U.S. patent application number 15/323993 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-20 for hair curling iron with winder.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kenford Industrial Company Ltd. Invention is credited to Wai Ho Michael Keong, Wai Ming Lam.
Application Number | 20170202332 15/323993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55063578 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170202332 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keong; Wai Ho Michael ; et
al. |
July 20, 2017 |
HAIR CURLING IRON WITH WINDER
Abstract
A curling iron that winds a lock of hair about a barrel includes
a body that surrounds the barrel and forms a hair-receiving space
accessed through an opening in the body. The opening includes a
circumferential portion extending about a distal end of the barrel,
and a slot extending axially from the circumferential portion
toward a proximal end of the barrel. The slot portion is disposed
at a longitudinal end of the curling iron for receiving a lock of
hair that is elongated parallel to the slot portion and pushed in
crosswise. A resilient finger mounted to the body projects and
normally closes the slot portion and holds the lock of hair in the
hair-receiving space. A gating coupling connects the barrel to the
body and provides relative movement between the barrel and the
body, between open and closed position, for inserting and releasing
a lock of hair.
Inventors: |
Keong; Wai Ho Michael; (New
Territories, Hong Kong, CN) ; Lam; Wai Ming; (New
Territories, Hong Kong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kenford Industrial Company Ltd |
New Territories, Hong Kong |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
55063578 |
Appl. No.: |
15/323993 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
July 7, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2015/083447 |
371 Date: |
January 5, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20130101; A45D
2/00 20130101; A45D 1/00 20130101; A45D 2/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20060101
A45D001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 7, 2014 |
CN |
PCT/CN2014/081771 |
Claims
1. A curling iron comprising: a body; a barrel having a proximal
end mounted within the body and an opposing distal end, wherein the
body surrounds the barrel and encloses a hair-receiving space
between the barrel and the body; an element for heating hair in the
hair-receiving space, and an opening in the body, wherein the
opening comprises a circumferential portion extending about the
distal end, and a slot portion extending from the circumferential
portion toward the proximal end, wherein the circumferential
portion and the slot are arranged so that opposing ends of a lock
of hair passing through the hair-receiving space may extend from
the circumferential portion and the slot portion.
2. The curling iron of claim 1 further comprising a gating coupling
connecting the barrel to the body and providing relative movement
between the barrel and the body, between a closed position, in
which the circumferential portion is closed and restricts movement
of the lock of hair about the circumferential portion, and an open
position, in which the circumferential portion is open for
withdrawing a curled lock of hair from the hair-receiving
space.
3. The curling iron of claim 2, wherein the barrel substantially
abuts the body in the closed position.
4. The curling iron of claim 2, wherein a portion of the barrel
proximate to the distal end substantially abuts the body in the
closed position.
5. The curling iron of claim 2, wherein the gating coupling
provides for sliding movement of the barrel with respect to the
body.
6. The curling iron of claim 5, wherein the body has a central axis
and the sliding movement is substantially perpendicular to the
central axis of the barrel.
7. The curling iron of claim 5, wherein the gating coupling
comprises an elongate guide fixed to one of the body and the
barrel, and a block slidingly engaged with the elongate guide and
fixed to the one of the body and the barrel to which the elongate
guide is not fixed.
8. The curling iron of claim 2, wherein the gating coupling
comprises a pivot providing relative pivoting movement of the
barrel with respect to the body.
9. The curling iron of claim 8, wherein the barrel has a central
axis and the pivot has a pivot axis substantially orthogonal to the
central axis of the barrel.
10. The curling iron of claim 9, wherein the pivot axis intersects
the central axis of the barrel.
11. The curling iron of claim 8, wherein the curling iron includes
a handle, the barrel is fixed to the handle of the curling iron,
and the gating coupling provides relative movement between the
handle and the body.
12. The curling iron of claim 2, further comprising a handle, and
an operating lever fixed to the body, for sliding or pivoting the
body relative to the handle.
13. The curling iron of claim 12, further comprising a winder for
winding the lock of hair about the barrel, and a switch, actuated
by movement of the operating lever, for supplying power to the
winder.
14. The curling iron of claim 1, further comprising a temperatures
sensor for providing a temperature signal indicative of temperature
of the element, a controller that receives the temperature signal
and controls power supplied to the element to maintain the element
within one of i) a predefined standby temperature range, and ii) a
predefined operating temperature range that is higher than the
standby temperature range, a winder for winding the lock of hair
about the barrel, and feedback means connected to the controller
for indicating that the winder is in operation, wherein when power
is supplied to the curling iron, the controller actuates the
element to maintain the element in the standby temperature range,
and when the feedback means indicates that the winder is in
operation, the controller actuates the element to maintain the
element in the operating temperature range.
15. The curling iron of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises
a timer circuit that records an elapsed time from activation of the
feedback means, which indicates that the winder is in operation,
and, after the elapsed time exceeds a predefined limit, the
controller reverts to actuate the element to maintain the element
in the standby temperature range.
16. The curling iron of claim 14, further comprising a rotary
encoder connected to the controller and that indicates angular
displacement of the winder, and, after a predefined angular
displacement is exceeded, the controller reverts to actuate the
element to maintain the element in the standby temperature
range.
17. The curling iron of claim 1, further comprising: an outer gate
that closes the circumferential portion and restricts movement of
the lock of hair about the circumferential portion, and that opens
and for withdrawal of a curled lock of hair from the hair-receiving
space; inner gate means mounted to the body and holding the lock of
hair in the hair-receiving space; a winder for winding the lock of
hair about the barrel, and an operator that, when pressed by a user
closes the outer gate and actuates the winder.
18. The curling iron of claim 17, wherein the inner gate means
comprises at least one finger mounted to the body and projecting in
a normally closed position, and which may be resiliently deflected
to an open position by the user pushing the lock of hair past the
at least one finger.
19. The curling iron of claim 18, wherein the at least one finger
is elastomeric.
20. The curling iron of claim 17, wherein the slot portion includes
a mouth and the at least one finger projects into the mouth of the
slot portion, proximate the winder.
21. The curling iron of claim 20, wherein the at least one finger
includes a base, the slot portion includes a wall, and the base is
mounted to the wall of the slot portion.
22. The curling iron of claim 21, wherein the at least one finger
tapers from the base to a tip and narrows from the base to the
tip.
23. The curling iron of claim 21, wherein the slot portion has a
throat, and the mouth is tapered in a transverse plane and narrows
toward the barrel and toward the throat of the slot portion.
24. The curling iron of claim 23, wherein the throat has
cross-sectional dimensions that are substantially constant
throughout axial length or the throat, and a width, in
cross-section, that is substantially narrower than length of the
throat, in cross-section.
25. The curling iron of claim 23, wherein the at least one finger
comprises a plurality of fingers disposed in a linear array along
the slot portion.
26. The curling iron of claim 25, wherein the fingers project from
opposite sides of the slot portion.
27. The curling iron of claim 26, wherein the fingers on opposite
sides are staggered and overlap one another, lengthwise.
28. The curling iron of claim 17, wherein the body further
comprises a head, and a handle fixed to the head, the head
surrounds the barrel and encloses the hair-receiving space between
the barrel and the head, and the proximal end of the barrel is
fixed within the head.
29. The curling iron of claim 28, wherein the handle is elongate,
an axis of the barrel lies in a longitudinal plane, and a
longitudinal plane bisects the slot portion and bisects the handle
longitudinally.
30. The curling iron of claim 28, further comprising a mechanical
linkage, wherein the operator is mounted to the handle and
connected to the outer gate by the mechanical linkage.
31. The curling iron of claim 14, wherein the body and the barrel
have respective substantially coaxial cylindrical walls, the
hair-receiving space is bounded by the substantially coaxial
cylindrical walls of the barrel and of the body, and ratio of
diameters of the cylindrical wall of the barrel to the cylindrical
wall of the body is between 2:3 and 6:7.
32. The curling iron of claim 17, wherein the barrel has a
longitudinal axis and the outer gate opens and closes by sliding or
pivoting substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the
barrel.
33. The curling iron of claim 14, wherein the barrel includes two
like half-cylindrical parts that are assembled to each other.
34. The curling iron of claim 33, wherein each of the
half-cylindrical parts encloses a respective element for heating
hair.
35. The curling iron of claim 14, wherein the winder comprises a
member that rotates relative to the barrel, through the
hair-receiving space, substantially about an axis of the barrel,
while simultaneously moving parallel to the axis of the barrel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to hair styling irons,
particularly electrical appliances for hair curling, having a
winder for winding up hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One class of hand-held electric hair irons has a winder that
is driven to rotate, or to rotate relative to, a barrel onto which
a lock of hair is thereby wound for curling, such as described in
US20130025620 and WO2013186547. These prior art motorised curling
irons have two jaws connected by a hinge so as to be moveable from
an open position allowing the insertion of hair to a closed
position to put the hair in contact with the heater and perform the
curling treatment. The principal advantages of these appliances are
the speed and ease with which they allow hair to be styled, however
there is an on-going need for improvements in the performance of
this class of hair iron, particularly with respect to
ergonomics.
[0003] In the curling iron of FIG. 54 of WO2013186547 the first jaw
carries the barrel, and a hair-receiving opening in a head
surrounding the barrel has a slot portion parallel to the barrel is
opened and closed by movement of the second jaw relative to the
first jaw. Advantageously, this slot portion is too narrow to allow
a user's fingers to into the heated chamber next to the barrel.
However, ease of use is compromised by the second jaw blocking
access to the slot portion, requiring hair to be fed along a
complex path, firstly in a longitudinal direction, and then
transversely into the slot portion. There is a risk that some
strands of hair will not be retained in the slot portion and wound
about the barrel, resulting in incomplete styling of lock of hair.
The lack of symmetry or "handedness" of the appliance also means
that it is not equally readily used both left- and right-handed. It
would also be advantageous to have a simple and compact structure
that can be manufactured for a lower cost. It is an object of the
present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above
disadvantages or, more generally, to provide an improved curling
iron.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a curling iron comprising:
[0005] a body;
[0006] a barrel having a proximal end mounted within the body and
an opposing distal end, the body surrounding the barrel and
enclosing a hair-receiving space between the barrel and the
body;
[0007] an element for heating hair in the hair-receiving space,
and
[0008] an opening in the body, the opening comprising a
circumferential portion extending about the distal end and a slot
portion extending from the circumferential portion toward the
proximal end, whereby opposing ends of a lock of hair passing
through the hair-receiving space may extend from the
circumferential portion and the slot portion.
[0009] Preferably the curling iron further comprises: a gating
coupling connecting the barrel to the body to provide for relative
movement between the barrel and the body between a closed position,
in which the circumferential portion is closed to restrict movement
of the lock of hair about the circumferential portion, and an open
position, in which the circumferential portion is opened to allow a
curled lock of hair to be withdrawn from the hair-receiving
space.
[0010] Preferably the barrel substantially abuts the body in the
closed position i.e. the barrel is very close to, or in abutment
with, the body in the closed position. A portion proximate to the
distal end of the barrel preferably substantially abuts the body in
the closed position.
[0011] The gating coupling may allow sliding movement of the barrel
with respect to the body. The sliding movement may be substantially
perpendicular to a central axis of the barrel. The gating coupling
may comprise an elongate guide fixed to one of the body and the
barrel and a block slidingly engaged with the guide and fixed to
the other of the body and the barrel.
[0012] The gating coupling may comprise a pivot allowing relative
pivoting movement of the barrel with respect to the body. The pivot
may have a pivot axis substantially orthogonal to a central axis of
the barrel. The pivot axis may intersect the central axis.
[0013] The barrel may fixed to a handle of the curling iron, so
that the gating coupling provides relative movement between the
handle and the body.
[0014] Preferably an operating lever is fixed to the body, for
sliding or pivoting the body relative to the handle. A switch may
be actuated by movement of the operating lever for supplying power
to a winder for winding the lock of hair about the barrel.
[0015] Preferably the curling iron further comprises a temperatures
sensor for providing a temperature signal indicative of a
temperature of the element and a controller that receives the
temperature signal and controls power supply to the element to
maintain the element within i) a predefined standby temperature
range and ii) a predefined operating temperature range higher than
the standby temperature range, and further comprising a winder for
winding the lock of hair about the barrel, and feedback means
connected to the controller for indicating that the winder is in
operation, when power is supplied to the curling iron the
controller actuates the element to maintain the element in the
standby temperature range and when the feedback means indicates
that the winder is in operation, the controller actuates the
element to maintain the element in the operating temperature
range.
[0016] Optionally, the controller comprises a timer circuit and
records an elapsed time from the activation of the feedback means
that indicates that the winder is in operation, and after the
elapsed time exceeds a predefined limit, the controller reverts to
actuate the element to maintain the element in the standby
temperature range.
[0017] Optionally, a rotary encoder is connected to the controller
to indicate the angular displacement of the winder, and after a
predefined angular displacement is exceeded, the controller reverts
to actuate the element to maintain the element in the standby
temperature range.
[0018] In another aspect, invention provides a curling iron
comprising:
[0019] a body;
[0020] a barrel having a proximal end fixed within the body and an
opposing distal end, the body surrounding the barrel and enclosing
a hair-receiving space between the barrel and the body;
[0021] an element for heating hair in the hair-receiving space,
and
[0022] an opening in the body, the opening comprising a
circumferential portion extending about the distal end and a slot
portion extending from the circumferential portion toward the
proximal end, whereby opposing ends of a lock of hair passing
through the hair-receiving space may extend from the
circumferential portion and the slot portion;
[0023] an outer gate that closes the circumferential portion to
restrict movement of the lock of hair about the circumferential
portion, and that opens to allow a curled lock of hair to be
withdrawn from the hair-receiving space;
[0024] inner gate means mounted to the body to hold the lock of
hair in the hair-receiving space;
[0025] a winder for winding the lock of hair about the barrel,
and
[0026] an operator pressed by a user to close the outer gate and
actuate the winder.
[0027] Compared to inner gate means hingedly connected to the
handle, mounting inner gate means to the body, allows them to be
much smaller, while also better ensuring the lock of hair actually
enters through the slot portion into the hair-receiving space and
strands are not clamped against an outer surface of the body.
[0028] Preferably the inner gate means comprises at least one
finger mounted to the body to project in a normally closed
position, and which may be resiliently deflected to an open
position by the user pushing the lock of hair past the at least one
finger
[0029] The at least one finger may be elastomeric, and in
particular, made entirely from a silicon elastomer. Alternatively,
for instance, the finger may comprise a rigid projection held in a
resilient base, or a like flexure hinge arrangement, whereby the
finger is resiliently biased to its normally closed position.
[0030] Preferably the winder comprises a member mounted to rotate
through the hair-receiving space substantially about an axis of the
barrel for winding up the lock of hair and the at least one finger
projects into a mouth of the slot portion proximate the winder
member. The winder may comprise a hook, comb, or the like member
for engaging the hair, that rotates (either separately from the
barrel or together with the barrel) and which may also move axially
during rotation so as to displace the hair axially as it is wound
up. Preferably the winder comprises a member mounted to rotate
relative to the barrel through the hair-receiving space
substantially about an axis of the barrel, while simultaneously
moving parallel to axis of the barrel.
[0031] Preferably a base of the at least one finger is mounted to a
wall of the slot portion. Preferably the at least one finger tapers
to narrow from the base to its tip. The finger may be strip-like,
having a cross section that is elongated, for instance, elongated
substantially parallel to the axis of the barrel.
[0032] Preferably the mouth is tapered in a transverse plane to
narrow toward the barrel and toward a throat of the slot portion.
Preferably the throat has cross-sectional dimensions that are
substantially constant throughout its axial length, and a width of
the throat in cross-section is substantially narrower than a length
of the throat in cross-section. Preferably the mouth has reflective
symmetry about a plane bisecting the slot portion. The mouth may
have opposing convex surfaces. Preferably the at least one finger
is, in its normally closed position, elongated generally
perpendicular to an axis of the throat. Preferably the at least one
finger does not project outside the slot portion. Preferably the
slot is elongated axially, generally parallel to the axis of the
barrel.
[0033] Optionally, the at least one finger may comprise a plurality
of fingers. The fingers may be arranged in one of more linear
arrays along the slot portion. The fingers may be all mounted on
the same side of the slot portion, or on opposite sides. When on
opposing sides of the slot portion the fingers may be aligned with
one another, or else staggered. When staggered, the fingers may
overlap lengthwise or be interdigitated.
[0034] Preferably the handle is elongate and an axis of the barrel
lies in a longitudinal plane that bisects the slot portion and
bisects the handle longitudinally. Preferably the longitudinal axis
of the handle is approximately transverse to the axis of the
barrel.
[0035] Preferably the hair-receiving space is bounded by
substantially coaxial cylindrical walls of the barrel and the body.
Preferably a ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the
barrel to the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the body is
between 2:3 and 6:7.
[0036] Preferably the element is provided in the barrel, and the
barrel is made of thermal conductor, such as a metal. Preferably no
heater is provided in the head. Preferably no clamp is provided for
pressing the lock of hair against the barrel.
[0037] Preferably the outer gate opens and closes by sliding or
pivoting. Optionally, a mechanism combining sliding and pivoting
movement may be provided for moving the outer gate. Preferably the
outer gate opens and closes by moving substantially transverse to
the axis of the barrel. Preferably the outer gate closes the
circumferential portion to restrict movement of the lock of hair to
an area adjacent the slot portion.
[0038] Preferably the winder rotates substantially about an axis of
the barrel. The winder may rotate relative to the barrel, or may
rotate together with the barrel. Preferably the winder has a
concave edge for abutting the lock of hair.
[0039] Preferably the operator is mounted to the handle. Preferably
the operator is connected to the outer gate by a mechanism.
Alternatively, the operator may control a sensor or switch of a
control circuit to operate an electro-mechanical actuator to open
or close the outer gate. The operator may be a lever operator, a
slide button operator, or a rotary knob operator. The operator may
control a sensor or switch of a control circuit to start a motor
for rotating the winder.
[0040] Preferably the barrel is an assembly of two like
half-cylindrical parts, each of which may enclose a respective
heating element.
[0041] The invention provides a curling iron which is effective and
efficient, and can be conveniently used both left- and
right-handed, while reducing the risk that some strands of hair
will not be retained in the slot portion and also offering a simple
design which minimises manufacturing costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view from above of a curling iron
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0044] FIG. 2a is a part-sectional view of the head of the iron of
FIG. 1, in which an outer wall of the head is shown cut away;
[0045] FIG. 2b is a transverse section through the barrel of FIG.
2a;
[0046] FIG. 3 is a top view of the head of the iron of FIG. 1;
[0047] FIGS. 4 and 5 are sections AA and CC, respectively, of FIG.
3;
[0048] FIGS. 6a and 6b are schematic longitudinal sections through
the iron of FIG. 1, showing the upper gate open and closed
respectively;
[0049] FIG. 7 is a part-sectional view of the head of a second
embodiment of a curling iron of the invention, in which an outer
wall of the head is shown cut away;
[0050] FIG. 8 is a part-sectional view of the head of a third
embodiment of a curling iron of the invention, in which an outer
wall of the head is shown cut away;
[0051] FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views from opposing sides of a
fourth embodiment of a curling iron of the invention;
[0052] FIG. 11 is an end view of a fifth embodiment of a curling
iron of the invention in an open position;
[0053] FIG. 12 is a schematic section along plane AA of FIG.
11;
[0054] FIGS. 13 and 14 correspond to FIGS. 11 and 12 respectively
but show a closed position;
[0055] FIGS. 15 and 16 are schematic cross sections of a sixth
embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in open and closed
positions respectively;
[0056] FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic cross sections of a seventh
embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in open and closed
positions respectively;
[0057] FIGS. 19 and 20 are schematic cross sections of an eighth
embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in open and closed
positions respectively;
[0058] FIG. 21 is a schematic cross section of the curling iron of
FIGS. 19 and 20 mounted to a handle, and
[0059] FIG. 22 is a schematic of a control circuit of a curling
iron of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0060] Referring to FIG. 1, an electric appliance for hair styling,
or a curling iron 1, has a body 10, 11 that generally comprises a
handle 10 on which a head 11 is disposed. The body 10, 11 may be an
assembly of parts, or the head 10 and handle 11 may be integrally
formed, as by moulding from polymer. The handle 10 may be elongate
and hollow with a longitudinal handle axis 12 and it may be fixed
at one end to the head 11, with a mains power cable 14 extending
from the opposite end. User controls 15 may be mounted to the
handle 10, and may include a lever operator 13. A control circuit
(not shown) may be mounted within the handle 10.
[0061] A barrel 16, about which a lock of hair 20 is wound in use,
may be heated by internal elements 81. The barrel 16 is surrounded
by the head 11 and has an axis 17, which may be aligned
approximately transverse to the handle axis 12. An opening 18 in
the head 11 is provided for the passage of the lock of hair, and
comprises a circumferential portion 18a (through which the barrel
16 is visible in FIG. 1) and that extends around the barrel 16, and
a slot portion 18b extending therefrom. A hair-receiving space 19
is provided between the head 11 and the barrel 16 and, in use, with
a lock of hair 20 passing through the hair-receiving space 19 a
root end 20a extends from the circumferential portion 18a and a tip
20b of the lock of hair 20 may extend from the slot portion 18b
generally axially.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3, a proximal end 16a of the
barrel 16 is fixed within the head 11 and the circumferential
portion 18a extends about an opposing distal end 16b, so that the
distal end 16b is recessed inside the head 11. The cylindrical
barrel 16 may be an assembly of two like half-cylindrical parts 80
fixed back-to-back as shown in FIG. 2b, each half enclosing a
respective one of the heating elements 81. The head 11 is a
substantially rigid part of the body assembly which may comprise
double walls. The head 11 encloses the barrel 16 and other parts of
the appliance, including a reversible gear motor 21 fixed near the
proximal end 16a. The gear motor 21 is part of a winder assembly
for winding the lock of hair 20 about the barrel 16, and is
connected to a winder hook 22 mounted to rotate about the axis 17
through the hair-receiving space 19 for hooking and rotating the
hair, while simultaneously moving parallel to axis 17 to help form
a helical curl.
[0063] The slot portion 18b intersects with the circumferential
portion 18a to provide the only substantial opening in the head 11,
and connecting the hair-receiving space 19 to the space surrounding
the head. The slot portion 18b may be elongated to extend generally
axially from the circumferential portion 18a toward the proximal
end 16a. The hair-receiving space 19 is closed at the proximal end
16a and the circumferential portion 18a and slot portion 18b
provide a passage through which the lock of hair may pass. The
hair-receiving space 19 may be bounded by substantially coaxial
walls, as by the cylindrical walls 24, 25 of the barrel 16 and the
head 11 respectively, as illustrated.
[0064] An outer gate 27 opens and closes the circumferential
portion 18a of the opening 18, as by pivoting, and serves to
restrict movement of the lock of hair 20 about the circumferential
portion 18a. It is sufficient that movement of the lock of hair 20
about the circumferential portion 18a is restricted to prevent
unwinding, and it is not necessary to clamp or grip the lock. FIG.
2a shows the outer gate 27 in its open position in which it is
retracted from the circumferential portion 18a within a hollow in
the head 11 that is located between a wall 29 and the distal end
16b. With the outer gate 27 open a curled lock of hair may freely
be withdrawn from the hair-receiving space 19 through the
circumferential portion 18a. The outer gate 27 may move
substantially transverse to the axis 17 from the open position
shown, in which a hair-engaging surface 28 is retracted from the
circumferential portion 18a, to a closed position (best seen in
FIG. 6b) in which the hair-engaging surface 28 bounds a space
adjacent to the slot portion 18b, restricting movement of the lock
of hair 20 to this space adjacent the slot portion 18b.
[0065] A mechanism (described further below with respect to FIGS.
6a and 6b) connects the lever operator 13 and outer gate 27,
allowing the outer gate 27 to be closed by the user pressing the
lever operator 13, and opened by a spring 76. After the outer gate
27 is closed, or substantially closed, the lever operator 13 may
actuate a switch 70 in the control circuit to start the gear motor
21 and wind up the lock of hair 20.
[0066] FIG. 2a also illustrates an embodiment of fingers 30 that
provide a low cost and very effective inner gate means that close
the slot portion 18b to hold the lock of hair 20 in the
hair-receiving space 19. The fingers 30 are mounted to the head 11
to project from a wall of the slot portion 18b and, in their
normally closed position shown, substantially occlude the slot
portion 18b. The fingers 30 are preferably made from a silicon
elastomer, and are configured to be resiliently deflected inwardly
to an open position (not shown) by the user pushing the lock of
hair 20 past them. The fingers 30 may be of like dimensions,
tapering to narrow from their bases 31 to their tips 32. The
fingers 30 may be arranged in a linear array, optionally integrally
formed with a mounting strip 33 at their bases 31, with the
mounting strip 33 being secured on a channel in the head 11 so that
the array may be aligned substantially axially. Compared to gate
means hingedly connected to the handle, fingers 30 mounted to the
head 11, particularly in the slot portion 18b, may be much smaller,
while also better ensuring the lock of hair 20 actually enters
through the slot portion 18b into the hair-receiving space 19 and
strands are not clamped against an outer surface of the head
11.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 3, all of the fingers 30 may be mounted on
the same side of a mouth 35 of the slot portion 18b that is tapered
in a transverse plane to narrow toward the barrel 16, and toward a
throat 36 of the slot portion 18b. The mouth 35 may have reflective
symmetry about a plane 37 bisecting the slot portion 36 along an
axis of the throat 36. The throat 36 may be of substantially
constant cross-sectional dimensions throughout its axial length,
and the width 38 of the throat 36 is substantially narrower than
its length 39 in a radial direction. The width 38 of the throat 36
is preferably less than 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical wall
24, and the ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical wall 24 of the
barrel 16 to the diameter of the cylindrical wall 25 of the head 11
is preferably between 2:3 and 6:7. In the normally closed position,
the fingers 30 are elongated generally perpendicular to the plane
37, and are retained within the slot portion 18b.
[0068] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the hair-receiving space 19
between the cylindrical walls 24, 25 is generally annular and the
winder hook 22 is disposed near its innermost end. The winder hook
22 has two opposing concave edges 40, 41, one of which abuts and
hooks the lock of hair 20, depending on the direction of rotation
of the winder hook 22. The pitch circle swept by the winder hook 22
as it turns has a substantially larger diameter than the annular
hair-receiving space 19 and extends adjacent to the fingers 30. In
this way the swept path overlaps a substantial radial extent of the
slot portion 18b, ensuring that a lock of hair 20 that has been
pushed past the fingers 30 will be caught by the winder hook 22.
The displacement of the winder hook 22 parallel to axis 17 may be
mechanically driven by its rotation, as by a screw thread (not
shown).
[0069] These FIGS. 4 and 5 also best show the double-walled hollow
construction of the head 11, in which the cylindrical wall 25
comprises the mouth of a generally cup-shaped inner wall 46 that is
open at the circumferential portion 18a and closed at its opposite
end, and which is encompassed by an outer wall 47.
[0070] FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate the operation of the outer gate
27, showing the outer gate 27 in its open position (FIG. 6a) and
its closed position (FIG. 6b) where it projects to close the
circumferential portion 18a, with the hair-engaging surface 28
bounding the space adjacent to the slot portion 18b. The lever
operator 13 may be mounted by a transverse pivot 71 to the handle
10 for rotation between open and closed positions, with the pivot
71 disposed near one end of the lever operator 13. The lever
operator 13 may include a button portion 72 projecting through an
opening in the handle for actuation by the user, and an arm portion
73 extending into the head 11 to engage the outer gate 27. The
outer gate 27 may be mounted to rotate on a transverse axle 74, and
may further include a tongue 75 integral with the gate 27, with a
roller 78 fixed at one end. One end of a spring 76 is fixed in one
end of a recess 77 in the arm 73 and the opposite end of the spring
76 abuts the tongue 75, urging the roller 78 against the opposite
end of the recess 77 when the outer gate is in its open position.
Pressing the button portion 72 rotates the lever operator 13,
pushing the roller 78 to move along the arm portion 73 from one end
of the recess 77 to the other, thereby rotating the outer gate 27
simultaneously. Immediately before the closed position shown in
FIG. 6b, the arm portion 73 abuts the start switch 70, providing a
signal to the control circuit to start the winder.
[0071] These drawings also clearly show that the slot portion 18b
is disposed at a longitudinal end of the curling iron 1, as in an
endmost face 52. This provides enhanced ergonomics, compared to
having the slot portion 18b providing an opening on the sides of
the head 11, as the appliance can be more readily used in a like
manner in the left and right hand. The slot portion 18b may aligned
such that the axis 17 of the barrel 16 lies in the longitudinal
plane 37 that bisects the slot portion and bisects the handle
longitudinally.
[0072] FIGS. 7 and 8, show second and third embodiments of the
invention, distinguished from the hair curler 1 by the fingers 130,
230. The array of fingers need not extend along the axial length of
the slot portion 18b and, for instance, fingers 130 (individually
of like form to the fingers 30) may be disposed in a shorter array
proximate the winder member 22 at the inner end of the slot portion
18b. The fingers need not have rotational symmetry about their long
axes and, for instance, may have a strip-like form like the fingers
230. The fingers 230 have the form of an oblong or strip in cross
section. The strip may be generally axially aligned. The fingers
230 may be fixed near the inner end of the slot portion 18b on
opposite sides of the slot portion 18b, staggered axially and
overlapping one another longitudinally such that both would be need
to be deflected by a lock of hair 20 pressed transverse to the lock
into the slot portion.
[0073] A fourth embodiment of the hair iron 401 is shown in FIGS. 9
and 10 and is of generally like construction to the first
embodiment, although differing in the external form of the outer
wall 447 of the head 411. The head 411 tapers inwardly toward the
longitudinal end of the hair iron 401. The lever operator 413 is
also elongated along the handle 410. Opposing sides of the mouth
435 have convex surfaces 50.
[0074] In use, when the barrel 16 is up to temperature the
appliance is located toward the root end 20a of a lock of hair 20,
so that the axis 17 is approximately aligned lengthwise with the
lock of hair 20, which is then inserted into the slot portion 18b
by a generally transverse relative movement. The lock is pressed
against the fingers 30, 130, 230, bending them inwards and allowing
the lock past, before the fingers are restored to their normal
position, in which they retain the lock 20 in the slot portion 18b.
With the root end 20a extending from the circumferential portion
18a the user presses the operator 13, and a first part of the
displacement of the lever operator 13 moves the outer gate 27 to
its closed position, restraining the root end 20a. A second part of
the movement of the lever operator 13 may actuate the start switch
70, starting the gear motor 21 to turn the winder hook 22 in a
direction selected by the user controls 15 for a predefined number
of turns. As the lock 20 is wound about the barrel 16 the free tip
20b is drawn into the hair-receiving space 19. The control circuit
measures an elapsed time starting from actuation of the start
switch 70 and operates an alarm to indicate when the curling is
completed, whereupon the user releases the lever operator 13 and
the spring restores the lever operator 13 to an extended position
and the outer gate 27 to its open position. With the outer gate 27
retracted, the lock of hair, now curled into a generally helical
form, can be readily removed through the open circumferential
portion 18a without being deformed.
[0075] Further embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS.
11-21, and differ from the preceding embodiments in respect of the
outer gate means provided to open and close the circumferential
portion 18a of the opening 18. The outer gate means may be
provided, for instance, by a gating coupling 90, 91 connecting the
barrel 16 and the body 10 for movement relative to one another,
thus avoiding the need for a separate gate to perform this
function.
[0076] Referring to FIGS. 11-16, the gating coupling 90, 91 may
allow sliding movement of the barrel 16 with respect to the body
10. The gating coupling may comprise a linear guide 90, formed in
the body 10 and elongated generally orthogonal to the axis 17 of
the barrel 16, the guide 90 receiving a sliding block 91 that
houses the gear motor 21. The barrel 16 is mounted to this gear
motor housing or sliding block 91 to reciprocate thererewith. In
preferred embodiments, the barrel 16 is fixed to the handle (not
shown in FIGS. 11-14, see FIG. 21) and, in this manner, the body 10
may be mounted to the handle so as to allow the body to slide back
and forth transversely to the axis 17 between open and closed
positions. The open position is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and shows
that the barrel 16 may be disposed generally coaxially with the
internal cylindrical wall 25 of the body 10 that surrounds it, so
as to form the annular hair-receiving space 19. In this open
position, a lock of hair can be entered through the opening 18 into
the hair-receiving space 19 and, once formatted into a generally
helical coil, it can slide axially out from the hair-receiving
space. In the closed position (shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) the barrel
16 is disposed eccentrically, after being displaced along the guide
90, transverse to the axis 17. In this closed position, the distal
end 16b may be disposed closely adjacent to, or in abutment with,
the inner cylindrical surface 25 and providing contact along an
axial line at a pinch point 92. The pinch point 92 is shown located
at about 90.degree. from the slot portion 18b, but may generally be
located at any angular position around the internal wall
surrounding the barrel. In this manner, the circumferential portion
18a is closed to restrict movement of the lock of hair in the
circumferential portion past the pinch point 92. One or more
springs (not shown) may act between the barrel and body, to bias
them to the open position.
[0077] FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate an embodiment in which the
circumferential portion 18a is opened and closed by transverse
sliding movement of the barrel 116 inside the body 110. In this
curling iron the body 110 may be fixed to a handle (not shown). The
hair-receiving space 119 may be symmetrical about the axis 17 and
taper to narrow in the axial direction toward the distal end 116b.
The distal end 116 may be domed, as by a hemispherical surface 94
which may extend from the body 110. The hemispherical surface 94
may be disposed, in the closed position (see FIG. 16), closely
adjacent to, or in abutment with, a complementary inner surface 95
having a like radius of curvature as the hemispherical surface 94.
In this manner, line contact may be also provided along a curved
line at pinch point 92.
[0078] FIGS. 17-20 illustrate embodiments in which a pivot 97
having an axis transverse to the axis 17 of the barrel serves to
provide the gating coupling that connects the barrel and body to
turn relative to one another. The pivot axis may be offset to one
side of the axis 17 (see FIGS. 17 and 18) or may be disposed
centrally to intersect the axis 17 (see FIGS. 19 and 20). A torsion
spring (not shown) may act between the barrel and body, to urge
them to the open position, as shown in FIG. 20.
[0079] FIG. 21 illustrates how the barrel 116 may fixed by a pivot
97 to one end of an elongate handle 111 of the curling iron, so
that the body 310 pivots relative to the handle 111. A lever
operator 113 fixed to the body 310 may extend adjacent to the
handle 11 so that it can be readily operated, as by the user's
thumb, for pivoting the body 310. A start switch 170, such as a
microswitch, may be actuated by movement of the lever operator 113
for supplying power to a winder 101 for winding the lock of hair 20
about the barrel 116.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 22, a control circuit 105 of the curling
iron controls the supply of power from a power supply 106 to a
motor 107 and the heating elements 81. The gear motor 121 turns the
winder 101 to wind the lock around the barrel 116. A temperature
sensor 109 provides a temperature signal indicative of a
temperature of the element 81 and a controller 108 receives the
temperature signal and controls power supply to the element 81,
according a value preset by the user via the temperature control
111. Depending upon the mode of operation, the controller 108
maintains the element 81 either within i) a predefined standby
temperature range or ii) within a predefined operating temperature
range higher than the standby temperature range, as by 5.degree. C.
Feedback means in the form of a rotary encoder 110 is connected to
the controller for indicating that the winder motor 121 is in
operation, and provides an indication of the angle through which
the winder 101 has been turned.
[0081] Referring to FIGS. 19-22, in use, after supplying power to
the control circuit, the user may select one of a plurality of
predefined standby temperature ranges as required according to the
operation to be performed. Thereafter, the controller 108 supplies
power to the element 81 to maintain the element 81 within the
standby temperature range selected. When the barrel 116 is up to
temperature the appliance is located toward the root end 20a of a
lock of hair 20, so that the axis 17 is approximately aligned
lengthwise with the lock of hair 20, which is then inserted into
the slot portion 18b by a generally transverse relative movement.
With the root end 20a extending from the circumferential portion
18a the user presses the operator 113, and the displacement of the
lever operator 113 moves the body 310 to its closed position,
restraining the root end 20a, as by clamping between the surfaces
94, 95, although it is not important that that the hair be clamped
in this way. Continued movement of the lever operator 113 may
actuate the start switch 170, starting the gear motor 121 to turn
the winder hook 22 in a direction selected by the user controls
[0082] When the rotary encoder 110 indicates that the winder motor
121 is turning, the controller 108 boosts power to the element 81
and maintains the element in the higher operating temperature
range. The control circuit measures an elapsed time starting from
actuation of the start switch 170 and after a predefined elapsed
time or after a predefined angular displacement is exceeded (as
determined from the rotary encoder 110), the controller 108 lowers
the power level to the element 81 and reverts to actuate the
element to maintain the element 81 in the selected standby
temperature range. The controller 108 may operate an alarm to
indicate when the curling is completed, whereupon the user releases
the lever operator 113 and a spring restores the lever operator 113
to an extended position and the body 310 to its open position. With
the barrel 116 disposed centrally in the hair-receiving space, the
lock of hair, now curled into a generally helical form, can be
readily removed through the open circumferential portion 18a
without being deformed.
[0083] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way
of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and
additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope
thereof.
* * * * *