Hair Curling Device

Abstract

A hair curling device includes a handle member, a heating member, a PPS made connector, and a clamping arm rotatable around the heating member in 360.degree.. A rotatable hub unit, which is made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass, coupled at the connector. An operation unit, which is made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass, includes an operation button, a rotatable clamping arm, and a button cap. The PPS made connector and the nylon made operation unit substantially reduce the heat transmitted to the handle member. A power operating arrangement is incorporated with the connector to rotate the clamping arm about the heating member at two opposite directions. When the clamping arm is rotated about the heating member, the clamping arm guides and whirls the lock of hair around the heating member neatly.

Description

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a hair setter, and more particular to a hair curling device, wherein the user is able to drive the clamping arm to rotate 360.degree. around the heating member via one hand operation in order to wind up the hair of the user around the heating member in a tight and neat manner, such that the user is able easily curl her hair easily in a "do it yourself" manner. In addition, the clamping arm can be manually driven manually or can be automatically driven by an electric motor in two reversible directions.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0005] A conventional hair curling device comprises a heating barrel coaxially extended from an elongated handle, a clamp pivotally coupled at the heating barrel, and a clamp operation arm coupled at the clamp to move the clamp between an opened position and a closed position. In order to operate the conventional hair curling device, the user is able to pivotally move the clamp at the opened position via the clamp operation arm to grasp a lock of hair between the heating barrel and the clamp. Then, the user is able to rotate the heating barrel by two hands in order to wind the hair around the heating barrel. However, the operation of the conventional hair curling device is troublesome and the lock of hair is grasped and wound during the rotation of the heating barrel.

[0006] Accordingly, there are two types of the clamp for the conventional hair curling device.

[0007] The first one is that the clamp is coupled at the heating barrel and is non-rotatable. During the operation of the hair curling device, the clamp must be pivotally moved at the opened position in order to grasp a lock of hair between the heating barrel and the clamp. Then, the user is able to wind the lock of hair around the heating barrel with the clamp through a two-hand operation. Alternatively, the user is able to rotate the entire hair curling device to wind the lock of hair around the heating barrel with the clamp. The drawbacks of the conventional hair curling device are that the operation thereof requires two-hand operation such that the user will feel troublesome and tired to curl her hairs. During the winding operation, the lock of hair cannot be evenly and neatly wound around the heating barrel, such that some hair at the lock may not be wound around the heating barrel. As a result, it is difficult for the user to control the desired tightness of the hairs when whirling the hairs around the heating barrel. Furthermore, when the lock of hair is retained between the clamp and the heating barrel, a clearance is formed therebetween. In other words, when the heating barrel is heated up, the heat thereat will not be evenly applied to the lock of hair through the clearance in order to curl the hair at a desired design.

[0008] The second type is that the clamp can be rotate around the heating barrel, wherein a tubular metal frame is extended from the handle to the heating barrel. Therefore, the heat generated from the heating barrel will transmit to the handle through the metal frame, which may burn the user's skin. In addition, the metal frame will substantially increase the overall weight of the hair curling device. The user may feel tired to hold the hair curling device after a period of continuous use.

[0009] Furthermore, since the diameter size of the heating barrel is relatively small, the temperature sensor must be located at the handle and is electrically connected to the heating barrel via an electric wire. Accordingly, the electric wire is retained at the handle via a screw. In other words, when the heat is transmitted to the handle, the screw will also be heated up to damage the electric wire, which may cause a short circuit or even an electric shock. Therefore, such configuration is unsafe for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0010] In order to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages, the invention provides a hair curling device, which can be operated by one hand of the user and can secure the lock of hair being wound around the heating member in a tight and neat manner. The hair curling device can also minimize the clearance between the clamping arm and the heating member, prevent the heat transmitted to the handle member, and substantially reduce the overall weight of the hair curling device. The connector between the handle member and the heating member is made non-metal material and has a relatively large installation space. The inner wall of the handle member is connected to the connector via a plastic fastener to retain the electric wire of the temperature sensor in position so as to prevent the heat from the heating member being transmitted to the electric wire.

[0011] Another advantage of the invention is to provide a hair curling device which is an automatic hair curling device and can be operated by one hand of the user to drive the clamping arm being automatically rotated 360.degree. about the heating member so as to whirl the lock of hair around the heating member. In particular, when the two-directional-control operation button is depressed to activate the electric motor, which is preferably a micro electric motor, the clamping arm can be controlled to rotate about the heating member at either clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction, so as to whirl the lock of hair around the heating member for curling the hairs.

[0012] Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.

[0013] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a hair curling device which comprises a handle member, a heating member, a connector connecting the handle member with the heating member, and a clamping arm rotatable around the heating member in 360.degree.. The connector is made of plastic (such as PPS) to connect the handle member with the heating member. A rotatable hub unit comprises an upper rotatable hub (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) and a lower rotatable hub (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) being coupled at the upper and lower portions of the connector. An operation button (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) and a rotatable clamping arm (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) are coupled at an outer surface of the upper rotatable hub (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) via a button cap (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) to form a 360.degree. free rotatable clamping unit, such that the rotatable clamping arm is rotatable about the heating member. Accordingly, the clamping arm is coupled to the rotatable hub unit via the operation button and is coupled to the connector via the rotatable hub unit. During the operation of the hair curling device, the PPS made connector and the nylon made rotatable clamping unit will substantially reduce the heat being transmitted from the heating member to the handle member. When the clamping arm is rotated about the heating member, the clamping arm will guide and comb the lock of hair to whirl the lock of hair around the heating member neatly. The hair curling device of the present invention further comprises a lock provided at the lower rotatable hub to selectively lock up the rotatable hub unit with the handle member. Therefore, when the lock is released, the clamping arm can be freely rotated about the heating member at 360.degree. while the handle member is held immovably. Or, when the lock is actuated, the clamping arm can be driven to rotate by the rotational movement of the handle member. In other words, the clamping arm and the handle member are rotated at the same time. Since the clamping arm is coupled at the connector, the user is able to operate the hair curling device of the present invention by one hand to control the curliness of the hairs easily and safely.

[0014] Another advantage of the invention is that the hair curling device of the present invention can be operated by one hand of the user, wherein the clamping arm can be tightly contacted with the surface of the heating member to control the tightness of the hairs therearound. The overall weight of the hair curling device will be substantially reduced by the non-metal made connector which can also reduce the heat being transmitted from the heating member to the handle member for enhancing the safety of the hair curling device.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a hair curling device, which comprises a power operating arrangement provided between the handle member and the heating member. The power operating arrangement comprises an electric motor, a gear assembly operatively coupled with the electric motor, and a rotatable hub unit driven by the electric motor through the gear assembly, wherein a clamping arm is coupled at the rotatable hub. Therefore, when the two-directional-control operation button is depressed to activate the electric motor, the clamping arm can be controlled to rotate about the heating member via the rotatable hub at either clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction, so as to whirl the lock of hair around the heating member for curling the hairs.

[0016] Another advantage of the invention is that the hair curling device of the present invention, which has a simple structural configuration, can be operated by one hand of the user, wherein the clamping arm can be automatically rotated around the heating member at either clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction by a depression of the operation button to whirl the lock of hair around the heating member.

[0017] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

[0018] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front view of a hair curling device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a left view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a right view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a top view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the clamping arm at an opened position.

[0026] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the connector of the hair curling device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hair curling device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a top view of the hair curling device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a front view of the hair curling device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the hair curling device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the hair curling device along a B-B line according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 15 is a right view of the hair curling device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the hair curling device along a A-A line according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, a hair curling device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the hair curling device comprises a handle member 6, a heating member 10, and a connector 1 connecting the handle member 6 with the heating member 10 via one or more screws to form an elongated structure. In particular, one end of the connector 1 is coaxially inserted into the heating member 10 and an opposed end of the connector 1 is coaxially inserted into the handle member 6. The hair curling device further comprises a rotatable hub unit which comprises an upper rotatable hub body 5 and a lower rotatable hub body 6, wherein the upper and lower rotatable hub bodies 5, 6 are coupled at the upper and lower portions of the connector 1 to enclose the connector 1. A rotatable clamping arm 9, which is rotatable about the heating member 10, is coupled at an outer surface of the upper rotatable hub body 5 via a button cap 7 and an operation button 8 to retain clamping arm 9 along the heating member 10. A lock 2 is securely coupled at an outer surface of the lower rotatable hub body 6 via a lock cap 3. According to the preferred embodiment, the connector 1 is made of plastic such as PPS. The upper rotatable hub body 5, the lower rotatable hub body 6, the button cap 7, and the operation button 8 are made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass. Therefore, the heat generated at the heating member 10 will not be transmitted to the handle member 6. The structural configuration of the clamping arm can be rotated about the heating member for guiding and combing the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member neatly.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 18 of the drawings, a hair curling device of a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment, wherein the hair curling device of the second embodiment has the same structural configuration except it is powered to automatically driven the clamping arm to rotate. According to the second embodiment, the hair curling device comprises a handle member 7, a heating member 1, and a connector 5 connecting the handle member 7 with the heating member 1. As shown in FIG. 18, the hair curling device further comprises a power operating arrangement which comprises a two-directional-control operation button 6 (L-R) provided on the outer surface of the handle member 7, an electric motor 3, such as a micro electric motor, supported in the handle member 7 and activated by the operation button 6, a gear assembly 2 coupled with the electric motor 3, and a rotatable hub unit 5 driven to rotate by the electric motor 3 via the gear assembly 2. The clamping arm is coupled at the rotatable hub unit 5 such that when the operation button 6 is depressed at one side (L), the rotatable hub unit 5 is driven to rotate clockwise so as to rotate the clamping arm around the heating member 1 at the clockwise direction, and when the operation button 6 is depressed at an opposed side (R), the rotatable hub unit 5 is driven to rotate counter clockwise so as to rotate the clamping arm around the heating member 1 at the counter clockwise direction.

[0039] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

[0040] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A hair curling device, comprising a handle member, a heating member, a connector, a rotatable hub unit, an operation button, and a rotatable clamping arm, wherein said connector, which is made of PPS, connects said handle member with said heating member, wherein said rotatable hub unit comprises two rotatable hubs coupled at upper and lower portions of said connector to enclose said connector, wherein said operation button and said rotatable clamping arm are coupled at an outer surface of said rotatable hub unit via a button cap, wherein said clamping arm is rotatable around said heating member in 360.degree., wherein said rotatable hubs, said operation button, and said button cap are made of plastic.

2. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said clamping arm is coupled to said rotatable hub unit via said operation button and is coupled to said connector via said rotatable hub unit.

3. A hair curling device, comprising a handle member, a heating member extended from said handle member, a clamping arm extended along said heating member, an operation button operatively control said clamping arm, and a power operating arrangement which comprises an electric motor supported in said handle member, a two-directional-control operation button operatively controlling said element motor, a gear assembly operatively coupled with said electric motor, and a rotatable hub unit, wherein said rotatable hub unit is driven to rotate by said electric motor through said gear assembly and is coupled to said clamping arm in such a manner that when said two-directional-control operation button is actuated to activate said electric motor, said rotatable hub unit is driven to rotate so as to selectively drive said clamping arm to rotate around said heating member at one of clockwise direction and counter clockwise direction.

4. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said rotatable hub unit is driven to rotate by said electric motor through said gear assembly such that said rotatable hub and said clamping arm are rotated around said heating member at 360.degree., wherein said clamping arm is rotated around said heating member for whirling a lock of hair around said heating member after the lock of hair is grasped between said clamping arm and said heating member.