Heated hair styling system

[00002] 1. Field of the Invention

[00003] The present invention relates generally to the field of hair care and styling. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair styling system which incorporates a heating system so as to provide a new tool for styling hair.

[00004] 2. The Background

[00005] Many devices have been devised over the ages to aid in styling hair. Hair curlers, for example, are used to impart curls into hair. They may be used on dry hair but work best on wet hair. Steam may be applied to assist in setting the hair to the curl of the curlers. Curling irons typically incorporate an electrical heating element to heat one or both sides of a smooth but curved pair of mating surface between which hair is placed to be curled. The hair may preferably be pulled through the interface of the mating surfaces of the curling iron to aid in curling the hair. On the other hand, hair straighteners operate much like curling irons, but they have smooth mating flat surfaces which act to straighten the hair when compressed against and pulled along the hair.

[00006] All known examples of such irons and straighteners comprise a pair of untextured surfaces for engaging the hair. As a result, the hair can become tangled, or require much additional combing or brushing with another apparatus such as a comb or brush in order to achieve the desired style. This additional combing and/or brushing can undesirably disrupt the style imparted by the irons and straighteners.

[00007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,501 to Maznik teaches a steam hair styling apparatus which utilizes a known steam source such as a Sunbeam valet steamer, model no. 10079, as a “steam engine” to provide steam to the center axis of a hair curler. The hair may be wrapped about the curler, the steam engine placed in the center of the curler and the steam source activated for a blast of steam departing radially through the curler from the steam engine. The steam aids in setting the curl in the hair. The patent teaches specifically that a secondary dry heat source should not be used in this application.

[00008] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hair styling device capable of use in curling, straightening and/or waving hair which overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

[00009] A hair styling apparatus includes a pair of mating surfaces which engage one another and a handle which guides them into engagement at the manual control of a user. Hair to be styled is placed between the engaged surfaces. A plurality of comb-like pins extend from one of the surfaces and engage holes in the other of the surfaces. In another aspect of the invention, one or both surfaces may incorporate a source of dry heat. In another aspect of the invention, a source of steam is provided together with a trigger for discharging the steam through holes in at least one of the surfaces as an aid to hair styling.

[00019] Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description of the present invention is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons after a perusal of the within disclosure.

[00020] In accordance with presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, a pair of surfaces are carried on a handle as shown generally in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[00021] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 first surface 10 and second surface 12 are carried by handle structure 14 which includes a first portion 16 to which first surface 10 is attached and a second portion 18 to which second surface 12 is attached. First portion 16 and second portion 18 are mounted together at pivot point 20 and optionally biased toward an open position (as shown) as, for example, with a spring (not shown). An operator may press first portion 16 and second portion 18 together to engage first surface 10 and second surface 12 together in close conformance with hair to be styled disposed between first surface 10 and second surface 12. First surface 10 has a plurality of pins or tangs 22 disposed thereon as shown. Second surface 12 has a plurality of first holes 24 disposed thereon as shown. Pins 22 and holes 24 are formed so that pins 22 enter holes 24 when first surface 10 and second surface 12 are in close conformance when the apparatus is in the “closed” configuration.

[00022] Those of skill in the art will realize that the diameter, especially the entry diameter, of holes 24, the length and thickness of pins 22 and the length of first portion 16 and second portion 18 need to be coordinated so that pins 22 will engage holes 24. The precise arrangement will depend on the implementation but is straightforward. FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment where such coordination is less crucial. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in addition to a pivot point as shown at 26, each surface 10 and 12 is pivoted to an arm portion, 28, 30, as shown. This arrangement provides an additional degree of freedom and therefore less clearance needs to be provided because it is then a simple matter to bias the surfaces 10, 12 so that they approach one another with little or no relative tilt, as shown.

[00023] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, dry heat may be provided to one or both of surfaces 10, 12 by incorporating a conventional electrical heating coil 32 behind each respective surface. In this case it would be desirable to form the respective heated (and non-heated) surface of the temperature resistant materials 34, such as aluminum and high temperature plastics such as Teflon®. Where dry heat is provided, it is desirable to incorporate one or two electrical switches in handle 14 so as to control one or both electrical heating coils. A circuit for controlling one or two heating coils is shown in FIG. 4. A three position switch 36 is used to select high heat, low heat or off. A resistor 38 is used to provide a low heat setting. Conventional AC mains power may be provided to wires 40, 42 to power the circuit.

[00024] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, steam heat is provided through holes in one of first surface 10 and second surface 12 (preferably through existing holes 24 in second surface 12). In accordance with this embodiment, portion 18 is modified as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[00025] Housing 44 may contain a handle 46 which is detachable as shown in FIG. 6 or integrally attached thereto. Handle 46 contains a fluid reservoir 48 therein. A metered amount of fluid (such as water) is drawn through tubes 50 and 52 by activation of a pumping mechanism by trigger 54. Although fluid tube 50 is illustrated as being essentially linear it should be appreciated that the tube can be flexible, or semi-rigid and configured as is known in the art to effectively and efficiently withdraw fluid from reservoir 48. The fluid is passed across heat plate 56 which is heated by heating element 58. This heated fluid is therein atomized, exiting the steam emitting orifice 60 and into 62. This steam exits manifold 62 through a plurality of steam emitting holes 64 disposed about the lower surface 66 of manifold 62. Heating element 58 is supplied electrical current via cord and plug set 68. The apparatus further includes a fluid viewing window 70 at the end of reservoir 46 opposite the manifold 62. A return trough 72 and return tube are provided to return condensed fluid back to reservoir 48. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other sources of steam can also be used.

[00026] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a side view, top view of first surface 10 and a top view of second surface 12, respectively. Any number of pins 22 and holes 24 can be used and any pattern can be implemented as would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[00027] FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 show examples of various different patterns which may be imposed on mating surfaces 10, 12, in FIG. 10, a straight pattern is implemented as in a straightening iron. FIGS. 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17 show a curved pattern, both convex and concave, respectively, from the point of view of surface 10. FIG. 13 shows an “S” curve pattern for imparting a wavy style to the hair. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, various patterns of mating surfaces 10, 12 may be installed as options or interchangeable accessories in the apparatus of the invention. In this event, the surfaces would be removably mounted to respective heating elements and/or steam manifolds.

[00028] Where it is desirable to have dry heat and steam heat at the same surface, a configuration as shown in FIG. 18 may be used. In FIG. 18 steam engine 74 and electrical heater 76 are both mounted to one portion of handle structure 14. Steam manifold 76 is provided adjacent to heater 76 so that dry heat and steam may both be provided as desired. Surfaces in contact with the hair are preferably coated with Teflon® or a similar heatable non-stick material.

[00029] While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.