Electric Hair Curling Iron

Abstract

The present invention provides an electric hair curling device comprising a main handle, a cylindrical barrel for emitting heat operationally, a clamp member extending along one side of the cylindrical barrel which is shaped cylindrically to complement the shape of the barrel and a thermally insulated tip coupled to the cylindrical barrel. The thermally insulated tip is rotatable relative to the cylindrical barrel and is shaped as a small handle for gripping purpose. During operation, one of the user hand rolls the main handle, while the other hand holds the thermally insulated tip, thus providing a steady support which makes the overall curling process easier and less tiring for the user.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Singapore patent application entitled “Electric Hair Curling Iron” filed on 13 Apr. 2010 having application number 201002670-6.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an electric hair curling device, and in particular to a rotatable electric hair curling device.

BACKGROUND

Hair iron is a hairstyling tool used to change the structure of the hair through heat. There are two types of hair irons; flat or straightening irons and curling irons. As its name implied, straightening irons are used to straighten the hair and curling irons are used to create waves or curls in the hair.

Various types of curling irons or curling tongs are available in the market. During operation, a small portion of hair is clamped between a heated cylindrical barrel and a clamp member. The curling iron is then rolled up towards the hair root so that the hair is wrapped around the heated barrel. With heat, the hair is held around the curling iron for a few seconds and once the curl is formed, the hair can be unwrapped from the curling irons.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,916 assigned to Matshushita Electric Works, Ltd discloses an electric hair curling iron with a rotatable power cord. The electric power supply cord is connected to the electrically heated rod by a rotatable connector located on the end of the first handle. The axis of rotation of the connector is designed to be coaxial with the centerline between the two handles and to be in the same plane as the pivotal connection between the handles, such that the hair curling iron can be rotated without twisting the power cord.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,514 assigned to Windmere Corporation discloses an electric curling iron with rotatable main handle and clamp handle for enabling the cylinder and the clamp member to be rotated within the hand of the user while the hair is clamped between the clamp member and the cylinder. The main and clamp handle are each equipped with a locking mechanism selectively movable between a first position locking the respective handle against rotation and a second position wherein the respective handles are free to rotate.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and is not intended to identify key features of the invention. Rather, it is to present some of the inventive concepts of this invention in a generalized form as a prelude to the detailed description that is to follow.

The present invention provides an electric hair curling iron. According to one aspect of the invention, the electric hair curling device comprises a main handle, a cylindrical barrel attached to the main handle at the proximal end for emitting heat operationally, a clamp member extending along one side of said barrel and is shaped cylindrically to complement a shape of the barrel, and a thermally insulated tip coupled to the cylindrical barrel, which is rotatable relative to the cylindrical barrel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electric hair curling device further comprises an electrical cable for supplying electrical power, which is coupled to a distal end of the main handle.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the thermally insulated tip is configured as a small handle for gripping during operation.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical barrel and the electrical cable are rotatable relative to the main handle.

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures accompanied herein, in which like reference numerals denote like elements;

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an electric hair curling device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in a user's hands with its clamp plate being lifted up;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in a user's hands with its clamp plate being lowered down; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an electric hair curling device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention shall now be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawings. It is to be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

FIG. 1 shows an electric hair curling device 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair curling device comprises a main handle 10, a cylindrical barrel 20, a clamp member 30, a thermally insulated tip 50, and an electrical cable 60 for connecting to a current supply (not shown). The components of the electric hair curling device 1 are attached together along an axis with the thermally insulated tip 50 forming the top of the device 1, followed by the cylindrical barrel 20, the main handle 10 and the electrical cable 60. The thermal insulated tip 50 is rotatably mounted on a distal end of the cylindrical barrel 20. The thermal insulated tip 50 is rotatable relative to the cylindrical barrel 10. The proximal end of the cylindrical barrel 20 is attached to the main handle 10. In the current embodiment, the cylindrical barrel 20 is fixed onto the main handle 10.

The clamp member 30 is pivotally mounted at a short distance from the proximal end on the cylindrical barrel 20 with a clamp plate 32 extends along one side of the cylindrical barrel 20. The clamp plate 32 is cylindrically shaped to complement the curve of the cylindrical barrel 20. The clamp member 30 is spring loaded at the pivot to keep the clamp plate 32 on the cylindrical barrel 20. A clamp handle 40 extended towards the opposing side of the clamp plate 32 and projected on the main handle 10 is provided for user handling. When the clamp handle 40 is pressed against the main handle 10, the clamp plate 32 is pivotally lifted to open the clamp member 30.

Typically, the main handle 10, on top of being a handle, is also a housing for components, and the controlling means of the electric hair-curling device 1 may also be disposed at the proximal end of the handle 10. In accordance with a further embodiment, the electric hair-curling device may further provide a display screen for showing operating states and other relevant information.

The electrical cable 60 for supplying electrical power is coupled to a distal end of the main handle 10. It may be desired that the electrical cable 60 be configured to be rotatable about the axis against the main handle 10 in an alternative embodiment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective views of the electric hair curling iron in user's hand with its clamp plate being lifted up and lowered down respectively. During operation, the user grips the main handle 10 and presses the clamp handle 40 down against the main handle 10 to lift up the clamp plate 32. A section of the hair to be curled is then inserted between the heated cylindrical barrel 20 and the clamp plate 32. Once the section of the hair is clamped on the cylindrical barrel 20, the user may have one hand holding the main handle 10 and the other holding the thermal insulated tip 50. Then the user may start rolling the main handle 10 with the hand holding thereon while keeping the other hand holding the thermally insulated tip 50 steady. As the hand rolling the main handle 10 together with the cylindrical barrel 20, the hair to be curled is wrapped around the cylindrical barrel 20. As the other hand is holding the thermally insulated tip 50, the thermally insulated tip 50 remains static relative to the cylindrical barrel 20, thus providing a steady support to the electrical hair-curling device 1 operationally. Such steady support makes the overall curling process easier and less tiring for the user, as the effort required for the wrist joints to make the rotation movement is now shared by the two hands, instead of one. At the same time, having the user to hold the rotatable thermal insulated cap 50 while operating the device 1 also may prevents the heated cylindrical barrel 20 to accidentally come in contact with the user's skin during operation.

FIG. 4 illustrates the electrical hair-curling device 1 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The electrical hair-curling device 1 is adapted with the cylindrical barrel 20 rotatably attached to the main handle 10. The cylindrical barrel 20 is also rotatable about the axis thereof. Accordingly, user needs to only rotate the cylindrical barrel 20 against the main handle 10 operationally. Typically, the rotations to wrap the hair to be curled require only the thumb and the index finger to operate while the hand remains gripping the main handle 10. Similarly, user may hold on to the thermally insulated tip 50 operationally to provide a steady support. This way of operation significantly reduces strain to the hand rotating the cylindrical barrel 50.

In a further embodiment, the thermally insulated tip 50 can be configured as a relatively small handle for better gripping. The thermally insulated tip 50 can further be shaped ergonomically for holding comfort. The thermally insulated tip 50 can be any thermally insulated means that rotatably attached to the cylindrical barrel 50 such that it is rotatable freely about the axis against the cylindrical barrel 50.

While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An electric hair curling device comprising:

a main handle;

a cylindrical barrel attaching to said main handle at a proximal end, said cylindrical barrel operationally emitting heat;

a clamp member extending along one side of said cylindrical barrel and shaped cylindrically to complement a shape of said cylindrical barrel, said clamp member being used to clamp hair onto said cylindrical barrel; and

a thermally insulated tip coupled to said barrel, wherein said thermally insulated tip is rotatable relative to said cylindrical barrel.

2. The electric hair curling device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises an electrical cable for supplying electrical power, said electrical cable is coupled to a distal end of said main handle.

3. The electric hair curling device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical barrel is rotatably attached to said main handle, said cylindrical barrel is rotatable relative to said main handle.

4. The electric hair curling device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical barrel being fixed to said main handle.

5. The electric hair curling device of claim 1, wherein said clamp member further comprises a clamp handle for user handling, said clamp handle extending towards the opposing side of said clamp member and projected on said main handle.

6. The electric hair curling device of claim 1, wherein the thermally insulated tip is configured as a small handle for gripping during operation.

7. The electric hair curling device of claim 2, wherein said electrical cable is rotatably attached to said main handle, said electrical cable being rotatable relative to said main handle.

8. An electric hair curling device comprising:

a main handle;

a cylindrical barrel attaching to said main handle at a proximal end, said cylindrical barrel operationally emitting heat and being rotatable relative to said main handle;

a clamp member for clamping hair onto said cylindrical barrel, said clamp member comprising a clamp plate extending along one side of said cylindrical barrel, which is shaped cylindrically to complement a shape of said cylindrical barrel and a clamp handle for user handling, which is extending towards the opposing side of said clamp member and is projected on said main handle;

a thermally insulated tip coupled to said cylindrical barrel, wherein said thermally insulated tip is rotatable relative to said cylindrical barrel and is configured as a small handle for gripping during operation; and

an electrical cable for supplying electrical power, wherein said electrical cable is coupled to a distal end of said main handle and is rotatable relative to said main handle.

9. An electric hair curling device comprising:

a main handle;

a cylindrical barrel attaching to said main handle at a proximal end, said cylindrical barrel operationally emitting heat and being fixed to said main handle;

a clamp member for clamping hair onto said cylindrical barrel, said clamp member comprising a clamp plate extending along one side of said cylindrical barrel, which is shaped cylindrically to complement a shape of said cylindrical barrel and a clamp handle for user handling, which is extending towards the opposing side of said clamp member and is projected on said main handle;

a thermally insulated tip coupled to said cylindrical barrel, wherein said thermally insulated tip is rotatable relative to said cylindrical barrel and is configured as a small handle for gripping during operation; and

an electrical cable for supplying electrical power, wherein said electrical cable is coupled to a distal end of said main handle and is rotatable relative to said main handle.