receive audio files. The
external devices can include wireless speakers as well as wireless
data storage means.
[0020] In an embodiment, the digital music files are stored in a
non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory interface may
interface with storage means that may further save the digital
music files to an internal or discrete flash memory and/or a
removable flash memory. When the portable flat iron includes the
ability to receive removable flash memory the music files may be
pre-saved on the removable flash memory prior to insertion into the
flat iron. Moreover the non-volatile memory interface 30 may
interface with other external storage means, such as a disk drive
or even optical type drives.
[0021] The flat iron may include a stereo or multi-channel a
digital to analog converter or CODEC to convert the digital signal
to an analog signal, which permits the user to listen to the
digital music file. The CODEC may be configured to interface, via a
headphone interfacing means, with headphones or with the speaker.
The CODEC may also include analog to digital converter means such
that the user's voice may be recorded in digital form. The CODEC
would be attached to an amplifier and audio multiplexing means that
would allow the portable flat iron 105 to interface with an
on-board microphone and/or an external microphone.
[0022] During operation, a user uploads a digital music file into a
non-volatile memory via interface of the flat iron. This could be
accomplished by attaching the flat iron to a computer by the
computer interfacing means. The digital music file may also be
uploaded to the flat iron by the removable flash memory or a disk
drive. After uploading the music file, the user would play the
digital music file. This is done by converting the digital audio
portion to an analog signal and sending the analog signal to an the
headphone interfacing means or to the internal speaker. The user is
then able to listen to the audio portion or music through a pair of
headphones or through the speaker. As with most portable digital
music players, the digital music file may be compressed, for which
the player would decode the music prior to conversion to an analog
signal.
[0023] While this specification contains many specifics, these
should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention
that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as
descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the
context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in
combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features
that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also
be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any
suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be
described above as acting in certain combinations and even
initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed
combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and
the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a
variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are
depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be
understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the
particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all
illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable
results.
[0024] Although embodiments of various methods and devices are
described herein in detail with reference to certain versions, it
should be appreciated that other versions, embodiments, methods of
use, and combinations thereof are also possible. Therefore the
spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to
the description of the embodiments contained herein.
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