U.S. patent application number 14/140118 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-25 for hair styling apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Conair Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Conair Corporation. Invention is credited to Anthony Kit Lun Leung.
Application Number | 20150173477 14/140118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51205759 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150173477 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leung; Anthony Kit Lun |
June 25, 2015 |
HAIR STYLING APPARATUS
Abstract
A hair styling apparatus includes first and second handle
members adapted for movement between an open position for receiving
hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, a
heating element associated with at least one of said first and
second handle members and a vibration element mountable to at least
one of the first and second handle member to impart mechanical
energy to the heating element. The vibration element may include a
transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer.
Inventors: |
Leung; Anthony Kit Lun;
(North Point, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Conair Corporation |
Stamford |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Conair Corporation
Stamford
CT
|
Family ID: |
51205759 |
Appl. No.: |
14/140118 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/06 20130101; A45D
1/04 20130101; A45D 1/14 20130101; A45D 2/001 20130101; A45D
2200/207 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 2/00 20060101
A45D002/00 |
Claims
1. A hair styling apparatus, which comprises: first and second
handle members adapted for movement between an open position for
receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the
hair, the first and second handle members extending along a
longitudinal axis; a heating element associated with at least one
of the first and second handle members; and a vibration element
mountable to at least one of the first and second handle members to
impart mechanical energy to the heating element, the vibration
element axially spaced from the heating element.
2. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the
vibration element includes a transducer.
3. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the
vibration element includes a piezoelectric transducer.
4. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 3 including a
first heating plate mounted to the first handle member and a second
heating plate mounted to the second handle member.
5. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the
transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to the second
heating plate of the second handle member.
6. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the
transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to each of the
first and second heating plates of the first and second handle
members.
7. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 including first
and second transducers mounted within respective first and second
handle members, the first transducer imparting mechanical energy to
the first heating plate, the second transducer imparting mechanical
energy to the second heating plate.
8. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 including a
manually operable intensity control, the intensity control adapted
for selective manipulation to control output of the transducer.
9. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the
ultrasonic transducer is activated upon movement of the first and
second handle members to the closed position.
10. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the
ultrasonic transducer is deactivated when the first and second
handle members are in the open position.
11. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the
first and second handle members include first and second frames,
the first and second frames defining a hinge about which the first
and second handle members pivot between the open position and the
closed position, the first and second heating plates respectively
coupled to the first and second frames.
12. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the
transducer is mechanically coupled to at least one of the first and
second frames.
13. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 12 including
first and second transducers mechanically coupled to the first and
second frames respectively.
14. A hair styling apparatus, which comprises: first and second
handle members adapted for pivotal movement about a hinge between
an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed
position adjacent the hair, the first and second handle members
extending along a longitudinal axis; first and second heating
elements mounted to the first and second handle members
respectively, and being remote from the hinge; and a vibration
element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle
members to impart mechanical energy to the heating element, the
vibration element axially spaced from the heating element.
15. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the
first and second handle members include first and second frames,
the first and second frames defining the hinge, the first and
second heating plates respectively coupled to the first and second
frames.
16. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 15 including
first and second transducers mechanically coupled to the first and
second frames respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for treating
hair.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] Hair straightener apparatuses typically include two pivotal
handles which are hinged at one end and pivot about the hinge
between open and closed positions. Heating heads extend from each
handle and have inner surfaces comprised of a heatable material,
usually metal, for straightening or styling hair. An electric
heater element located beneath each heatable surface is activated
to warm the surfaces to a desired temperature. The inner surfaces
are positionable around hair to be styled, and the hinged handles
are moved to a closed position bringing the heated inner surfaces
in contact with the hair. The gripped handles are then slid along
the hair strands until the hair exits from the heads. One example
of a hair straightener apparatus is disclosed in commonly assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,532, the entire contents of which are
incorporated by reference herein.
SUMMARY
[0005] Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to further
enhancements in hair straightener apparatuses. In accordance with
one embodiment, a hair styling apparatus includes first and second
handle members adapted for movement between an open position for
receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the
hair, a heating element associated with at least one of said first
and second handle members and a vibration element mountable to at
least one of the first and second handle member to impart
mechanical energy to the heating element. The vibration element may
include a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric
transducer.
[0006] A first heating plate may be mounted to the first handle
member and a second heating plate may be mounted to the second
handle member. The transducer may be positioned to impart
mechanical energy to the second heating plate of the second handle
member. In one embodiment, the transducer is positioned to impart
mechanical energy to each of the first and second heating plates of
the first and second handle members.
[0007] First and second transducers may be mounted within
respective first and second handle members. The first transducer
may impart mechanical energy to the first heating plate and the
second transducer may impart mechanical energy to the second
heating plate.
[0008] A manually operable intensity control may be provided and
adapted for selective manipulation to control output of the
transducer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described
hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair styling apparatus
in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view a hair styling apparatus in
accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hair styling apparatus;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hair styling
apparatus;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the hair styling
apparatus; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating some of the
operating components of the hair styling apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular,
to FIGS. 1-5, the hair styling apparatus 100 in accordance with the
principles of the present invention is illustrated. The hair
styling apparatus 100 may be in the form of a hair straightener
utilized to generally straighten the hair of the subject. However,
it is envisioned that the hair styling apparatus may includes
surfaces to shape, crimp or affect any styling effect to the
subject's hair.
[0017] The hair styling apparatus 100 includes first and second
handle members 102,104 connected to each other through a hinge 106,
of a conventional type. The hinge 106 typically incorporates a
spring to normally bias the first and second members 102, 104 to
the open position depicted in FIG. 1. The first and second handle
members 102, 104 are adapted to pivot about the hinge 106 between
the open position of FIG. 1 and the closed position depicted in
FIGS. 2-3 and 5.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 4-5, the first and second handle
members 102, 104 includes first and second outer housings 108, 110.
Disposed within the first and second outer housings 108, 110 are
heating element or plates 112, 114, which are at the end remote
from the hinge 106 and frame segments 116, 118 positioned adjacent
the hinge 106. The heating plates 112, 114 are heated by
conventional electrical means (not shown) known in the art, so that
hair can be positioned therebetween for styling. The heating plates
112, 114 are connected to the first and second outer housings 108,
110 through housing connectors 120, 122 and connected to the first
and second frame segments 116, 118 through frame connectors, 124,
126 respectively. The first and second frame segments 116, 118
include hinge segments 128, 130 which cooperate to pivotally couple
the first and second handle members 102, 104, thereby forming the
hinge 106. The hinge segments 128, 130 may be enclosed via hinge
covers 132, 134.
[0019] The first and second handle members 102, 104 may include an
on/off power switch 136, an LED 138 mounted within the first outer
housing 108 of the first handle member 102 for indicating when the
power is activated, and a power cord 140. A window 142 may be
mounted to the first outer housing 108 to enclose the LED 138 for
viewing through opening 143 of the first outer housing 108. A
control board 144 including a controller/processor for controlling
operation of the apparatus 10 is mounted within the first outer
housing 108, e.g., to the first frame segment 128. The controller
will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow. One or more
contacts 146 (one is shown on the second handle member 106) to
power the heating plates 112, 114 only when the first and second
handle members 102, 104 are in the closed position. Stoppers or
spacers 148 extending between the first and second handle members
102, 104 ensure proper spacing of the first and second handle
members 102, 104 and/or the components thereof.
[0020] The apparatus further includes one or more vibratory or
oscillatory elements 150 in the form of, e.g., a transducer which
is mounted within the second handle 106. The transducer 150 is
adapted to transmit mechanical or ultrasonic energy to at least the
second handle 106 and the second heating plate 114. In one
embodiment, the transducer 150 transmits mechanical energy to at
least the first and second outer housings 108, 110, which is, in
turn, conveyed to the first and second heating plates 112, 114. The
transducer 150 may be secured to the inner surface of the second
outer housing 110 with an epoxy or adhesive. Multiple transducers
150 may be provided and secured to both the first and second outer
housings 108, 110. Each housing 108, 110 may have one or more
transducers, and the location of the transducer 150 may be
varied.
[0021] In FIG. 5, the transducer 150 is depicted beneath the frame
segment 118 spaced from the heating plates 114. The transducer 150
may directly contact the frame connector 126 of the second handle
104 such that during activation mechanical energy is directed to
the second heating plate 114 through the frame connector 126. With
this arrangement, the vibratory energy may be partially or entirely
directed to the second heating plate 114. Other locations for the
transducer 150 are also envisioned. For example, the transducer 150
may be positioned directly beneath the second heating plate 114 to
directly about the second heating plate 114.
[0022] The transducer 150 may be activated via a manual control
switch mounted to one of the first and second handle members 102,
104. In one embodiment, the transducer only may be activated when
the first and second handle members 102, 104 are in the closed
position, i.e., when the contacts establish electrical contact.
[0023] The transducer 22 may be a piezoelectric transducer (e.g.,
ceramic or quartz) adapted to convert electrical energy to
mechanical energy using a vibrating element, to amplify and direct
the mechanical energy into the first and second handles 102, 104
and ultimately to the heating plates 108, 110. Any commercially
available frequency transducers may be utilized. Such transducers
are small in size and profile and thereby may be readily
incorporated within the outer housings 108, 110 of the first and
second handles, exhibit high mechanical stiffness, and can operate
at a variety of frequency ranges including relatively high
frequency ranges while requiring minimal input energy and force (as
compared to a motor driven vibrator). The transducer 150 also may
generate heat to at least supplement the heat generated by the
heating plates 112, 114. The output of the transducer 150 may be
selected controlled via a control knob mounted to one of the handle
members 102, 104, which is controlled by the controller to vary the
intensity of the output. A suitable high frequency transducer may
operate to provide a frequency output ranging from about of 10 Hz-5
MHz.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates further details of the controller and
operating components of the hair treatment apparatus 100 will be
discussed. The hair treatment apparatus 100 utilizes one or more
controllers or circuitry 200 mounted to the control board 144 to
receive various information and transform the received information
to generate an output. The controller 200 may include any type of
computing device, computational circuit, software, logic or any
type of processor or processing circuit 202 capable of executing a
series of instructions that are stored in a memory. The controller
200 may include multiple processors 202 and/or multicore central
processing units (CPUs) and may include any type of processor, such
as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or
the like. The controller 202 may also include a memory 204 to store
data and/or algorithms to perform a series of instructions. The
memory 204 may include a mechanism that provides (e.g., stores
and/or transmits) information in a form readable by a machine such
as a processor, computer, or a digital processing device.
[0025] The controller 200 controls operation of the heating plates
112, 114 and the transducer(s) to activate/deactivate these
components in response to activation of the manual controls. For
example, the apparatus 100 may include the manual power on/off
control 136 which activates the heating plates, a manual vibration
control 206 to activate the transducer(s) 150 and a manual
intensity control 208 which controls the intensity or frequency of
the output of the transducer(s) 150. The manual vibration control
206 and the intensity control 208 may be mounted to either the
first and second handle members 102, 104 and may be controlled by a
single actuator.
[0026] In use, the power control 136 is placed in the on position,
and hair is positioned between the heating plates 112, 114 of the
first and second handle members 102, 104. The handle members 102,
104 are approximated causing the electrical contacts to engage and
activate the heating plates 112, 114. The apparatus 100 is
maneuvered to drag the hair between the heating plates 112, 114 to
straighten the hair. When it is desired to position the apparatus
in vibration mode, the vibration control 206 is activated causing
the one or more transducers 150 to impart mechanical energy to at
least one or both of the first and second heating plates 112, 114
thereby causing the one or more plates 112, 114 to vibrate and
impart a straightening effect to the hair. In one embodiment, the
transducer 150 will not be activated until the electrical contacts
engage each other, e.g., when the first and second handle members
102, 104 are in the approximated condition. The intensity of the
vibratory or oscillating movement may be selectively varied during
the course of treatment by the manual intensity control 208.
[0027] It is further envisioned that the vibratory energy provided
by the transducer will assist in absorption of a treatment agent
positioned on the subject's hair or on pads which would be mounted
to the heating plates. Such treatment agents may include argan oil,
pharmaceutically active agents, moisturizers, hydration agents,
penetration agents, preservatives, emulsifiers, natural or
synthetic oils, solvents, surfactants, detergents, gelling agents,
emollients, antioxidants, fragrances, fillers, thickeners, waxes,
odor absorbers, dyestuffs, coloring agents, powders,
viscosity-controlling agents, buffers, protectants, pH regulators,
chelating agents, humectants, conditioners, glitter, mica,
minerals, silicones, polyphenols, sunblocks, phytomedicinals, and
combinations thereof, as well as other additives typically used in
hair care products as appreciated by those skilled in the art.
[0028] The above description and the drawings are provided for the
purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are
not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. It
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the
present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this
disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *