U.S. patent application number 13/573489 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-20 for hair curling device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Zhuang Fa Deng. Invention is credited to Zhuang Fa Deng.
Application Number | 20140076348 13/573489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50273178 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140076348 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deng; Zhuang Fa |
March 20, 2014 |
Hair curling device
Abstract
A hair curling device includes an elongated heating member, a
handle member, a powering arrangement including a motorized unit
supported in said handle member, and a clamping arm pivotally moved
between an opened position that the clamping arm is tilted from the
heating member and a closed position that the clamping arm is in
contact with a heating surface of the heating member. The clamping
arm is driven to rotate around an axis of the heating member by the
motorized unit, such that after the clamping arm is moved at the
closed position for retaining a lock of hair between the clamping
arm and the heating surface of the heating member, the clamping arm
is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled
around the heating member.
Inventors: |
Deng; Zhuang Fa; (Shenzhen,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Deng; Zhuang Fa |
|
|
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50273178 |
Appl. No.: |
13/573489 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/211 ;
132/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/211 ;
132/232 |
International
Class: |
A45D 2/00 20060101
A45D002/00; A45D 7/02 20060101 A45D007/02 |
Claims
1. A hair curling device, comprising: an elongated heating member
defining an outer heating surface; a handle member coaxially
extended from said heating member; a powering arrangement which
comprises a motorized unit supported in said handle member for
generating a reversible rotational power; and a clamp unit which
comprises a clamping arm pivotally moved between an opened position
that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member and a
closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with said
heating surface of said heating member, wherein said clamping arm
is driven to rotate around an axis of said heating member by said
motorized unit, such that after said clamping arm is moved at said
closed position for retaining a lock of hair between said clamping
arm and said heating surface of said heating member, said clamping
arm is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being
whirled around said heating member.
2. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a fixation shaft extended
from said handle member to said heating member and a rotatable
casing which is rotatably and coaxially coupled at said fixation
shaft and is coupled with said clamping arm, such that when said
rotatable casing is driven to rotate by said motorized unit, said
clamping arm is rotated around said heating member.
3. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
clamping arm is pivotally coupled at said rotatable casing.
4. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a safety member radially and
outwardly extended from said fixation shaft at a position between
said rotatable casing and said heating member for blocking the lock
of hair being whirled at said rotatable casing.
5. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a safety member radially and
outwardly extended from said fixation shaft at a position between
said rotatable casing and said heating member for blocking the lock
of hair being whirled at said rotatable casing.
6. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
safety member is immovable when said clamping arm is rotated.
7. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said
safety member is immovable when said clamping arm is rotated.
8. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a gear assembly operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said rotatable casing for
controllably transmitting said rotational power, wherein said gear
assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled
at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for
transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said
rotatable casing.
9. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a gear assembly operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said rotatable casing for
controllably transmitting said rotational power, wherein said gear
assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled
at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for
transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said
rotatable casing.
10. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a gear assembly operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said rotatable casing for
controllably transmitting said rotational power, wherein said gear
assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled
at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for
transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said
rotatable casing.
11. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 8, wherein said
concealed gear unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and
coaxially received in said handle member, a first gear set received
in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with
said motorized unit, and a second gear set received in and engaged
with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said rotatable
casing.
12. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said
concealed gear unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and
coaxially received in said handle member, a first gear set received
in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with
said motorized unit, and a second gear set received in and engaged
with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said rotatable
casing.
13. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 10, wherein said
concealed gear unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and
coaxially received in said handle member, a first gear set received
in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with
said motorized unit, and a second gear set received in and engaged
with said hollow gearbox to operatively link with said rotatable
casing.
14. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 8, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a circuit board supported
within a lower portion of said handle member, wherein said
motorized unit is operatively linked between said gear assembly and
said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within
said handle member.
15. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 13, wherein said
powering arrangement further comprises a circuit board supported
within a lower portion of said handle member, wherein said
motorized unit is operatively linked between said gear assembly and
said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within
said handle member.
16. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 14, wherein said
circuit board is adjustably controlled a heating temperature at
said heating surface of said heating member between 80.degree. C.
to 240.degree. C., a revolving speed of said clamping arm between
10 and 30 revolution per minute, a rotational speed of an output of
said motorized unit at an idle state about 5000 rpm, and said
rotational speed of said output of said motorized unit at a loaded
state about 1600 rpm.
17. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 15, wherein said
circuit board is adjustably controlled a heating temperature at
said heating surface of said heating member between 80.degree. C.
to 240.degree. C., a revolving speed of said clamping arm between
10 and 30 rpm, a rotational speed of an output of said motorized
unit at an idle state about 5000 rpm, and said rotational speed of
said output of said motorized unit at a loaded state about 1600
rpm.
18. A method of curling a lock of hair by a hair curling device
which comprises a heating member coaxially extended from a handle
member, a clamping arm, and a powering arrangement, comprising the
steps of: (a) retaining a lock of hair between said clamping arm
and a heating surface of said heating member, wherein said clamping
arm is pivotally moved between an opened position that said
clamping arm is tilted from said heating member and a closed
position that said clamping arm is in contact with said heating
surface of said heating member; (b) activating a motorized unit of
said powering arrangement to drive said clamping arm to rotate
around an axis of said heating member for guiding the lock of hair
being whirled around said heating member; and (c) generating heat
at said heating surface of said heating member for curling the lock
of hair.
19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein, in the step (b),
said motorized unit is activated to adjustably generate a
reversible rotational power so as to selectively drive said
clamping arm to rotate either at a clockwise direction or at a
counter clockwise direction.
20. The method, as recited in claim 19, wherein the step (b)
further comprises the steps of: (b.1) providing a fixation shaft
which is extended from said handle member to said heating member to
support said heating member by said handle member in an immovable
manner; (b.2) rotatably and coaxially coupling a rotatable casing
at said fixation shaft, wherein said clamping arm is pivotally
coupled at said rotatable casing; and (b.3) driving said rotatable
casing to rotate by said motorized unit in order to rotate said
clamping arm around said heating member.
21. The method, as recited in claim 20, wherein the step (b.1)
further comprises a step of radially and outwardly extending a
safety member from said fixation shaft at a position between said
rotatable casing and said heating member for blocking the lock of
hair being whirled at said rotatable casing.
22. The method, as recited in claim 21, wherein said safety member
is immovable when said clamping arm is rotated.
23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein, the step (b.2)
further comprises a step of controllably transmitting said
rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing
via a gear assembly of said powering arrangement, wherein said gear
assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled
at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for
transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said
rotatable casing.
24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein, the step (b.2)
further comprises a step of controllably transmitting said
rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing
via a gear assembly of said powering arrangement, wherein said gear
assembly comprises a ring-shaped gear element operatively coupled
at said rotatable casing and a concealed gear unit operatively
linked between said motorized unit and said gear element for
transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said
rotatable casing.
25. The method, as recited in claim 23, wherein said concealed gear
unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and coaxially received in
said handle, a first gear set received in and engaged with said
hollow gearbox to operatively link with said motorized unit, and a
second gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to
operatively link with said rotatable casing.
26. The method, as recited in claim 24, wherein said concealed gear
unit comprises a hollow gearbox rotatably and coaxially received in
said handle, a first gear set received in and engaged with said
hollow gearbox to operatively link with said motorized unit, and a
second gear set received in and engaged with said hollow gearbox to
operatively link with said rotatable casing.
27. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein, the step (b.2),
further comprises a step of configuring a circuit board supported
within a lower portion of said handle at a position that said
motorized unit is operatively linked between said a gear assembly
and said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within
said handle.
28. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein, the step (b.2),
further comprises a step of configuring a circuit board supported
within a lower portion of said handle at a position that said
motorized unit is operatively linked between said a gear assembly
and said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within
said handle.
29. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein a heating
temperature at said heating surface of said heating member is
adjustably controlled between 80.degree. C. to 240.degree. C., a
revolving speed of said clamping arm is adjustably controlled
between 10 to 30 rpm, a rotational speed of an output of said
motorized unit at an idle state is adjustably controlled about 5000
rpm, and said rotational speed of said output of said motorized
unit at a loaded state is adjustably controlled about 1600 rpm.
30. The method, as recited in claim 28, wherein a heating
temperature at said heating surface of said heating member is
adjustably controlled between 80.degree. C. to 240.degree. C., a
revolving speed of said clamping arm is adjustably controlled
between 10 to 30 rpm, a rotational speed of an output of said
motorized unit at an idle state is adjustably controlled about 5000
rpm, and said rotational speed of said output of said motorized
unit at a loaded state is adjustably controlled about 1600 rpm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a hair setter, and more
particular to a hair curling device, wherein the clamping arm is
automatically rotated to wind up the hair of the user around the
heating member for curling the hair thereof.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] A traditional hair curling device comprises a heating barrel
coaxially extended from an elongated handle, wherein the user must
whirl the hairs around the heating barrel by the rotational
movement of the handle. Heat is applied at the external surface of
the heating barrel to thermally contact with the hairs of the user
so as to curl the hairs of the user. However, the traditional hair
curling device has several drawbacks. The entire handle must be
rotated by the holding hand of the user in order to rotate the
heating barrel. It is not ergonomical that the user is difficult to
hold the handle tight and to rotate the handle at the same time,
especially when the hair curling device is connected to the power
source with an electric cable. When mishandling the handle, the
hair curling device may be accidentally dropped on the floor or
even burns the head skin of the user. In addition, it is difficult
for the user to control the desired tightness of the hairs when
whirling the hairs around the heating barrel.
[0005] An improved hair curling device further comprises a clamp
assembly for grasping a lock of hair at the heating barrel, such as
US Pub. No. 2012/0145180. FIG. 5 shows a conventional hair curling
device with the clamp assembly which comprises a ring 1 freely and
concentrically rotated at the handle 2 and a clamp 3 pivotally
coupled at the ring 1. The clamp 3 can be pivotally moved at an
opened position that the clamp 3 is tilted with respect to the
heating barrel 4 and can be pivotally moved at a closed position
that the clamp 3 is in contact with the heating barrel 4.
Therefore, after the clamp 3 is pivotally moved to grasp a lock of
hair between the heating barrel 4 and the clamp 3, the ring 1 is
rotated to drive the clamp 3 to rotate in order to wind the hair in
a curly shape. In particular, the lock of hair, especially the
portion close to the root of the hair, is initially grasped by the
clamp 3. During the rotation, the lock of hair is grasped and wound
toward the end of the hair.
[0006] However, the improved hair curling device also has several
drawbacks. The clamp 3 is rotated around the longitudinal axis of
the handle 2 by rotating the ring 1 between the thumb and index
finger of the holding hand of the user. In other words, the handle
2 will be held only by three fingers of the holding hand.
Therefore, it is not ergonomical that the user is difficult to hold
the handle 2 tight and to rotate the ring 1 at the same time by one
hand. In addition, during the rotation of the ring 1, the clamp 3
is revolved around the heating barrel 4 in order to wind the lock
of hair around the heating barrel 4. The lock of hair, especially
for long hair, may be accidentally stunk at the clamp base 5 of the
clamp 3 where the pivot joint is located. In other words, the hairs
will be pulled, burnt, and/or broken by the rotation of the ring 1
once the hairs are stunk at the clamp base 5. Or, the heating time
will be prolonged because it will take longer time for the user to
remove the hairs being stunk at the clamp base 5. Furthermore, the
tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel 4 cannot be controlled
by merely rotating the ring 1 by thumb and index finger of the
user's holding hand. In other words, the rotational speed of the
ring 1 cannot be controlled precisely. It is worth mentioning that
the curliness of the hair can be controlled not only by the heating
temperature of the heating barrel 4 but also by the heating time of
the heating barrel 4. The heating time is the time the hair being
stayed around the heating barrel 4. In other words, when the
rotational speed of the ring 1 is reduced, the heating time at the
heating barrel 4 for the hair will be prolonged. Therefore, it is
difficult for the user to rotate the ring 1 at a constant
rotational speed for controlling the hairs being stayed around the
heating barrel 4.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0007] The invention is advantageous in that it provides a hair
curling device, wherein a clamping arm is automatically rotated to
wind up the hair of the user around the tubular heating member for
curling the hair thereof.
[0008] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, wherein the clamping arm is powered by a powering
arrangement to rotate at a constant speed in a controllable manner,
such that the tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel and the
curliness of the hairs will be easily controlled by the user.
[0009] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, which comprises a safety member provided at the extension
end of the heating member in a non-rotatable manner for preventing
the hairs being stunk at the extension end of the heating member
when the heating member is rotated.
[0010] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, wherein the clamping arm is driven to rotate at two
opposite directions, i.e. clockwise direction and counter clockwise
direction, such that the hair curling device of the present
invention can be operated by both left-handed user and right-handed
user.
[0011] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, wherein the gear unit of the powering arrangement is a
concealed and compact gear unit for minimizing the size thereof and
for preventing the lubricate being leaked.
[0012] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, wherein the powering arrangement is located in a handle
member and is arranged in a manner that the center of mass of the
powering arrangement is located at the mid-portion of the hair
curling device so as to enable to hold the hair curling device
stably and securely.
[0013] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, wherein the heating temperature of the heating member is
controllable to control the curliness of the hairs.
[0014] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, which does not require to alter the original structural
design of the hair curling device, so as to minimize the
manufacturing cost of the hair curling device incorporating with
the powering arrangement.
[0015] Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling
device, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required
to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above
mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully
provides an economic and efficient solution for providing a powered
hair curling device for curling the hairs.
[0016] 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.
[0017] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other
objects and advantages are attained by a hair curling device which
comprises:
[0018] an elongated heating member defining an outer heating
surface;
[0019] a handle member coaxially extended from the heating
member;
[0020] a powering arrangement which comprises a motorized unit
supported in the handle member for generating a reversible
rotational power; and
[0021] a clamp unit which comprises a clamping arm pivotally moved
between an opened position that the clamping arm is tilted from the
heating member and a closed position that the clamping arm is in
contact with the heating surface of the heating member, wherein the
clamping arm is driven to rotate around an axis of the heating
member by the motorized unit, such that after the clamping arm is
moved at the closed position for retaining a lock of hair between
the clamping arm and the heating surface of the heating member, the
clamping arm is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair
being whirled around the heating member.
[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
present invention comprises a method of curling a lock of hair by a
hair curling device, comprising the steps of:
[0023] (a) retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm and a
heating surface of the heating member, wherein the clamping arm is
pivotally moved between an opened position that the clamping arm is
tilted from the heating member and a closed position that the
clamping arm is in contact with the heating surface of the heating
member;
[0024] (b) activating a motorized unit of the powering arrangement
to drive the clamping arm to rotate around an axis of the heating
member for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the
heating member; and
[0025] (c) generating heat at the heating surface of the heating
member for curling the lock of hair.
[0026] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
[0027] 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
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling device
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling
device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the
hair curling device according to the above preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the heating barrel
of the heating member according to the above preferred embodiment
of the present invention, illustrating the heating barrel having a
conical shape.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional hair curling device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a hair curling
device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated, wherein the hair curling device comprises an
elongated heating member 10, a handle member 20, a powering
arrangement 30, and a clamp unit 40.
[0034] The heating member 10 comprises a tubular heating barrel 11
made of thermal conductive material and a heat generating element
12 disposes in the heating barrel 11, wherein when the heat
generating element 12 is activated for generating heat, the heat is
transmitted to an outer heating surface of the heating barrel 11.
The heating member 10 further defines an extension end at the
heating barrel 11 and a top end thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the heating barrel 11 has a cylindrical shape that a diameter of
the top end of the heating barrel 11 equals to a diameter of the
extension end thereof, such that the heating barrel 11 has a
uniform diameter. Alternatively, the heating barrel 11' can be
configured to form a conical shape, as shown in FIG. 4, that the
diameter of the heating barrel 11' is gradually reduced from the
extension end to the top end. Accordingly, the conical shape of the
heating barrel 11' can also smoothly guide the lock of hair being
whirled therearound so as to vary the curliness of the lock of hair
along the heating barrel 11'.
[0035] The handle member 20 is coaxially extended from the heating
member 10, wherein the handle member 20 is a hollow member having a
compartment therein. In particular, the handle member 20 is
coaxially extended from the extension end of the heating barrel 11
to form an elongated structure. Accordingly, the handle member 20
comprises two handle casings, i.e. two half-casings, coupled with
each other to define the compartment within the handle casings.
[0036] The powering arrangement 30 comprises a motorized unit 31
supported in the handle member 20 for generating a reversible
rotational power. The motorized unit 31, having an output shaft, is
supported in the compartment of the handle member, wherein the
motorized unit 31 is adapted for selectively generating the
reversible rotational power at the output shaft. In other words,
the motorized unit 31 controllably generates the reversible
rotational power at clockwise direction or at counter clockwise
direction.
[0037] The clamp unit 40 comprises a clamping arm 41 pivotally
moved between an opened position and a closed position. At the
opened position, the clamping arm 41 is tilted from the heating
member 10 for retaining a lock of hair being placed between the
clamping arm 41 and the heating member 10. At the closed position,
the clamping arm 41 is in contact with the heating surface of the
heating member 10 for retaining the lock of hair between the
clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member
10.
[0038] Accordingly, the clamping arm 41 is driven to rotate around
an axis of the heating member 10 by the motorized unit 31, such
that after the clamping arm 41 is moved at the closed position for
retaining the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the
heating surface of the heating member 10, the clamping arm 41 is
automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled
around the heating member 10. In particular, the lock of hair will
be guided to whirl around the clamping arm 41 as well when the
clamping arm 41 is rotated around the axis of the heating member
10. Preferably, the clamping arm 41 is made of thermal conductive
material, such that the heat at the heating surface of the heating
member 10 will transmit to the clamping arm 41 for curling the lock
of hair after the lock of hair is whirled around the heating member
10.
[0039] The motorized unit 31 is embodied as an electric motor
supported within a mid-portion of the handle member 20 to evenly
distribute the weight of the motorized unit 31 at the handle member
20. The motorized unit 31 is selectively controlled to generate a
forward rotational power to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate
around the heating member 10 at the clockwise direction and to
generate a reverse rotational power to drive the clamping arm 41 to
rotate around the heating member 10 at the counter clockwise
direction. Therefore, both right-handed user and left-handed user
can operate the hair curling device of the present invention.
Likewise, the hair curling device of the present invention can curl
the hair at different curling directions as well.
[0040] According to the preferred embodiment, the powering
arrangement 30 further comprises a fixation shaft 32 extended from
the handle member 20 to the heating member 10 and a rotatable
casing 33 rotatably and coaxially coupled at the fixation shaft
32.
[0041] The fixation shaft 32 is an elongated member coaxially
extended from the handle member 20 to the extension end of the
heating barrel 11. In other words, the heating member 10 will not
be rotated when the user holds at the handle member 20.
[0042] The rotatable casing 33 is rotatably coupled at the fixation
shaft 32 to enclose the fixation shaft 32 therein. In particular,
the rotatable casing 33 is freely rotated about the fixation shaft
32 at 360 degrees. The clamping arm 41 is pivotally coupled at the
rotatable casing 33, such that when the rotatable casing 33 is
driven to rotate by the motorized unit 31, the clamping arm 41 is
rotated around the heating member 10. In other words, only the
rotatable casing 33 is rotated to drive the clamping arm 41 moving
around the heating member 10 while the heating member 10, the
handle member 20, and the fixation shaft 32 are immovable.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamp unit 40 further
comprises a pivot joint 42 for pivotally coupling the clamping arm
41 at the rotatable casing 33. Accordingly, the clamping arm 41,
preferably having a tapered shape, defines a free end and a pivot
end pivotally coupled at the rotatable casing 33 via the pivot
joint 42. The tapered end of the clamping arm 41 can easily retain
the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating barrel
11 initially, so as to enable the lock of hair being smoothly
whirled around the heating barrel 11.
[0044] The pivot joint 42 comprises a pivot shaft 421 pivotally
coupled the pivot end of the clamping arm at the rotatable casing
33, a clamp button 422 provided at the rotatable casing 33 for
pivotally moving the clamping arm 41 from the closed position to
the opened position, and a resilient element 423 supported at the
rotatable casing 33 for applying an urging spring force against the
clamp button 422 so as to retain the clamping arm 41 at the closed
position. Accordingly, when a pressing force is applied at the
clamp button 422, the clamp button 422 is pivotally depressed via
the pivot shaft 421 to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 to the
opened position from the closed position. At the opened position of
the clamping arm 41, the resilient element 423, which is embodied
as a compression spring, is compressed. When the pressing force at
the clamp button 422 is released, the compressed resilient element
423 will return back to its original form to pivotally move the
clamp button 422 back so as to pivotally move the clamping arm 41
back to the closed position from the opened position.
[0045] The clamp unit 40 further comprises a handle holder 43
coupled at the top end of the heating barrel 11 of the heating
member 10 in a non-rotatable manner, wherein the handle holder 43
is fixed with respect to the heating member 10, such that the
handle holder 43 will not be rotated when the clamping arm 41 is
rotated. Accordingly, the handle holder 43 is made of heat
insulated material coaxially coupled at the top end of the heating
barrel 11, such that when whirling the lock of hair, the user is
able to hold the handle holder 43 by hand to keep the balance of
the hair curling device. Preferably, a silica gel ring is coupled
between the handle holder 43 and the heating barrel 11 for
preventing the heat from the heating barrel 11 being transferred to
the handle holder 43. Alternatively, the handle holder 43 can be
freely and rotatably coupled at the top end of the heating barrel
11 of the heating member 10, wherein the handle holder 43 is free
to rotate at 360.degree. with respect to the heating member 10.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the powering arrangement 30
further comprises a safety member 34 radially and outwardly
extended from the fixation shaft 32 at a position between the
rotatable casing 33 and the heating member 10 for blocking the lock
of hair being whirled at the rotatable casing 33. The safety member
34 is formed in a ring shape that the safety member 34 is
integrally extended from the fixation shaft 32 at a position
between the extension end of the heating barrel 11 and the pivot
end of the clamping arm 41. Therefore, when the lock of hair is
whirled around the heating member 10, the lock of hair is whirled
from the pivot end of the heating barrel 11 toward the top end of
the heating barrel 11 where the pivot joint 42 is located. The
safety member 34 will block the lock of hair being whirled and
stunk at the pivot joint 42 during the rotation of the clamping arm
41. Preferably, the outer diameter of the safety member 34 matches
with the outer diameter of the rotatable casing 33 which is larger
than the outer diameter of the heating barrel 11. It is worth
mentioning that since the safety member 34 is radially and
outwardly extended from the fixation shaft 32, the safety member 34
is immovable or non-rotatable when the clamping arm 41 is rotated
around the heating member 10.
[0047] In order to drive the rotatable casing 33 to rotate, the
powering arrangement 30 further comprises a gear assembly 35
operatively linked between the motorized unit 31 and the rotatable
casing 33 for controllably transmitting the rotational power. The
gear assembly 35 comprises a ring-shaped gear element 351
operatively coupled at the rotatable casing 33 and a concealed gear
unit 352 operatively linked between the motorized unit 31 and the
gear element 351 or transmitting the rotational power from the
motorized unit 31 to the rotatable casing 33.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the gear element 351, having the ring
shape, defines an outer circumferentially engaging surface
operatively coupled with the inner surface of the rotatable casing
33 and an inner circumferentially teething surface operatively
linked to the concealed gear unit 352 such that when the gear
element 351 is driven to rotate, the rotatable casing 33 is rotated
correspondingly. Accordingly, the fixation shaft 32 is extended to
pass through the gear element 351 to couple with the handle member
10.
[0049] The concealed gear unit 352 comprises a hollow gearbox 353
rotatably and coaxially received in the handle member 20, a first
gear set 354 received in and engaged with the hollow gearbox 353 to
operatively link with the motorized unit 31, and a second gear set
355 received in and engaged with the hollow gearbox 353 to
operatively link with the rotatable casing 33.
[0050] According to the preferred embodiment, the hollow gearbox
353 has a cylindrical shape and defines an inner circumferentially
cog surface, wherein the interior space of the hollow gearbox 353
is big enough to receive the first and second gear sets 354, 355.
In particular, the hollow gearbox 353 is arranged to transmit the
rotational power from the first gear set 354 to the second gear set
355 through the inner circumferentially cog surface.
[0051] The first gear set 354 is operatively linked between the
output shaft of the motorized unit 31 and the inner
circumferentially cog surface of the hollow gearbox 353, wherein
the first gear set 354 is arranged to transmit the rotational power
from the motorized unit 31 to drive the hollow gearbox 353 to
rotate within the handle member 20.
[0052] The second gear set 355 is operatively linked between the
inner circumferentially teething surface of the gear element 351
and the inner circumferentially cog surface of the hollow gearbox
353, wherein the second gear set 355 is arranged to transmit the
rotational power from the hollow gearbox 353 to drive the gear
element 351 to rotate around the fixation shaft 32 so as to drive
the rotatable casing 33 to rotate.
[0053] It is worth mentioning that the hollow gearbox 353 forms a
concealed barrel to receive the first and second gear sets 354,
355, such that the size of the gear assembly 35 can be
substantially minimized and the lubricate within the hollow gearbox
353 can be retained for preventing being leaked out of the gear
assembly 35.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the powering arrangement further
comprises a circuit board 36 supported within a lower portion of
the handle member 20, wherein the motorized unit 31 is operatively
linked between the gear assembly 35 and the circuit board 36 to
form a compact operating structure within the handle member 20. The
circuit board 36 contains a heat control circuit of the heating
member 10 for controlling the heating temperature at the heating
surface of the heating member 10 and a motor control circuit of the
motorized unit for controlling the operation of the motorized unit,
wherein the heat control circuit and the motor control circuit are
integrated at the circuit board 36 to form an integrated circuit
board. Accordingly, the circuit board 36 is an elongated board
structure disposed at the lower portion of the handle member 20,
wherein the circuit board 36 has a cable terminal provided at the
bottom end of the handle member 20 to operatively connect with an
extension cable and a motorized terminal to operatively link to the
motorized unit 31. It is worth mentioning that the configuration of
the powering arrangement 30 can substantially reduce the size of
the handle member 20 to receive the powering arrangement 30 that
the circuit board 36 is activated to control the operation of the
motorized unit 31 and then to transmit the rotational power to the
rotatable casing 33 through the gear assembly 35. Therefore, the
locations of the circuit board 36, the motorized unit 31, and the
gear assembly 35 at the sequent order can substantially save the
installing space of the powering assembly 30.
[0055] The powering assembly 30 further comprises an operating
control 37 for controlling the operations of the motorized unit 31
and the heating member 10. The operating control 37 comprises a
plurality of operational buttons provided at an outer side of the
handle member 10. Accordingly, a heat operation button 371 is
provided at the outer side of the handle member 10 and is
operatively linked to the circuit board 36 for switching the
heating member 10 in an on and off manner. In addition, the heat
operation button 371 can adjustably control the heating temperature
of the heating member 10. It is worth mentioning that when the heat
operation button 371 is pressed, the heating member 10 will
generate heat at the heating surface thereof. In addition, the
heating temperature of the heating barrel 11 can be selectively
adjusted by the heat operation button 371. When the heating member
10 is switched on by the depression of the heat operation button
371, the user is able to press on the heat operation button 371 at
one side with the "+" indication in order to increase the heating
temperature. Likewise, the user is able to press on the heat
operation button 371 at another side with the "-" indication in
order to reduce the heating temperature. Preferably, the "on"
indication and the "+" indication are formed at one side of the
heat operation button 371 while the "off" indication and the "-"
indication are formed at another side of the heat operation button
371. Once the user presses on the "off" side at the heat operation
button 371, the heating member 10 will stop generating heat at the
heating surface thereof. In other words, the user is able to
control the heat operation button 371 to keep and adjust the heat
at the heating surface of the heating member 10.
[0056] A motorized activation button 372 is provided at the outer
side of the handle member 20 and is operatively linked to the
circuit board 36 for switching the motorized unit 31 in an on and
off manner. In particular, the motorized activation button 372 has
two side portions (left and right portions) that when one side of
the motorized activation button 372 is pressed, the motorized unit
31 will generate the forward rotational power and when another side
of the motorized activation button 372 is pressed, the motorized
unit 31 will generate the reverse rotational power. It is worth
mentioning that once the depression force at the motorized
activation button 372 is released, the motorized unit 31 will be
deactivated to stop generating the rotational power. In other
words, the clamping arm 41 will stop rotating when the depression
force at the motorized activation button 372 is released.
[0057] The operating control 37 further comprises an operational
indicator 373 provided at the outer side of the handle member 10
and operatively linked to the circuit board 36 for indicating the
heating member 10 in an on and off manner. Accordingly, the
operational indicator 373 comprises a light generator operatively
linked to the circuit board 36 and arranged in such a manner that
the operational indicator 373 will generate light effect when the
heating member 10 in switched on.
[0058] Accordingly, through the circuit board 36 and the operating
control 37, the heating temperature at the heating surface of the
heating member 10 is adjustably controlled between 80.degree. 'C to
240.degree. C. The revolving speed of the clamping arm 41 is
adjustably controlled between 10 and 30 rpm, preferably between 14
and 25 rpm. The rotational speed of the output of the motorized
unit 31 at an idle state, i.e. only the motorized unit 31 itself,
is adjustably controlled about 5000.+-.20% rpm. The rotational
speed of the output of the motorized unit 31 at a loaded state,
i.e. the hair being whirled, is adjustably controlled about
1600.+-.20% rpm. In other words, through the gear assembly 35 to
reduce the rotational speed, the rotational power from the
motorized unit 31 is transmitted to the rotatable casing 33 to
rotate the clamping arm 41 from the output of the motorized unit 31
between 1600-5000 rpm to the output of the clamping arm 41 between
10 and 30 rpm. It is worth mentioning that the gear assembly 35 is
a four-step transmission unit that the gear ratio of the first to
third steps is 12/36 and the gear ratio of the fourth step is
12/42, wherein the total speed reducing ratio is about 94.5:1.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention further comprises
a method of curling the lock of hair by the hair curling device
which comprises the following steps.
[0060] (1) Retain the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and
the heating surface of the heating member 10. Accordingly, the user
is able to apply the pressing force at the clamp button 422, such
that the clamp button 422 is pivotally depressed via the pivot
shaft 421 to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 to the opened
position from the closed position. The lock of hair can be placed
between the heating member 10 and the clamping arm 41. Preferably,
the lock of hair close to the root thereof is retained between the
clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10.
Once the lock of hair is placed, the user is able to release the
pressing force at the clamp button 422, the clamp button 422 is
pivotally moved back so as to pivotally move the clamping arm 41
back to the closed position from the opened position.
[0061] (2) Activate the motorized unit 31 of the powering
arrangement 30 to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around the
axis of the heating member 10 for guiding the lock of hair being
whirled around the heating member 10. Accordingly, when the
clamping arm 41 is rotated, the lock of hair is whirled from the
root of the hair to the tip thereof. During the whirling movement,
the safety member 34 will block the lock of hair being whirled and
stunk at the pivot joint 42. Therefore, the lock of hair can be
smoothly whirled around the heating member 10.
[0062] In particular, after the lock of hair is retained between
the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member
10, preferably being retained at the middle of the heating barrel
11 or close to the extension end thereof, the user is able to
activate the motorized unit 31 by pressing the motorized activation
button 372 by the thumb of the holding hand. Once the clamping arm
41 is started to rotate, the starting portion of the lock of hair
is pushed by the clamping arm 41 and whirled around the heating
barrel 11, as shown in FIG. 4. When the clamping arm 41 is kept
rotating, the lock of hair is continuously guided and pushed to
whirl around the heating barrel 11. At the same time, a portion of
the lock of hair will be continuously retained between the clamping
arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. FIG. 4
also illustrates the mid-portion of the lock of hair being retained
between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating
member 10 while the starting portion of the lock of hair is whirled
around the heating barrel 11 and the clamping arm 41. The clamping
arm 41 is kept rotating until the tip portion of the lock of hair
is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of
the heating member 10, such that the lock of hair, from the
starting portion to the tip portion, will be whirled around the
heating barrel 11. It is worth mentioning that the safety member 34
will block the tip portion of the lock of hair being whirled and
stunk at the pivot joint 42.
[0063] In addition, the user is able to select which rotational
direction of the clamping arm 41 being rotated. By pressing one
side of the motorized activation button 372, such as the left
portion thereof, the motorized unit 31 will generate the forward
rotational power. By pressing another side of the motorized
activation button 372, such as the right portion thereof, the
motorized unit 31 will generate the reverse rotational power. Once
the lock of hair is whirled, the user is able to stop the
rotational movement of the clamping arm 41 by releasing the
pressing force at the motorized activation button 372. When
whirling the lock of hair, the user is able to hold the handle
holder 43 by hand to keep the balance of the hair curling device.
Accordingly, since the clamping arm 41 is powered by motorized unit
31 to rotate at a constant speed in a controllable manner, the
tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel 11 and the curliness
of the hairs will be easily controlled by the user.
[0064] (3) Generate heat at the heating surface of the heating
member 10 for curling the lock of hair. After the lock of hair is
whirled, the user is able to press the heat operation button 371,
such that the heating member 10 will generate heat at the heating
surface thereof. It is worth mentioning that the curvature of the
hair can be selectively controlled by the heating time and heating
temperature of the heating member 10. The user is able to prolong
the heating time by press-and-hold the heat operation button 371.
The user is also able to adjust the heating temperature of the
heating member 10 through the heat operation button 371. Once the
pressing force applied at the heat operation button 371 is
released, the heating member 10 will stop generating heat at the
heating surface thereof.
[0065] (4) Once the lock of hair is curled, activate the motorized
unit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 to drive the clamping arm 41
to rotate. The lock of hair will be automatically released from the
clamping arm 41 and the heating member 10. It is worth mentioning
that when the lock of hair is whirled around the heating barrel 11,
only the tip portion of the lock of hair is retained between the
clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10 at
a position close to the top end thereof. Therefore, when the
motorized unit 31 is kept activating to drive the clamping arm 41
to rotate about the heating barrel 11, the tip portion of the lock
of hair will be released from the engagement between the clamping
arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Likewise,
the user is also able to release the lock of hair from the clamping
arm 41 by pressing the clamp button 422 to pivotally move the
clamping arm 41 to the opened position from the closed
position.
[0066] It is worth mentioning that the user is able to hold the
handle member 20 by the holding hand and operate the hair curling
device by the thumb. In other words, the user can securely hold the
handle member 20 with the palm and four fingers. The operation of
the hair curling device can be operated by the depression of the
operating control 37 via the thumb of the user.
[0067] Accordingly, the user is also able to switch on the heating
member 10 to generate heat at the heating surface of the heating
member 10 before curling the hair around the heating member 10.
Once the heating surface of the heating member 10 is heated up at a
predetermined heating temperature, the lock of hair can be retained
between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating
member 10. Then, the motorized unit 31 of the powering arrangement
30 can be activated to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around
the axis of the heating member 10 for guiding the lock of hair
being whirled around the heating member 10. During the whirling of
the lock of hair, the heating member 10 will keep applying the heat
to the lock of hair in order to curl the lock of hair. Once the tip
portion of the lock of hair is retained between the clamping arm 41
and the heating surface of the heating member 10, i.e. the lock of
hair is whirled around the heating member 10, the lock of hair is
already curled. Therefore, when the clamping arm 41 is kept
rotating, the engagement at the tip portion of the lock of hair
between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating
member 10 will be released so as to automatically release the lock
of hair from the hair curling device of the present invention. It
is worth mentioning that the rotational speed of the clamping arm
41 is controlled to adjust the heating time of the lock of hair
from the starting portion of the lock of hair to the tip portion
thereof. When the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 is
reduced, the heating time will be prolonged. Likewise, when the
rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 is increased, the heating
time will be reduced. In other words, once the tip portion of the
lock of hair is released from the clamping arm 41, the lock of hair
is curled. It is worth mentioning that the rotational speed of the
clamping arm 41 and the heating temperature can be adjustably
controlled by the user to control the curliness of the hair.
[0068] 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.
[0069] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It
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.
* * * * *