Hair Styling Device

Abstract

A hair styling device (10) comprises first and second arms ((12), (14)), each arm having a handle portion ((18), (20)) coupled to a clamping portion ((22), (24)). The arms are coupled to each other at a first end adjacent the handle portions, allowing the clamping portions to be moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which a curl forming apparatus may be held between the clamping portions. The clamping portion (22) of the first arm (12) houses a heater element and includes a concave shaped surface heatable by the heater element. The clamping portion (24) of the second arm (14) includes a convex shaped clamping surface. When the clamping portions are in a closed position, the heatable surface of the first arm and the clamping surface of the second arm are spaced apart by a separation distance.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for styling hair, and in particular to a device for heating hair contained within a curl forming apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Known apparatus for imparting curls to sections of hair include heated curling irons, curling tongs and wands, most of which comprise a cylindrical heated element attached to a handle. To use these devices each section of hair to be curled is wound around the heated element and then removed, repeating the action on different section of hair around the head.

[0003] Rollers are also commonly used for curling hair. Rollers may be unheated or can be pre-heated before use. Heated rollers comprise a hollow cylindrical roller body which is heated before use. A section of hair is wrapped around the roller from starting at the end of the hair and rolling towards the scalp. The roller is then secured at the scalp and heat from the roller transfers to the hair wrapped around it as the roller cools. Heated rollers are typically quite heavy and there is always a risk that the user may burn their fingers when putting the rollers into the hair. In addition, rollers can generally only be used to wrap hair in one direction, that is from the end of the hair to the scalp, thereby producing only one type of curl.

[0004] CN2497602 describes conventional rollers which may be heated after application to the head. A hand held apparatus includes heating elements shaped to surround the roller and the hair on each roller is heated individually through contact with the heating elements.

[0005] It would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus for curling hair for use both in salon and home environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the invention there is provided a hair styling device comprising first and second arms, each arm having a handle portion coupled to a clamping portion, the arms being coupled to each other at a first end adjacent the handle portions, allowing the clamping portions to be moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which a curl forming apparatus may be held between the clamping portions;

[0007] wherein the clamping portion of the first arm houses a heater element and includes a concave shaped surface heatable by the heater element and the clamping portion of the second arm includes a convex shaped clamping surface, and wherein when the clamping portions are in a closed position, the heatable surface of the first arm and the clamping surface of the second arm are spaced apart by a separation distance.

[0008] Preferably, the device includes biasing means for biasing apart the first and second arms into the open position. Preferably the biasing means is a spring.

[0009] Preferably, the separation distance is at least 5 mm. This allow a curl forming apparatus to be comfortably grasped, and compressed, between the two clamping surfaces.

[0010] Preferably, the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm is a heatable surface. Advantageously, the clamping portion of the second arm houses a heater element.

[0011] Preferably, the hair styling device further comprises a controller to control the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm. Advantageously, the user may be able to select the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm from a predetermined choice of a plurality of temperatures. Preferably the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm can be heated to a temperature selected from the group comprising: 0.degree. C., 70.degree. C., 100.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. The controller may control the temperature of each heatable surface, allowing a user to select the temperature of each heatable surface.

[0012] Preferably, the hair styling device further comprises a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the or each heatable surface.

[0013] Preferably, the or each heatable surface may be heated to a temperature of up to 220.degree. C.

[0014] Preferably, the or each heatable surface is fabricated from a material selected from the group comprising: aluminium, steel, titanium and ceramic.

[0015] Advantageously, the or each heatable surface is coated with a material selected from the group comprising: ceramic, tourmaline and teflon.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for heating hair using the hair styling device as hereinbefore defined, comprising the steps of:

(a) winding a section of hair around a curl forming apparatus; (b) heating the heatable surface(s) of the hair styling device; (c) grasping the curl forming apparatus between the clamping portions of the hair styling device; (d) compressing the curl forming apparatus between the clamping surfaces of the hair styling device for a predetermined length of time; and (e) releasing the curl forming apparatus from the hair styling device.

[0017] Preferably the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 40 seconds. More preferably, the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 30 seconds. Even more preferably, the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 20 seconds. Even more preferably, the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 15 seconds or 15 to 20 seconds. Most preferably the predetermined length of time is 18 seconds.

[0018] Preferably the hair within the curl forming apparatus is heated to a temperature of between 80.degree. C. and 100.degree. C.

[0019] Advantageously, the method includes a further step of applying a heat protection and setting hair product to the section of hair prior to step (a). Alternatively, the heat protection and setting hair product may be applied to the section of hair after step (a) and prior to step (b). The heat protection and setting hair product may be in the form of a spray.

[0020] The invention provides an improved apparatus and method for curling hair for use both in salon and home environments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a hair styling device, and are by way of example:

[0022] FIG. 1a is a perspective view from below of a hair styling device;

[0023] FIG. 1b is a perspective view, from above, of the hair styling device of FIG. 1a;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a plan view, from above, of the hair styling device of FIG. 1a;

[0025] FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line A-A, of the hair styling device of FIG. 2, with the hair styling device in an open configuration;

[0026] FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line A-A, of the hair styling device of FIG. 2, with the hair styling device in a closed configuration;

[0027] FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line B-B, of the hair styling device of FIG. 2, with the hair styling device in a closed configuration;

[0028] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line B-B, of the hair styling device of FIG. 2, with the hair styling device in a closed configuration and a curler held between the clamping portions.

[0029] FIG. 5a is an isometric view of a curler for use with the hair styling device of the invention, in an open configuration;

[0030] FIG. 5b is a side view of the curler of FIG. 5a, in an open configuration; and

[0031] FIG. 5c is a side view of the curler of FIG. 5b, in a closed configuration;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 1a and 1b, a hair styling device 10 includes first and second arms 12, 14. Each arm has a handle portion, 18, 20 which is coupled to a clamping portion 22, 24. The arms are coupled together via a hinge 16 at one end, adjacent the handle portions. The hinge 16 may be any type of hinge mechanism which biases apart the clamping portions 22, 24 of the two arms of the hair styling device into an open position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 3a. A user can apply a squeezing force to the handle portions 18, 20 to push the clamping portions 22, 24 together, closing the hair styling device 12. FIG. 3b illustrates the device 12 in a closed position.

[0033] The clamping portions 22, 24 include inner clamping surfaces 28, 30 which are shaped to receive a curl forming apparatus such as that described in WO2017/098282.

[0034] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b illustrate various cross-sectional views through the hair styling device 10. As shown in these figures, the upper clamping portion 22 includes a concave inner clamping surface 28, and the lower clamping portion 24 includes a convex shaped inner clamping surface 30.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4a, when the clamping portions 22, 24 are in a closed position the concave inner surface 28 of the upper clamping portion and the convex inner surface 30 of the lower clamping portion 24 are spaced apart by a distance labelled X.

[0036] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate an example of a curl forming apparatus or curler 32 that may be heated with the hair styling device of the invention. The curler 32 comprises two spaced apart side portions 40, 42 connected by a centrally located connector portion 34. The first side portion 40 is substantially flat in profile and the second side portion 42 is curved in shape. In this example, the first side portion 40 is provided with barrier members in the form of five elongate protrusions, or posts 44 which extend towards the second side portion 42, in substantially the same direction as the connector portion 34. The second side portion 42 is configured such that it has two fixed states. The first fixed state is illustrated in FIG. 5a, where the second side portion 42 is convex in shape and curves away from the first side portion 40. This is the open configuration of the curler 32, and allows for hair to be wound around the connector portion 34. The second fixed state is illustrated in FIG. 5c, whereby the second side portion 42 has been folded over so that it is now concave in shape and curves over the top of the connector portion 34 and the first side portion 40. This is the closed configuration of the curler 32, and allows hair wrapped around the connector portion 34 to be secured within the curler 32. The curler 32 is fabricated from a material which is both resilient and thermally conductive, and the connector portion 24 is preferably hollow, allowing the curler 32 to be compressed.

[0037] FIG. 4b illustrates the curler 32 clamped between the two inner clamping surfaces 28, 30. The distance X between the upper and lower clamping surfaces 28, 30 allows the curler 32 to be accommodated between the clamping surfaces, but also ensures that the curler 32 is compressed between the clamping surfaces 28, 30 to heat the hair located within the curler 32 more efficiently. The separation distance X is therefore smaller than the length of the connector portion 34 of the curler 32. The posts 44 which bridge the gap between the first and second side portions 40, 42 of the curler 32 are also thermally conductive and in this embodiment, when the curler is compressed, these posts are in contact with the heated clamping surfaces, assisting the transfer of heat to the hair within the curler 32.

[0038] The hair styling device 10 includes a power cord 26 that extends out from the device 10 adjacent the hinge 16. The upper clamping portion 22 of the first arm 12 houses a heater element and the heater element heats the concave inner clamping surface 28 located on the inside of the upper clamping portion 22. The concave inner clamping surface 28 is fabricated from a thermally conductive material such as aluminium, steel, titanium, ceramic or other suitable materials. The upper clamping surface 28 may be ceramic coated, or tourmaline coated or teflon coated or coated with other suitable materials. The lower inner clamping surface 30 of the lower clamping portion 24 may also be heatable by a heater element which may be located within the lower clamping portion 24. The lower clamping surface 30 may be fabricated from similar materials as the upper clamping surface 28. The apparatus may include a controller which allows a user to control the temperature of one or both of the clamping surfaces 28, 30, preferably using a switch 36 located on one of the handle portions. Preferably the upper clamping surface 28 is heatable to a temperature of approximately 220.degree. C. Preferably both the upper and lower clamping portions include insulation to prevent the external surfaces of the device 10 from becoming hot to the touch.

[0039] The lower clamping portion 24 may contact a user's head during use so the lower clamping surface 30 may not be heated to avoid discomfort. Alternatively, the lower clamping surface 30 may be heated to a lower temperature than the upper clamping surface 28. The user may be able to select the temperature of the lower clamping surface 30 from a predetermined choice of three or more temperatures. For example the temperature of the lower clamping surface 30 may be altered by sliding a switch 36 or turning a dial (not shown) to a position corresponding with a desired temperature setting. Choices of temperature setting may be, for example, 0.degree. C., 70.degree. C., 100.degree. C., 220.degree. C.

[0040] Each of the clamping portions 22, 24 may be provided with a plurality of venting holes 38.

[0041] In use, several curl formers 32 are applied to the head by winding strands of hair around the central portion 34 of each curl former 32. Once the curl former 32 is in position, it is grasped by the device 10 and clamped between the two clamping portions 22, 24. The device 10 may include a timer which is initiated on closing the arms 12, 14 and clamping the clamping portions 22, 24 around the curl former 32. Preferably an audible alert is emitted after the curl former 32 has been heated for an optimum amount of time. This audible alert indicates that the curl former 32 held within the device 10 has been heated sufficiently and should be released. Preferably the curl former 32 is heated to a temperature of around 100.degree. C., and the hair within the curl former 32 to a temperature of around 80.degree. C. Curl formers 32 are only removed from the hair once they have cooled down and the curl has set, typically when the temperature of the curl former 32 is 30.degree. C. or less. Several curl formers 32 are typically used on one head of hair, and each curl former 32 is heated individually using the hair styling device 10 of the invention.

Claims

1. A hair styling device comprising first and second arms, each arm having a handle portion coupled to a clamping portion, the arms being coupled to each other at a first end adjacent the handle portions, allowing the clamping portions to be moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which a curl forming apparatus may be held between the clamping portions; wherein the clamping portion of the first arm houses a heater element and includes a concave shaped surface heatable by the heater element and the clamping portion of the second arm includes a convex shaped clamping surface, and wherein when the clamping portions are in a closed position, the heatable surface of the first arm and the clamping surface of the second arm are spaced apart by a separation distance.

2. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein the separation distance is at least 5 mm.

3. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm is a heatable surface.

4. A hair styling device according to claim 3, wherein the clamping portion of the second arm houses a heater element.

5. A hair styling device according to claim 3, further comprising a controller to control the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm.

6. A hair styling device according to claim 5, wherein the temperature of the convex shaped clamping surface of the second arm can be heated to a temperature selected from the group comprising: 0.degree. C., 70.degree. C., 100.degree. C. and 220.degree. C.

7. A hair styling device according to claim 5, wherein the controller controls the temperature of each heatable surface.

8. A hair styling device according to claim 5, further comprising a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the heatable surface.

9. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein the heatable surface may be heated to a temperature of up to 220.degree. C.

10. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein the heatable surface is fabricated from a material selected from the group comprising: aluminium, steel, titanium and ceramic.

11. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein the heatable surface is coated with a material selected from the group comprising: ceramic, tourmaline and teflon.

12. A method for forming a curl in hair using the hair styling device of any of claims 1 to 11 comprising the steps of: (a) winding a section of hair around a curl forming apparatus; (b) heating the heatable surface(s) of the hair styling device; (c) grasping the curl forming apparatus between the clamping portions of the hair styling device; (d) compressing the curl forming apparatus between the clamping surfaces of the hair styling device for a predetermined length of time; and (e) releasing the curl forming apparatus from the hair styling device.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 40 seconds.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 30 seconds.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 20 seconds.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined length of time is in the range 10 to 15 seconds.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined length of time is in the range 15 to 20 seconds.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined length of time is 18 seconds.

19. A method according to claim 12, further comprising an additional step of applying a heat protection and setting hair product to the section of hair prior to step (a).

20. A method according to claim 12, further comprising an additional step of applying a heat protection and setting hair product to the section of hair after step (a) and before step (b).