U.S. patent application number 13/235654 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-10 for multi-zone heated hair appliance.
Invention is credited to Michael Cafaro, Wai Ming Tang.
Application Number | 20120111354 13/235654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46018449 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120111354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cafaro; Michael ; et
al. |
May 10, 2012 |
MULTI-ZONE HEATED HAIR APPLIANCE
Abstract
The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein allows for
styling of hair utilizing multiple different heating temperature
levels without the need for repeated cool down or heat up periods
when a different temperature is desired for a particular use during
a styling session. More particularly, a heated member of the
appliance is provided in which different heated temperature zones
are provided. The multiple temperature zones may be simultaneously
heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a user desires a
particular temperature for a particular styling technique the
desired temperature is readily available by applying the hair to
the desired temperature zone. In this manner multiple different
styling temperatures are readily available without the need for
waiting for the appliance to heat up or cool down.
Inventors: |
Cafaro; Michael; (El Paso,
TX) ; Tang; Wai Ming; (Kowloon, HK) |
Family ID: |
46018449 |
Appl. No.: |
13/235654 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61411144 |
Nov 8, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/211 ;
132/227; 132/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101; A45D
1/28 20130101; A45D 7/02 20130101; A45D 2001/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/211 ;
132/227; 132/229 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/28 20060101
A45D001/28; A45D 7/02 20060101 A45D007/02; A45D 1/04 20060101
A45D001/04 |
Claims
1. A hair styling appliance comprising: a heating surface; a first
hair styling zone of the heating surface, the first hair styling
zone being capable of being heated to at least a first temperature;
and a second hair styling zone of the heating surface, the second
hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a
second temperature, the first and second temperatures being
different, 1 wherein the hair styling appliance is configured so
that simultaneously the first hair styling zone may be heated to
the first temperature and the second hair styling zone may be
heated to the second temperature.
2. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising a
third hair styling zone of the heating surface, the third hair
capable of being heated to at least a third temperature.
3. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein the first hair
styling zone of the heating surface and the second hair styling
zone of the heating surface are each capable of being heated to a
plurality of user selectable temperatures.
4. The hair styling appliance of claim 3, wherein the plurality of
temperatures are pre-set temperatures.
5. The hair styling appliance of claim 3, wherein the plurality of
temperatures are variable temperatures.
6. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising
separate temperature control switches for each of the first hair
styling zone of the heating surface and the second hair styling
zone of the heating surface.
7. A method of operating a hair styling appliance comprising:
providing an elongated heating surface; providing a first hair
styling zone of the elongated heating surface; providing a second
hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface; simultaneously
providing different temperatures at the first hair styling zone and
the second hair styling zone so that different hair styling
temperatures may be available on the hair styling appliance without
the need for heating or cooling period of time between application
of the different hair styling temperatures.
8. The method of claim 7, the hair styling appliance being a
curling iron.
9. The method of claim 7, the hair styling appliance being a hair
straightener.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the first hair styling
zone and the second hair styling zone may be user selectably set to
a plurality of temperatures.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of temperatures
are at least a pre-set high temperature and a pre-set low
temperature.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of temperatures
are variable temperatures.
13. An electric curling iron hair styling appliance configured for
styling hair, comprising: an elongated barrel heating surface; a
first heating zone, the first heating zone capable of being set to
multiple temperature levels; a second heating zone, the second
heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; a
third heating zone, the third heating zone capable of being set to
multiple temperature levels; and one or more switches located on
the electric curling iron hair styling appliance, the one or more
switches providing independent temperature selection for each of
the first, second, and third heating zones.
14. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 13,
wherein the multiple temperature levels of each of the first,
second and third heating zones are each pre-set temperature
levels.
15. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 14,
the one or more switches providing a high temperature, medium
temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and
third heating zones.
16. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 13,
the one or more switches providing variable temperature control
between a high temperature and a low temperature for each of the
first, second and third heating zones.
17. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 13,
each of the first, second and third heating zones being cylindrical
heating zones.
18. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 17,
the one or more switches providing at least a pre-set high
temperature setting and a pre-set low temperature setting for each
of the first, second and third heating zones.
19. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 17,
the one or more switches providing variable temperature control
between a high temperature and a low temperature for each of the
first, second and third heating zones.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/411,144 filed Nov. 8, 2010; the disclosure of
which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The techniques disclosed herein relate to heated hair
styling appliances, and in exemplary embodiments relate to hair
curling or hair straightening appliances.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A wide variety of hair appliances may be utilized to curl or
straighten hair. Many of such appliances have an elongated heated
barrel or elongated heated flat iron surface. Many of such devices
have a single temperature setting. While, a single temperature
setting is sufficient for some hair styling users, such a single
temperature setting limits the styling techniques that the
appliance may be used for. Other appliances may have multiple
heating temperature settings. Such multiple temperature settings
are useful for a variety of reasons. For example, to achieve a
desired style different temperature settings may be needed
depending upon the fineness or coarseness of the user's hair.
Furthermore, even for a given type of hair it may be desirable to
utilize different heating temperature settings to achieve a
different tightness of curl or amount of straightening in order to
style different portions of the user's hair differently. Known
curling irons or straighteners that utilize different temperature
settings typically provide a switch or other temperature setting to
adjust the entire hair appliance barrel or iron to, for example, a
high or low heat temperature setting. Practically, utilizing
multiple settings in one styling sessions with such appliances is
time consuming because when switching from one setting to the next
an extended cool down or heat up period is needed in order to allow
the appliance to reach the new temperature setting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein
advantageously allows for styling of hair utilizing multiple
different temperature levels for heating hair above an ambient room
temperature without the need for repeated cool down or heat up
periods when a different temperature is desired for a particular
use during a styling session. More particularly, an elongated
portion of the appliance is provided in which different heated
temperature zones are provided. The multiple temperature zones may
be simultaneously heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a
user desires a particular heating temperature for a particular
styling technique the desired temperature is readily available by
applying the hair to the desired temperature zone. In this manner
multiple different styling heating temperatures are readily
available without the need for waiting for the appliance to heat up
or cool down. For example, a curling iron may be provided with two,
three, four or even more different heated temperature zones along
the elongated heated curling barrel. Similarly a hair straightener
may be provided with two, three, four or even more different heated
temperature zones along the elongated heating elements of a flat
iron appliance. In one embodiment the zones may be hotter the
closer the zone is to the handle, in another embodiment the zones
may be cooler the closer the zone is to the handle or in yet other
embodiments other heating patterns may be utilized or the heating
level of each zone may be user selectable.
[0005] In one embodiment, a hair styling appliance is provided. The
hair styling appliance may include a heating surface; a first hair
styling zone of the heating surface, the first hair styling zone
being capable of being heated to at least a first temperature; and
a second hair styling zone of the heating surface, the second hair
styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a second
temperature, the first and second temperatures being different. The
hair styling appliance may be configured so that simultaneously the
first hair styling zone may be heated to the first temperature and
the second hair styling zone may be heated to the second
temperature.
[0006] In another embodiment, a method of operating a hair styling
appliance is provided. The method may include providing an
elongated heating surface; providing a first hair styling zone of
the elongated heating surface; providing a second hair styling zone
of the elongated heating surface; and simultaneously providing
different temperatures at the first hair styling zone and the
second hair styling zone so that different hair styling
temperatures may be available on the hair styling appliance without
the need for heating or cooling period of time between application
of the different hair styling temperatures.
[0007] In yet another embodiment an electric curling iron hair
styling appliance configured for styling hair is provided. The
electric curling iron hair styling appliance may include an
elongated barrel heating surface. Further provided are a first
heating zone, the first heating zone capable of being set to
multiple temperature levels; a second heating zone, the second
heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels;
and a third heating zone, the third heating zone capable of being
set to multiple temperature levels. In addition one or more
switches may be located on the electric curling iron hair styling
appliance, the one or more switches provided independent
temperature selection for each of the first, second, and third
heating zones.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary hair appliance
utilizing the techniques disclosed herein.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary hair appliance
utilizing the techniques disclosed herein.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary hair appliance
utilizing the techniques disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An exemplary hair appliance having multiple heating zones to
allow different heat treatments to be efficiently applied during a
hair styling session is shown as hair appliance 100 in FIGS. 1-3.
The hair appliance is shown in the figures as an exemplary curling
iron, however, it will be recognized that the multi-zone heating
techniques described herein may be utilized with other curling
irons, hair straighteners, flat irons and other hair appliances.
Thus, though described herein with respect to heating zones along a
curling iron barrel heating element, the concepts described herein
may be applied to heating zones of other heating elements of hair
appliances, such as for example flat iron heating elements and
other types of heated curling elements or straightening elements.
As shown in the figures, the hair appliance includes a handle 102,
an electrical supply cord 106, on/off switch 120 and an elongated
member 104 which is to be heated. In the example shown, the
elongated member is a barrel member however other elongated
structures may alternatively be utilized such as elongated members
of hair straighteners and flat irons. The elongated member 104 is
divided into multiple heating zones 108, 110 and 112. As shown in
the figures, the heating zones may be cylindrical heating zones
wrapping around the curling iron barrel. An end cap 114 is also
provided. Each of the heating zones 108, 110, and 112 may be heated
to different temperatures, such as for example, as described above.
In the example shown in the figures, separate temperature control
switches are provide for each heating zone through the use of
temperature dials 122, 124, and 126 which may be turned (or
"dialed") to the desired temperature setting (or even "off") for
selecting the amount of heat to be applied to the heating zones
108, 110 and 112 respectively. The curling iron may also include
any of a variety of other features as known in the hair appliance
art. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 a flipper 116 may be
utilized. As shown, the flipper 116 is in a closed position. A
flipper actuator portion 118 may be pressed downward to rotate the
flipper 116 upward as is known in the art so that hair may be
placed along the barrel and then the flipper closed to hold the
hair in place. As shown in the figures, the flipper 116 extends
along the zone 108 portion of the elongated member 104. However, it
will be recognized that flipper 116 may be made to extend the full
length of the elongated member 104 thus allowing its use in
conjunction with any of the various heating zones. A stand 130 is
also provided so that the elongated member may be held up in the
air when the hair appliance is on.
[0012] In this manner, selectable temperature controls are provided
for the internal heating mechanism of the heating appliance so that
varying temperatures may be applied to the various zones of the
elongated member 104. The hair appliance may be configured to have
a single internal heating element that spans the elongated member,
with the temperature controls capable of adjusting the amount of
heat emitted along the length of the elongated member 104.
Alternatively, separate heating elements may be provided for each
heating zone and thus each temperature control operates a separate
heating element.
[0013] Internal heating structures(s) may be located within the
within the elongated member 104 as is well known in the art. For
example, the internal heater of the appliance of FIGS. 1-3 may be a
positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic heating element. A
wide range of other heating elements may also be utilized with the
disclosed multi-zone heating techniques including, for example,
other ceramic heaters and resistive mica heaters. It will be
recognized, however, that the techniques described herein are
useful with a wide range of heater structures and the techniques
are not limited to the those explicitly described. Thus, the
concepts described herein may be utilized independent of any
particular type of heater structure utilized.
[0014] It will be recognized that the concepts described herein may
be utilized with a wide range of varying hair appliances. For
example, the concept of a hair appliance having multiple heating
zones to provide a differing heat transfer to accomplish differing
hair styling techniques may be accomplished in any of variety of
manners. For example, the multi-zone concept may be utilized in any
of a variety of styling appliances, such as, for example hair
curling irons and straighteners. In addition, it will be noted that
known curling iron and straightener techniques include a wide range
of types of appliances having a wide range of other features
related to handles, switches, shields, flippers, stands, etc. The
multi-zone heating concepts described herein are therefore not
limited to the exemplary details provided herein for such other
features but may be utilized with any other curling iron techniques
and structures. Thus, it is recognized that the structural elements
of these other features are merely exemplary and not limiting as to
the scope of the use of the multi-zone heating appliance shown
herein.
[0015] The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein
advantageously allows for styling of hair utilizing multiple
different heating temperature levels without the need for repeated
cool down or heat up periods when a different temperature is
desired for a particular use during a styling session. More
particularly, an elongated portion of the appliance is provided in
which different heated temperature zones are provided to impart
heat above the ambient room temperature surrounding the hair
appliance. The multiple temperature zones may be simultaneously
heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a user desires a
particular temperature for a particular styling technique the
desired temperature is readily available by applying the hair to
the desired temperature zone. In this manner multiple different
styling temperatures are readily available without the need for
waiting for the appliance to heat up or cool down. For example, a
curling iron may be provided with two, three, four or even more
different temperature zones along the elongated heated curling
barrel. Similarly a hair straightener may be provided with two,
three, four or even more different temperature zones along the
elongated heating elements of a flat iron appliance. In one
embodiment the zones may be hotter the closer the zone is to the
handle, in another embodiment the zones may be cooler the zone is
to the handle or in yet other embodiments other heating patterns
may be utilized or the temperature of each zone may be user
selectable.
[0016] In one embodiment, the temperature settings of each zone may
be preset, for example one portion of the elongated heated
appliance may be "high heat", another portion "medium heat" and yet
another portion "low heat." The zones may thus each heat to a
desired temperature setting automatically based upon a single
on/off setting of the appliance. In another embodiment such as
shown in FIGS. 1-3, multiple temperature zones may be individually
controlled and set to a desired temperature by a user. Thus, for
example, multiple temperature zones may be provided each having a
temperature control mechanism that allows for multiple heating
temperature choices for each zone. For example, in one embodiment
three different temperatures zones may be provided along the barrel
of a curling iron. Each of the three temperature zones may then be
individually controlled to allow the user to select the desired
temperature setting for the three zones. In one embodiment the
zones may have preset temperature choice settings (for example, but
not limited to, selecting high, medium or low temperatures).
Alternatively, the temperature control of each heating zone may be
variable between a high point and low point to allow a user even
greater flexibility. In yet another embodiment, one option for a
temperature zone setting may even be an "off" temperature setting
in which the particular zone is not heated.
[0017] In the manner described above, the hair appliance may be
advantageously used during a hair styling session to allow a user
greater flexibility in styling options in a more timely and
efficient manner. Thus, a user may selectively use one or more of a
variety of different hair treatment techniques merely by moving the
hair that is being styled to the appropriate desired heating zone.
In this manner, for example, certain portions of the hair may be
curled under a high heat condition by wrapping the hair around the
high heat zone and then immediately after such action the user may
curl other portions of the high with low heat (to achieve a
different desired styling effect) by wrapping the hair around the
low heat zone. Advantageously, the user does not have to wait for
heat-up or cool-down to occur to obtain the different desired
temperature.
[0018] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of this
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of
this description. It will be recognized, therefore, that the
present invention is not limited by these example arrangements.
Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative
only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art
the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood
that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to
be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various changes
may be made in the implementations and architectures. For example,
equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and
described herein, and certain features of the invention may be
utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would
be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of
this description of the invention.
* * * * *