U.S. patent application number 15/846512 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for hair roller.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tung Hing Plastic Manufactory Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Tung Hing Plastic Manufactory Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ka Chuen SZE.
Application Number | 20180177274 15/846512 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58360509 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180177274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SZE; Ka Chuen |
June 28, 2018 |
HAIR ROLLER
Abstract
The present invention is concerned with a hair roller. The hair
roller has an inner shell, an outer shell, and a middle shell
positioned between the inner shell and the outer shell, all of the
inner, middle and outer shells having a cylindrical profile
defining a through cavity.
Inventors: |
SZE; Ka Chuen; (Kowloon,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tung Hing Plastic Manufactory Ltd. |
Kowloon |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tung Hing Plastic Manufactory
Ltd.
Kowloon
CN
|
Family ID: |
58360509 |
Appl. No.: |
15/846512 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/2478 20130101;
A45D 2/2485 20130101; A45D 2/148 20130101; A45D 2/2464
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 2/14 20060101
A45D002/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2016 |
GB |
1622079.0 |
Claims
1. A hair roller comprising: an inner shell, an outer shell, and a
middle shell positioned between the inner shell and the outer
shell, all of the inner, middle and outer shells having a
cylindrical profile defining a through cavity, wherein: the inner,
middle and outer shells are fixedly fitted connected together, and
are arranged telescopically with respect with each other; the inner
shell, the middle shell and the outer shell are made of a
plastic(s) material, a hook or hair adhesive material, and a
metallic material, respectively; the hair roller, in an assembled
configuration, is provided with a plurality of cut-out regions from
the metallic outer shell thus exposing a combination of an
outwardly facing metallic surface defined by the outer shell and an
outwardly facing surface including the hook or hair adhesive
material of the middle shell; and the ratio of the outwardly facing
metallic surface and the outwardly facing surface including the
hook or hair adhesive material is substantially 50:50 to 70:30, and
wherein the hair roller is provided with outwardly facing rim
regions at opposite ends thereof, and the rim regions are exposed
and not covered by the outer shell.
2. A hair roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length and the
diameter of the cylindrical hair roller is from substantially
30-120 mm and 10-90 mm, respectively.
3. A hair roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner shell is
made of a material with a specific heat capacity of substantially
1800-2000 J/Kg-K.
4. A hair roller as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner shell is
made of a material with a thermal conductivity of substantially
0.1-0.22 W/m-K.
5. A hair roller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner shell is
made of polypropylene or a polypropylene containing material.
6. A hair roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle shell is
made of a material with a specific heat capacity of substantially
850-1670 J/Kg-K.
7. A hair roller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the middle shell is
made of a material with a thermal conductivity of substantially
0.2-6.3 W/m-K.
8. A hair roller as claimed in claim 7, wherein the middle shell is
made of nylon, ceramics, or a nylon or ceramics containing
material.
9. A hair roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer metallic
shell is made of a material with a specific heat capacity of
substantially 412-913 J/Kg-K.
10. A hair roller as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outer metallic
shell is made of a material with a thermal conductivity of
substantially 43-205 W/m-K.
11. A hair roller as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outer
metallic shell is made of stainless steel, brass, aluminium, or a
combination thereof.
12. A hair roller as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer
metallic shell is made of aluminium and has a thickness of
substantially 0.5-0.6 mm.
13. A hair roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the
outwardly facing metallic surface and the outwardly facing surface
including the hook or hair adhesive material is substantially
60:40.
14. A hair roller comprising: an inner shell, an outer shell, and a
middle shell positioned between the inner shell and the outer
shell, all of the inner, middle and outer shells having a
cylindrical profile defining a through cavity, wherein: the inner,
middle and outer shells are fixedly fitted connected together, and
are arranged telescopically with respect with each other; the inner
shell, the middle shell and the outer shell are made of a
plastic(s) material, a hook or hair adhesive material, and a
metallic material, respectively; the hair roller, in an assembled
configuration, is provided with a plurality of cut- out regions
from the metallic outer shell thus exposing a combination of an
outwardly facing metallic surface defined by the outer shell and an
outwardly facing surface including the hook or hair adhesive
material of the middle shell; and the ratio of the outwardly facing
metallic surface and the outwardly facing surface including the
hook or hair adhesive material is substantially 50:50 to 70:30, and
wherein the inner shell, the middle shell, and the outer shell are
made of materials with specific heat capacity of substantially
1800-200 J/Kg-K, 850-1670 J/Kg-K, and 412-913 J/Kg-K,
respectively.
15. A hair roller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the inner shell,
the middle shell, and the outer shell are made of materials with
thermal conductivity of substantially 0.1-0.22 W/m-K, 0.2-6.3 W/m-K
and 43-205 W/m-K, respectively.
16. A hair roller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hair roller
is provided with outwardly facing rim regions at opposite ends
thereof, and the rim regions are exposed and not covered by the
outer shell.
17. A hair roller comprising: an inner shell, an outer shell, and a
middle shell positioned between the inner shell and the outer
shell, all of the inner, middle and outer shells having a
cylindrical profile defining a through cavity, wherein: the inner,
middle and outer shells are fixedly fitted connected together, and
are arranged telescopically with respect with each other; the inner
shell, the middle shell and the outer shell are made of a
plastic(s) material, a a hook or hair adhesive material, and a
metallic material, respectively; and the hair roller, in an
assembled configuration, is provided with a plurality of cut-out
regions from the metallic outer shell thus exposing a combination
of an outwardly facing metallic surface defined by the outer shell
and an outwardly facing surface including the hook or hair adhesive
material of the middle shell.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from earlier filed GB
Patent Application No. 1622079.0 filed Dec. 23, 2016, contents in
its entirety are incorporated herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is concerned with an improved hair
roller for use in hair styling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are a variety of styling tools in the market. One type
of such tools is a hair roller which can be used to introduce body
to hair and/or to change the volume of hair style. Hair rollers are
often used with chemicals and other physical treatments during a
hair styling process. One problem with such styling process is that
it takes a rather long time, often hours before a hair style can be
set. The time consumption is contributed by time required for the
chemicals to work on the hair, and also time required for heat
treatment. The long time required is not practical in many
circumstances, for example in the show business which requires a
hair style be set in a very short period of time.
[0004] Different hair rollers have been proposed which seek to
address different hair styling needs. However, there is still
desire in the material of a hair roller which can enhance or
increase the efficiency of a hair styling process.
[0005] The present invention seeks to address these problems, or at
least to provide an alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a hair roller comprising an inner shell, an outer
shell, and a middle shell positioned between the inner shell and
the outer shell, all of the inner, middle and outer shells having a
cylindrical profile defining a through cavity, wherein: [0007] the
inner, middle and outer shells are fixedly fitted connected
together, and are arranged telescopically with respect with each
other; [0008] the inner shell, the middle shell and the outer shell
are made of a plastic(s) material, a Velcro containing material,
and a metallic material, respectively; [0009] the hair roller, in
an assembled configuration, is provided with a plurality of cut-out
regions from the metallic outer shell thus exposing a combination
of an outwardly facing metallic surface defined by the outer shell
and an outwardly facing Velcro containing surface by the middle
shell; and [0010] the ratio of the outwardly facing metallic
surface and the outwardly facing
[0011] Velcro containing surface is substantially 50:50 to
70:30;
wherein the hair roller is provided with outwardly facing rim
regions at opposite ends thereof, and the rim regions are exposed
and not covered by the outer shell.
[0012] Preferably, the length and the diameter of the cylindrical
hair roller may be from substantially 30-120 mm and 10-90 mm,
respectively.
[0013] In an embodiment, the inner shell may be made of a material
with a specific heat capacity of substantially 1800-2000 J/Kg-K.
The inner shell may be made of a material with a thermal
conductivity of substantially 0.1-0.22 W/m-K. The inner shell may
be made of polypropylene or a polypropylene containing
material.
[0014] In one embodiment, the middle shell may be made of a
material with a specific heat capacity of substantially 850-1670
J/Kg-K. The middle shell may be made of a material with a thermal
conductivity of substantially 0.2-6.3 W/m-K. The middle shell may
be made of nylon, ceramics, or a nylon- or ceramics-containing
material.
[0015] In another embodiment, the outer metallic shell may be made
of a material with a specific heat capacity of substantially
412-913 J/Kg-K. The outer metallic shell may be made of a material
with a thermal conductivity of substantially 43-205 W/m-K. The
outer metallic shell may be made of stainless steel, brass,
aluminium, or a combination thereof.
[0016] Suitably, the outer metallic shell may be made of aluminium
and may have a thickness of substantially 0.5-0.6 mm.
[0017] In a specific embodiment, the ratio of the outwardly facing
metallic surface and the outwardly facing Velcro containing surface
may be substantially 60:40.
[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a hair roller comprising an inner shell, an outer
shell, and a middle shell positioned between the inner shell and
the outer shell, all of the inner, middle and outer shells having a
cylindrical profile defining a through cavity, wherein: [0019] the
inner, middle and outer shells are fixedly fitted connected
together, and are arranged telescopically with respect with each
other; [0020] the inner shell, the middle shell and the outer shell
are made of a plastic(s) material, a Velcro containing material,
and a metallic material, respectively; [0021] the hair roller, in
an assembled configuration, is provided with a plurality of cut-out
regions from the metallic outer shell thus exposing a combination
of an outwardly facing metallic surface defined by the outer shell
and an outwardly facing Velcro containing surface by the middle
shell; and [0022] the ratio of the outwardly facing metallic
surface and the outwardly facing
[0023] Velcro containing surface is substantially 50:50 to
70:30;
wherein the inner shell, the middle shell, and the outer shell are
made of materials with specific heat capacity of substantially
1800-200 J/Kg-K, 850-1670 J/Kg-K, and 412-913 J/Kg-K,
respectively.
[0024] Preferably, the inner shell, the middle shell, and the outer
shell may be made of materials with thermal conductivity of
substantially 0.1-0.22 W/m-K, 0.2-6.3 W/m-K and 43-205 W/m-K,
respectively.
[0025] Advantageously, the hair roller may be provided with
outwardly facing rim regions at opposite ends thereof, and the rim
regions are exposed and not covered by the outer shell.
[0026] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a hair roller comprising an inner shell, an outer
shell, and a middle shell positioned between the inner shell and
the outer shell, all of the inner, middle and outer shells having a
cylindrical profile defining a through cavity, wherein: [0027] the
inner, middle and outer shells are fixedly fitted connected
together, and are arranged telescopically with respect with each
other; [0028] the inner shell, the middle shell and the outer shell
are made of a plastic(s) material, a Velcro containing material,
and a metallic material, respectively; and [0029] the hair roller,
in an assembled configuration, is provided with a plurality of
cut-out regions from the metallic outer shell thus exposing a
combination of an outwardly facing metallic surface defined by the
outer shell and an outwardly facing Velcro containing surface
defined by the middle shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0030] Some embodiments of the present invention will now be
explained, with reference to the accompanied drawings, in
which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hair roller in
accordance with the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is another side of the hair roller of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the roller of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates how the hair roller of FIG. 1 is
assembled together;
[0035] FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 but in an assembled
configuration;
[0036] FIG. 6 includes a side view of the hair roller and
corresponding to FIG. 1, a cross sectional view of the hair roller
taken at A-A of the side view, a cross sectional view of the hair
roller taken at B-B of the side view, and an enlarges view showing
a close-up area of an outwardly facing surface of the hair roller;
and
[0037] FIG. 7 shows three different embodiments of hair roller in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The present invention is concerned with a hair styling tool
and in particular a hair roller for use in, for example, creating
style to hair or increase volume of hair configuration.
[0039] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show are two different side views of an
embodiment of a hair roller, designated 2. FIG. 3 shows the hair
roller 2 in a disassembled configuration. The hair roller has an
inner shell 4, a middle shell 6 and an outer shell 8. The middle
shell 6 is slight larger than inner shell 4, and the outer shell 8
is slight larger than the middle shell 6. The shells 4, 6, 8 are
dimensioned such that they can be telescopically fitted together.
In this embodiment, the middle shell 6 is adhesively connected to
the inner shell 4 and the outer shell is 8 connected to the middle
shell 6 by way of a tight interference fit. Please see FIG. 4.
However, in alternative embodiments, they may be connected together
by way of welding.
[0040] The inner shell 4 is made of a heat resistant plastic(s)
material. While the inner shell 4 generally adopts a cylindrical
profile made of a circumferential wall 10 defining a through
channel 12 and with openings at opposite ends 14, 16, the inner
shell 4 is provided with large cut-out regions 18. As such, the
remaining structure of the wall resembles a frame 20 rather than a
continuous wall. In this embodiment, the inner shell 4 is made of a
material with a specific heat capacity of substantially 1,900
J/Kg-K and a thermal conductivity of substantially 0.16 W/m-K and
although studies leading to the present invention have shown that,
in the context of the present invention, materials with a specific
heat capacity and thermal conductivity of substantially 1800-200
J/Kg-K and 0.1-0.22 W/m-K, respectively, can equally work.
[0041] The middle shell 6 has a similar dimension to that of the
inner shell 4 except it is slightly larger. In this embodiment, the
middle shell 6 is made of a Velcro-containing structure. This
fabric material has the characteristic of providing a surface with
small hooks such that when become contact with hair, it can hold
the hair against its surface. In this embodiment, the structure has
a base portion covered with a Velcro material. In other embodiment,
it is possible that the entire middle structure be made of the
Velcro material only. In the context of this description, the
reference to "Velcro" encompasses any material has this hook or
hair adhesive characteristic. In this embodiment, the specific heat
capacity and the thermal conductivity of the middle shell are
substantially 1260 J/Kg-K and 3.25 W/m-K, respectively, although
studies leading to the present invention have shown that, in the
context of the present invention, materials with a specific heat
capacity and a thermal conductivity of substantially 850-1670
J/Kg-K and 0.2-6.3 W/m-K, respectively, would equally work.
[0042] The outer shell 8 has a similar dimension to that of the
middle shell 6 except it is slightly larger. In this embodiment,
the outer shell 8 is made of a metallic material with a specific
heat capacity and a thermal conductivity of substantially 663
J/Kg-K and 43-205 W/m-K, respectively, although studies leading to
the present invention have shown that, in the context of the
present invention, materials with a specific heat capacity and a
thermal conductivity of substantially 412-913 J/Kg-K and 43-205
W/m-K, respectively, would equally work. The thickness of the outer
shell also plays a role. Preferably, as in this embodiment, the
outer shell has a thickness of substantially 0.5-0.6 mm.
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates that in an assembled configuration, the
hair roller 2 defined a circumferential surface 22. The
circumferential surface 22 is defined by a combination of a
metallic surface 24 of the outer shell and an exposed Velcro
surface 26 from the middle shell 6. This combination surface 24, 26
is resulted from the outer shell 8 provided with a plurality of
cut-out regions 30 thus exposing the Velcro surface 26. Please see
FIG. 4.
[0044] In this embodiment, the ratio of the outwardly metallic
surface 24 and the exposed Velctro surface 26 is substantially
60:40, although studies have shown that in other embodiments, it
may be substantially 50:50 to 70:30. It is also to be noted that
end regions 32, 34 of the outwardly facing surface 22 of the hair
roller 2 is defined by the Velcro surface 26.
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrate a close-up view of the outwardly surface
of the hair roller 2.
[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates three different embodiment of hair
rollers in accordance with the present invention.
[0047] The present invention contains a combination of technical
features which contributes to an improved technical function.
First, there is provided an outer shell made of a metallic material
with specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity
characteristics. Conventionally, an outer shell of a hair roller
was often subject to high temperature and the outer shell would
become very hot. As such, only non-metallic materials were used on
the outer shell to reduce the temperature. Yet, in this context of
the present invention, the use of a metallic material is
counter-intuitive. The provision of the cut-out regions at the
outer shell to a specific extent serves to reduce the area of the
potentially very hot outer surface and also to expose the Velcro
surface such that hair can wrap around the hair roller and be
secured thereat. The present invention thus can balance at least
factors including the efficiency of treating hair with hair
rollers, safety, and securing of the hair rollers to the hair.
[0048] Studies leading to the present invention have shown that a
hair roller made in accordance with the present invention can more
effectively and efficiently treat hair. In particular, due to the
provision of an outer metallic shell, not only the thermal
conductivity of the hair roller has increase, the heat capacity of
the hair roller has also increased when compared with a
conventional hair roller with such outer metallic shell.
Specifically, experiments have shown that the increase in heat
capacity ranges from substantially 60.3% to 73.7% (average 67%).
Together also with the increase in thermal conductivity, a hair
treatment exercise can be expedited significantly.
[0049] It should be understood that certain features of the
invention, which are, for clarity, described in the content of
separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which
are, for brevity, described in the content of a single embodiment,
may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.
It is to be noted that certain features of the embodiments are
illustrated by way of non-limiting examples. Also, a skilled person
in the art will be aware of the prior art which is not explained in
the above for brevity purpose.
* * * * *