Hair setter appliance with cord reel

Abstract

A hair setter assembly (4) has a base (5) containing an electric heat element and receptacles for receiving and transferring heat to thermally conductive hair rollers (1). A spring-loaded cord reel (13) is housed inside the assembly (4) so that an electrical cord (9) attached to the assembly may be selective extended from or withdrawn into the assembly (4).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application No. 60/797765, filed 04 May 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to devices for styling hair including, but not limited to, hair setter kits comprising an electrically heated base and receptacle for receiving thermally conductive hair curlers for pre-heating and subsequent application to a user's hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known electrically heated hair setter kits typically comprise a base containing an electric heat element and a cord for plugging the electric element into a wall outlet. Receptacle in the base transfer heat to thermally conductive hair curlers. A user attaches the heated curlers to the hair for styling. Because the appliance is a counter top appliance, it is desirable to design it to be least cumbersome in terms of space requirements and potential to disrupt or interfere with other objects on a counter or table. A power cord, as is used on typical hair setter kits and other appliances, is sometimes a source of physical interference with other objects.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrically-heated hair setter kit that eliminate the physical interference that can be caused by an extending power cord.

These objects, as well as others, are achieved by the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hair setter assembly according to the present invention has a base containing an electric heat element and receptacles for receiving and transferring heat to thermally conductive hair rollers. A spring-loaded cord reel is housed inside the assembly so that an electrical cord attached to the assembly may be selective extended from or withdrawn into the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates in top view and in front view a plurality of thermally conductive hair rollers used in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a top view of an assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a side view of an assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 1E is a front view of an assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 1F is a side view of an assembly shown in an opened position according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a cord reel according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A plurality of hair rollers 1 are provided with cylindrical exterior walls 2 and slots 3 for mounting onto thermally conductive elements, of a type generally known, in hair setter assemblies such as the type generally known and of a type as described herein according to the present invention. After the rollers 1 are heated by placement in a hair setter assembly that is provided with an electrical heated, they are placed in a user's hair for styling the hair.

A hair setter assembly 4 according to the present invention comprises a lower housing 5, a hinged lid 6, and a base 7. The base 7 is provided with a power cord opening 8 from which an electrical power cord 9 extends. The cord 9 may have a conventional plug 10 or other means for connecting to an electrical power source. The lid 6 may be transparent or semi-transparent so that a user may visually observe the rollers 1 when they are placed in the housing 5 and the lid 6 is closed. Means such as those generally known are provided to receive and transfer heat to the rollers 1 while they are in the housing 5. Various switches 11 and levers 12 may be provided to selectively control heat, set time for heat, and latch or unlatch the lid 6 to the housing 5.

A conventional cord reel 13, such as but not limited to that shown in an exploded view in FIG. 2, is housed internally within the housing 5. The electrical cord 9 is coiled about a spool 14 which is mounted within and rotates relative to upper and lower mounting brackets 15, 16. The brackets 15, 16 are fixed internally within the housing. The plug 10 is outside of the opening 8 which is sized to prevent the plug 10 from being withdrawn into the housing. In use, the user pulls the plug 10 and cord out of the opening 8. A spring 17 of the type generally known and used with cord reels is energized as the cord 9 is extended out of the housing. After use, the cord 9 is released and the energized spring 17 causes the cord 9 to be re-coiled around the spool 13.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been herein described, various modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) A hair setter assembly comprising

a housing for receiving thermally conductive hair rollers selectively positioned therein for transferring heat thereto;

an electrical cord extending from inside of said housing to outside of said housing; and

a cord reel located inside of said housing for storing said electrical cord thereon in a coiled position.

2) A hair setter according to claim 1, further comprising

a spring attached to said cord reel for spring loading said cord reel when said electrical cord is pulled by force from said housing and for automatically re-coiling said electrical cord when said force is released.