HAIR STYLING APPARATUS

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes first and second handle members adapted for movement between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, a heating element associated with at least one of said first and second handle members and a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle member to impart mechanical energy to the heating element. The vibration element may include a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for treating hair.

2. Background of the Related Art

Hair straightener apparatuses typically include two pivotal handles which are hinged at one end and pivot about the hinge between open and closed positions. Heating heads extend from each handle and have inner surfaces comprised of a heatable material, usually metal, for straightening or styling hair. An electric heater element located beneath each heatable surface is activated to warm the surfaces to a desired temperature. The inner surfaces are positionable around hair to be styled, and the hinged handles are moved to a closed position bringing the heated inner surfaces in contact with the hair. The gripped handles are then slid along the hair strands until the hair exits from the heads. One example of a hair straightener apparatus is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,532, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to further enhancements in hair straightener apparatuses. In accordance with one embodiment, a hair styling apparatus includes first and second handle members adapted for movement between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, a heating element associated with at least one of said first and second handle members and a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle member to impart mechanical energy to the heating element. The vibration element may include a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer.

A first heating plate may be mounted to the first handle member and a second heating plate may be mounted to the second handle member. The transducer may be positioned to impart mechanical energy to the second heating plate of the second handle member. In one embodiment, the transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to each of the first and second heating plates of the first and second handle members.

First and second transducers may be mounted within respective first and second handle members. The first transducer may impart mechanical energy to the first heating plate and the second transducer may impart mechanical energy to the second heating plate.

A manually operable intensity control may be provided and adapted for selective manipulation to control output of the transducer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair styling apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view a hair styling apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hair styling apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hair styling apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the hair styling apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating some of the operating components of the hair styling apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, to FIGS. 1-5, the hair styling apparatus 100 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated. The hair styling apparatus 100 may be in the form of a hair straightener utilized to generally straighten the hair of the subject. However, it is envisioned that the hair styling apparatus may includes surfaces to shape, crimp or affect any styling effect to the subject's hair.

The hair styling apparatus 100 includes first and second handle members 102,104 connected to each other through a hinge 106, of a conventional type. The hinge 106 typically incorporates a spring to normally bias the first and second members 102, 104 to the open position depicted in FIG. 1. The first and second handle members 102, 104 are adapted to pivot about the hinge 106 between the open position of FIG. 1 and the closed position depicted in FIGS. 2-3 and 5.

With reference to FIGS. 4-5, the first and second handle members 102, 104 includes first and second outer housings 108, 110. Disposed within the first and second outer housings 108, 110 are heating element or plates 112, 114, which are at the end remote from the hinge 106 and frame segments 116, 118 positioned adjacent the hinge 106. The heating plates 112, 114 are heated by conventional electrical means (not shown) known in the art, so that hair can be positioned therebetween for styling. The heating plates 112, 114 are connected to the first and second outer housings 108, 110 through housing connectors 120, 122 and connected to the first and second frame segments 116, 118 through frame connectors, 124, 126 respectively. The first and second frame segments 116, 118 include hinge segments 128, 130 which cooperate to pivotally couple the first and second handle members 102, 104, thereby forming the hinge 106. The hinge segments 128, 130 may be enclosed via hinge covers 132, 134.

The first and second handle members 102, 104 may include an on/off power switch 136, an LED 138 mounted within the first outer housing 108 of the first handle member 102 for indicating when the power is activated, and a power cord 140. A window 142 may be mounted to the first outer housing 108 to enclose the LED 138 for viewing through opening 143 of the first outer housing 108. A control board 144 including a controller/processor for controlling operation of the apparatus 10 is mounted within the first outer housing 108, e.g., to the first frame segment 128. The controller will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow. One or more contacts 146 (one is shown on the second handle member 106) to power the heating plates 112, 114 only when the first and second handle members 102, 104 are in the closed position. Stoppers or spacers 148 extending between the first and second handle members 102, 104 ensure proper spacing of the first and second handle members 102, 104 and/or the components thereof.

The apparatus further includes one or more vibratory or oscillatory elements 150 in the form of, e.g., a transducer which is mounted within the second handle 106. The transducer 150 is adapted to transmit mechanical or ultrasonic energy to at least the second handle 106 and the second heating plate 114. In one embodiment, the transducer 150 transmits mechanical energy to at least the first and second outer housings 108, 110, which is, in turn, conveyed to the first and second heating plates 112, 114. The transducer 150 may be secured to the inner surface of the second outer housing 110 with an epoxy or adhesive. Multiple transducers 150 may be provided and secured to both the first and second outer housings 108, 110. Each housing 108, 110 may have one or more transducers, and the location of the transducer 150 may be varied.

In FIG. 5, the transducer 150 is depicted beneath the frame segment 118 spaced from the heating plates 114. The transducer 150 may directly contact the frame connector 126 of the second handle 104 such that during activation mechanical energy is directed to the second heating plate 114 through the frame connector 126. With this arrangement, the vibratory energy may be partially or entirely directed to the second heating plate 114. Other locations for the transducer 150 are also envisioned. For example, the transducer 150 may be positioned directly beneath the second heating plate 114 to directly about the second heating plate 114.

The transducer 150 may be activated via a manual control switch mounted to one of the first and second handle members 102, 104. In one embodiment, the transducer only may be activated when the first and second handle members 102, 104 are in the closed position, i.e., when the contacts establish electrical contact.

The transducer 22 may be a piezoelectric transducer (e.g., ceramic or quartz) adapted to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy using a vibrating element, to amplify and direct the mechanical energy into the first and second handles 102, 104 and ultimately to the heating plates 108, 110. Any commercially available frequency transducers may be utilized. Such transducers are small in size and profile and thereby may be readily incorporated within the outer housings 108, 110 of the first and second handles, exhibit high mechanical stiffness, and can operate at a variety of frequency ranges including relatively high frequency ranges while requiring minimal input energy and force (as compared to a motor driven vibrator). The transducer 150 also may generate heat to at least supplement the heat generated by the heating plates 112, 114. The output of the transducer 150 may be selected controlled via a control knob mounted to one of the handle members 102, 104, which is controlled by the controller to vary the intensity of the output. A suitable high frequency transducer may operate to provide a frequency output ranging from about of 10 Hz-5 MHz.

FIG. 6 illustrates further details of the controller and operating components of the hair treatment apparatus 100 will be discussed. The hair treatment apparatus 100 utilizes one or more controllers or circuitry 200 mounted to the control board 144 to receive various information and transform the received information to generate an output. The controller 200 may include any type of computing device, computational circuit, software, logic or any type of processor or processing circuit 202 capable of executing a series of instructions that are stored in a memory. The controller 200 may include multiple processors 202 and/or multicore central processing units (CPUs) and may include any type of processor, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or the like. The controller 202 may also include a memory 204 to store data and/or algorithms to perform a series of instructions. The memory 204 may include a mechanism that provides (e.g., stores and/or transmits) information in a form readable by a machine such as a processor, computer, or a digital processing device.

The controller 200 controls operation of the heating plates 112, 114 and the transducer(s) to activate/deactivate these components in response to activation of the manual controls. For example, the apparatus 100 may include the manual power on/off control 136 which activates the heating plates, a manual vibration control 206 to activate the transducer(s) 150 and a manual intensity control 208 which controls the intensity or frequency of the output of the transducer(s) 150. The manual vibration control 206 and the intensity control 208 may be mounted to either the first and second handle members 102, 104 and may be controlled by a single actuator.

In use, the power control 136 is placed in the on position, and hair is positioned between the heating plates 112, 114 of the first and second handle members 102, 104. The handle members 102, 104 are approximated causing the electrical contacts to engage and activate the heating plates 112, 114. The apparatus 100 is maneuvered to drag the hair between the heating plates 112, 114 to straighten the hair. When it is desired to position the apparatus in vibration mode, the vibration control 206 is activated causing the one or more transducers 150 to impart mechanical energy to at least one or both of the first and second heating plates 112, 114 thereby causing the one or more plates 112, 114 to vibrate and impart a straightening effect to the hair. In one embodiment, the transducer 150 will not be activated until the electrical contacts engage each other, e.g., when the first and second handle members 102, 104 are in the approximated condition. The intensity of the vibratory or oscillating movement may be selectively varied during the course of treatment by the manual intensity control 208.

It is further envisioned that the vibratory energy provided by the transducer will assist in absorption of a treatment agent positioned on the subject's hair or on pads which would be mounted to the heating plates. Such treatment agents may include argan oil, pharmaceutically active agents, moisturizers, hydration agents, penetration agents, preservatives, emulsifiers, natural or synthetic oils, solvents, surfactants, detergents, gelling agents, emollients, antioxidants, fragrances, fillers, thickeners, waxes, odor absorbers, dyestuffs, coloring agents, powders, viscosity-controlling agents, buffers, protectants, pH regulators, chelating agents, humectants, conditioners, glitter, mica, minerals, silicones, polyphenols, sunblocks, phytomedicinals, and combinations thereof, as well as other additives typically used in hair care products as appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The above description and the drawings are provided for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A hair styling apparatus, which comprises:

first and second handle members adapted for movement between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, the first and second handle members extending along a longitudinal axis;

a heating element associated with at least one of the first and second handle members; and

a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle members to impart mechanical energy to the heating element, the vibration element axially spaced from the heating element.

2. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vibration element includes a transducer.

3. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the vibration element includes a piezoelectric transducer.

4. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 3 including a first heating plate mounted to the first handle member and a second heating plate mounted to the second handle member.

5. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to the second heating plate of the second handle member.

6. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to each of the first and second heating plates of the first and second handle members.

7. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 including first and second transducers mounted within respective first and second handle members, the first transducer imparting mechanical energy to the first heating plate, the second transducer imparting mechanical energy to the second heating plate.

8. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 including a manually operable intensity control, the intensity control adapted for selective manipulation to control output of the transducer.

9. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic transducer is activated upon movement of the first and second handle members to the closed position.

10. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the ultrasonic transducer is deactivated when the first and second handle members are in the open position.

11. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first and second handle members include first and second frames, the first and second frames defining a hinge about which the first and second handle members pivot between the open position and the closed position, the first and second heating plates respectively coupled to the first and second frames.

12. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the transducer is mechanically coupled to at least one of the first and second frames.

13. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 12 including first and second transducers mechanically coupled to the first and second frames respectively.

14. A hair styling apparatus, which comprises:

first and second handle members adapted for pivotal movement about a hinge between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, the first and second handle members extending along a longitudinal axis;

first and second heating elements mounted to the first and second handle members respectively, and being remote from the hinge; and

a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle members to impart mechanical energy to the heating element, the vibration element axially spaced from the heating element.

15. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the first and second handle members include first and second frames, the first and second frames defining the hinge, the first and second heating plates respectively coupled to the first and second frames.

16. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 15 including first and second transducers mechanically coupled to the first and second frames respectively.