Multi-Positional Curling Iron

Abstract

A curling iron featuring a rotation hinge, enabling the rod to rotate toward the handle.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/465,901, filed Mar. 2, 2017. The above references application is incorporated herein by reference as if restated in full.

BACKGROUND

Individuals, especially women but sometimes men as well, have their hair curled for events, including weddings, dances, and parties generally. Many also have their hair prepared for job interviews or even regular days at work. Typically, people go to a hair stylist when they are preparing for significant events but handle their hair themselves in preparation for events that are less significant. That being said, people would prefer to prepare hair themselves in order to reduce cost, and therefore are willing to invest in many professional tools. But many of these professional tools are designed to be held by a second person and applied to the hair of the first person. Consequently, it is often difficult for the first person to use these professional tools. What is needed is professional-grade tools that are customized, oriented, or configured to be handled by the first person.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a curling iron that can be configured for multiple positions. The curling iron has an iron portion and a handle portion. The handle portion may be connected to an electrical supply and may include an integrated circuit board, monitor display, and user control panel. The iron portion and the handle portion may be connected by means of a rotating mechanism.

The handle may be made of thermally non-conductive material such as plastic. It may comprise a first end and a second end, the second end connected to a power source, the first end engaged to the iron portion. The handle may be contoured or feature ridges configured to be held ergomically by the human hand. These ridges may be arranged so as to accomodate the hand holding the handle across multiple positions of the iron.

The iron portion may be made of thermally conductive material, such as metal or certain ceramics. The iron portion may be embedded with one or more heating elements. The heating elements may be controlled thermostatically, and connected to the electric source which provides the current used to raise the temperature of the heating elements. The current flow may be controlled by a control mechanism, which may provide a range of heating profiles or a discrete set of heating levels. The control mechanism may be diposed in and accessible from the handle.

The rotating mechanism may comprise a bar coupled to a cylinder, such that the cylinder is fitted to the bar and may rotate freely around it. The cylinder may feature an extension portion and connect to either the handle portion or the iron portion via the extension portion. The extension portion may extend orthogonally from the main axis of the cylinder, the main axis traversing the hollow. The bar may attach to the handle portion or the iron portion at the one or more ends. In one variation, the handle or iron portion may feature two extensions from the near side, each of these extensions featuring a cyndrical hollow. The bar may be rotationally engaged to the set of double hollows.

The rotating mechanism may be spring-loaded, or use a mechanism that uses tension to provide a default orientation but permits motion of a constant pressure is applied.

The rotating mechanism may be coupled to a second rotating mechanism, the second rotating mechanism operating orthogonally to the first rotating mechanism. The second rotating mechanism may feature a dual set of cylinders, one cylinder being exterior to the other with each attached to separate parts of the iron. In one variation, the rotating mechanism is coupled to a ball in joint mechanism for 360 degree or spherical movement. In yet another variation, the ball-in-joint mechanism is positioned in lieu of the rotating mechanism. In these variations, the handle can rotate angularly with respect to the iron portion as well as in line with and around a shared axis.

The cylinder and/or bar may feature radial extensions such as those found on a gear. The extensions may be female and male, respectively, and configured so as to engage with one another. The cylinder and bar may have one or more portions that are flush with respect to one another such that they may rotate without friction. There may be lateral portion that controls or adjusts the track on which the cylinder and/or bar are positioned, so as to switch between a gear and flush relationship, thereby impeding or facilitating rotation. There may also be a locking track that prevents rotation altogether.

Positions determined by the tracks may include a 180 degree configuration, 90 degree configuration, as well as other angular configurations arranged evenly between those two configurations.

The track or position of the rotating mechanism may be controlled by the user by means of the lateral portion, which may extend in the form of a button, switch, or lock. The user may also forcibly rotate the handle toward or away from the iron portion in order to control the angle. An extension portion, extending from either the handle or the iron portion, may prevent complete rotation.

Electrical wiring may traverse the rotating mechanism by extending through one or both ends of the bar and through a hole disposed on a surface of the cylinder and exposed to the hollow, or around the cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a curling iron;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a curling iron;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a curling iron;

FIG. 4 is an opposite side view of a curling iron;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a curling iron in a first position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a curling iron in a first position;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a curling iron in a second position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a curling iron in a second position.

FIG. 9 is a view of the joint hinge with the press-button removed.

FIG. 10 is another view of the joint hinge with the press-button removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-10, the curling iron 10 may feature a handle 12, a rod 14, a circuit board, and a power source 18. The handle may comprise a first end 20 and a second end 22. The rod may comprise a first end 24 and a second end 26. The first end of the handle may contain or connect to the power source and the second end of the handle (and the second end of the rod) may terminate and join in a rotation hinge 28. The rotation hinge may provide an axis of rotation through the second end of the rod and the second end of the handle, permitting the rod to rotate toward the handle.

The rotation hinge may comprise an axle 30, outer wheels 32, and a main body 34, The main body may comprise an inner bore 36, the outer wheels may comprise outer bores 38, with the axle extending through the inner bore of the main body and the outer bores of the outer wheels. The outer wheels may be fixedly attached to the second end of the handle and the main body may be fixedly attached to the second end of the rod.

The outer wheels may comprise a first set of openings 40 and a second set of openings 42, the first and second set of openings being equidistant from the outer bores. The main body may comprise a set of pins 44, the set of pins being at least partially embedded in the main body, spring-loaded, and configured to at least partially enter the first set of openings and the second set of openings.

The entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings correspond with a first position of the rod with respect to the handle. The entry of the set of pins into the second set of openings correspond with a second position of the rod with respect to the handle. In the first position, the primary axis of the rod is co-axial with the primary axis of the handle. In the second position, the primary axis of the rod is orthogonal to the primary axis of the handle.

The outer wheels may comprise a press-button 46. The press-button may feature a set of press-pins 48, which are configured to press the set of pins in and toward an interior of the main body.

Claims

1. A curling iron comprising a handle, a rod, a circuit board, and a power source;

the handle comprising a first end and a second end, the rod comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle containing or connected to the power source, the second end of the handle and the second end of the rod terminating and joining in a rotation hinge, the rotation hinge providing an axis of rotation through the second end of the rod and the second end of the handle, permitting the rod to rotate toward the handle;

the rotation hinge comprising an axle, outer wheels, and a main body, the main body comprising an inner bore, the outer wheels comprising outer bores, the axle extending through the inner bore of the main body and the outer bores of the outer wheels;

the outer wheels fixedly attached to the second end of the handle and the main body fixedly attached to the second end of the rod;

the outer wheels comprising a first set of openings and a second set of openings, the first and second set of openings equidistant from the outer bores, and the main body comprising a set of pins, the set of pins at least partially embedded in the main body, spring-loaded, and configured to at least partially enter the first set of openings and the second set of openings, the entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings not being simultaneous with entry into the second set of openings;

the entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings corresponding with a first position of the rod with respect to the handle, the entry of the set of pins into the second set of openings corresponding with a second position of the rod with respect to the handle, the first position having a primary axis of the rod co-axial with a primary axis of the handle, the second position having the primary axis of the rod orthogonal to the primary axis of the handle;

the outer wheels comprising a press-button, the press-button featuring a set of press-pins, the set of press-pins configured to press the set of pins in and toward an interior of the main body.

2. A curling iron comprising a handle, a rod, and a power source, the handle comprising a first end and a second end, the rod comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle containing or connected to the power source, the second end of the handle and the second end of the rod terminating and joining in a rotation hinge, the rotation hinge providing an axis of rotation through the second end of the rod and the second end of the handle, permitting the rod to rotate toward the handle.

3. The curling iron of claim 2, a circuit board disposed in the handle and connected to the power source.

4. The curling iron of claim 2, the rotation hinge comprising an axle, outer wheels, and a main body, the main body comprising an inner bore, the outer wheels comprising outer bores, the axle extending through the inner bore of the main body and the outer bores of the outer wheels.

5. The curling iron of claim 4, the outer wheels disposed on the second end of the handle and the main body disposed on the second end of the rod.

6. The curling iron of claim 4, the outer wheels comprising a first set of openings and a second set of openings, the first and second set of openings equidistant from the outer bores, and the main body comprising a set of pins, the set of pins at least partially embedded in the main body, spring-loaded, and configured to at least partially enter the first set of openings and the second set of openings, the entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings not being simultaneous with entry into the second set of openings.

7. The curling iron of claim 6, the entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings corresponding with a first position of the rod with respect to the handle, the entry of the set of pins into the second set of openings corresponding with a second position of the rod with respect to the handle, the first position having a primary axis of the rod co-axial with a primary axis of the handle, the second position having the primary axis of the rod orthogonal to the primary axis of the handle.

8. The curling iron of claim 7, the axle not being fully cylindrical and the inner bore not being cylindrical.

9. The curling iron of claim 8, an inner surface of the inner bore being fully flush with an outer surface of the axle.

10. The curling iron of claim 9, the axle having a cross section with a width greater than a length.

11. The curling iron of claim 6, the set of pins comprising two pins disposed equidistant from the inner bore and on opposite sides of the inner bore, the first set of openings comprising two openings disposed equidistant from the outer bore and on opposite sides of the outer bore, and the second set of openings comprising two openings disposed equidistant from the outer bore and on opposite sides of the outer bore.

12. The curling iron of claim 7, the outer wheels comprising a press-button, the press-button featuring a set of press-pins, the set of press-pins configured to press the set of pins in and toward an interior of the main body.

13. The curling iron of claim 3, the power source being a cable configured to engage with a wall socket, the cable having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to engage with the circuit board, the second end comprising an electrically conductive ring and an electrically conductive pin, the electrically conductive ring and the electrically conductive pin having opposite electrical directions, the second end configured to rotate freely around a primary axis of the handle.

14. A curling iron comprising a handle, a rod, a circuit board, and a power source;

the handle comprising a first end and a second end, the rod comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle containing or connected to the power source, the second end of the handle and the second end of the rod terminating and joining in a rotation hinge, the rotation hinge providing an axis of rotation through the second end of the rod and the second end of the handle, permitting the rod to rotate toward the handle;

the circuit board disposed in the handle and connected to the power source, the power source being a cable configured to engage with a wall socket, the cable having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to engage with the circuit board, the second end comprising an electrically conductive ring and an electrically conductive pin, the electrically conductive ring and the electrically conductive pin having opposite electrical directions, the second end configured to rotate freely around a primary axis of the handle.

15. The curling iron of claim 14, the rotation hinge comprising an axle, outer wheels, and a main body, the main body comprising an inner bore, the outer wheels comprising outer bores, the axle extending through the inner bore of the main body and the outer bores of the outer wheels.

16. The curling iron of claim 15, the outer wheels fixedly attached to the second end of the handle and the main body fixedly attached to the second end of the rod;

17. The curling iron of claim 16, the outer wheels comprising a first set of openings and a second set of openings, the first and second set of openings equidistant from the outer bores, and the main body comprising a set of pins, the set of pins at least partially embedded in the main body, spring-loaded, and configured to at least partially enter the first set of openings and the second set of openings, the entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings not being simultaneous with entry into the second set of openings.

18. The curling iron of claim 15, the outer wheels fixedly attached to the second end of the rod and the main body fixedly attached to the second end of the handle;

19. The curling iron of claim 18, the main body comprising a first set of openings and a second set of openings, the first and second set of openings equidistant from the inner bore, and a first outer wheel comprising a platform, the platform comprising a set of pins, the set of pins at least partially embedded in the first outer wheel, spring-loaded, and configured to at least partially enter the first set of openings and the second set of openings, the entry of the set of pins into the first set of openings not being simultaneous with entry into the second set of openings.

20. The curling iron of claim 19, the second outer wheel comprising a press-button, the press-button featuring a press-pin, the press-pins configured to press the platform away from the main body.