Hair Curling Instrument With Interchangeable Heating Elements

Abstract

The hair curling instrument has a handle portion terminating in a socket which is adapted to receive conductor blades mounted to one end of a heating element and electrically connected with heating means within the heating element. The heating element is in the form of a cylindrical shell and is provided in various diameters. A hair clamp is pivotally mounted to the handle, the clamp having a clamping portion adapted to be aligned with and along the exterior of the heating element whereby to clamp hair to the heating element. The clamp is pivotally mounted to the handle and means are provided for changing the location of the pivot axis of the clamp to accommodate heating elements of different diameters.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The use of electrically heated instruments for curling hair is and has been a common practice. Such instruments have in the past included a rod-like heating element (heated electrically or otherwise) on which a strand of hair is wound, and a clamping member which is applied to the outside of the wound strand to hold the hair in place during the heating period.

In one common form of instrument the clamping member is mounted pivotally to the handle portion with an operating lever positioned to be depressed by the thumb of the hand of the user in which the instrument is held. By depressing the lever the clamp is moved away from the heating element to open a gap which permits removal of the heating element from the curl and formation of a new curl.

It has also been suggested in the past that the heating element be made detachable from the handle so that elements of different diameter can be interchanged, thus making it possible to provide curls of different diameter. However, the use of such an arrangement with a pivotal clamp has posed difficulties, particularly from the standpoint of manufacture, since to be fully effective the clamp be located substantially parallel in a longitudinal direction with the heating element. However, with a fixed pivot axis for the clamp, ideally the heating element must be specially designed so that when coupled with the handle of the instrument, the surface of the element to which the hair is clamped will be in the same location as for all other elements.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a curling instrument capable of utilizing detachable heating elements and having a clamping means which can itself be adjusted so that the clamp can quickly and easily be aligned properly with the surface of the heating element. By this arrangement the heating elements can be made in varying diameter but on a symmetrical base so that no custom designing of specially shaped elements need be carried out and scant attention need be given by the user to the orientation of the element at the time it is coupled with the handle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention together with the features of novelty appurtenant therewith will appear in the course of the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of preferred embodiment of a hair curling instrument incorporating the invention, with the heating element shown in exploded relationship with the handle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of same showing the clamp associated with a heating element of relatively large diameter parts being broken away or shown in section for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the clamp mounting means rotated to position the clamp for cooperation with a smaller diameter heating element; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 identifies the handle portion of the instrument. The handle portion is preferably a relatively elongate structure of generally circular cross-section. It may be constructed of any appropriate material, preferably material having low heat conductivity, such as any of a number of the moldable plastics. The handle is channeled lengthwise to provide room for a conventional two-wire electric cord for connection with an AC outlet. The cord terminates at the forward end of the handle at socket 12, the socket being designed to receive spaced blade terminals in the manner of the conventional electric outlet. While not shown, it will be understood that the wires of electric cord 11 terminate at and make connections with terminals within the socket which are adapted to make contact with blades when blades are inserted therein.

The blades are indicated at 13a and 13b, and project in spaced, parallel relationship from one end of a curl heating element 14. The heating element comprises a tubular cylindrical shell 15, closed at one end, which is made of material of good heat conductivity, for example, stainless steel or aluminum. The open end of the shell is connected to an insulator 16 which is in the form of a plug-like member made of a dielectric material also having low heat conductivity, which may be one of the many non-metallic plastics available. In the preferred form, the shell 15 is connected with the insulator by press fitting its open end within an annular recess 16a (see FIG. 2) formed in the insulator.

Internal electrical heating means is provided for the tube 15. While not shown, any suitable arrangement can be employed, such as, for example, the arrangement shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,947 which issued May 18, 1971. Instead, however, of the electric cord passing directly past the handle to the heating means, as is the case in the referenced patent, in the present unit the wires are connected with the blades 13a and 13b which are spaced from one another and embedded in the member 16, as shown in FIG. 2.

Returning now to the description of the handle portion 10, it is formed with a forward part of somewhat greater diameter, this portion being identified generally at 17. The portion 17 includes a cylindrical bearing 17a, the ends of which are defined by flanges 17b, 17c of somewhat greater diameter. The flanges and bearing surface define what is in effect an angular groove in the portion 17.

It is important to observe that the axis of generation of the bearing surface 17a (identified at B in FIGS. 2 and 4) is off-set laterally from the reference axis A, which is taken as the longitudinal axis of symmetry for the heating element and handle. In other words the bearing surface is located eccentrically with respect to the reference axis A.

Rotatably mounted in the groove defined by flanges 17b, 17c and the bearing surface 17a is a ring member 18. The ring 18 is capable of rotation on the bearing surface. The ring has formed integral therewith a pair of parallel, radially projecting ears 18a which receive therethrough a pivot pin 19 serving to pivotally mount a clamping member 20 to the ring. A torsion spring S engages the clamping member, and ears to bias it in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1-3.

The clamping member includes the clamping portion 21, which extends outwardly and generally alongside the heating element, and an operating lever 22 on the other side of the pivot pin 19. A heat insulating pressure pad 23 is secured to the top of the operating lever 22 by any suitable means, such as, for example, a rivet 24.

The clamping portion 21 is made generally arcuate in cross-section and extends over the major portion of the length of the heating element.

As shown in FIG. 2, when associated with a heating element of relatively large diameter, the ring 18 is rotated to a position to which the pivot pin 19 is located at its maximum distance from the reference axis A. With smaller diameter heating elements, the ring can be rotated so as to locate the pin at a closer distance measured radially from axis A, the minimum spacing being that which occurs when the ring is rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a heating element of smaller diameter than that shown in FIG. 2 and illustrates the way in which the clamping element 21 can still be maintained in alignment despite the change in location of the exterior heating element relative to the reference axis A.

The heating elements are easily interchanged by slightly lifting the clamping member, which is accomplished by depressing on the thumb lever 22, gripping the heating element at the member 16 and pulling it away from the handle, much as in separating an electric plug from an outlet. A different element can be easily connected and the position of the clamping member can be adjusted as needed to accommodate the change in dimensions of the heating element.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a handle and clamp structure for a hair curling instrument of the type having a hair heating element projecting from one end of the handle and a clamp pivotally fulcrumed on the handle, said clamp having a clamping portion adapted to clamp hair to the heating element along the major portion thereof, the improvement comprising

means providing a detachable connection between the heating element and handle whereby heating elements of different transverse dimensions can be substituted for one another to provide a tighter or more open curl, said connection being such that there is a reference axis fixed in relation to said handle and common to the various heating elements,

means supporting said clamp from said handle and rotatable relative to the handle about a second axis parallel to and spaced from said reference axis whereby when said support means is rotated relative to the handle, the radial distance from said reference axis to said pivot is varied in response to said rotation thereby to accommodate said clamping portion of the clamp to different size heating elements.

2. The improvement as in claim 1,

said means providing the connection comprising a socket in the end of the handle for detachably receiving blades on the heating element.

3. The improvement as in claim 1,

said heating elements being elongated cylinders with the reference axis coinciding with center line of the cylinder.

4. The improvement as in claim 1,

said means providing the connection comprising

i. a cylindrical bearing surface formed on the handle having said second axis as its axis of generation, and

ii. a ring rotatably supported on said bearing surface, said clamp pivot being carried by said ring.

5. The improvement as in claim 1,

each said heating element including a heat insulator providing a gripping surface adjacent to the connection with the handle.