CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/221,101, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to hair styling devices and, more particularly, to a multi-barrel hair styling appliance configured for use with a plurality of different hair styling methods for imparting different hair styles or effects in a user's hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A variety of hair styling and hair curling devices are known, many of which are based on the principle of coiling strands of hair around a heating unit. Heated styling irons (e.g., hair styling irons) are used to form hair to a wide variety of styles, such as curling hair to impart a curl that does not naturally occur or straightening hair to remove a kink or curl. For example, a circular or semicircular-shaped curl can be created by wrapping hair around the outer surface of a heated cylindrically shaped hair styling iron tip.
Conventional curling irons include a cylindrical curling mandrel that may or may not have a clamping member that fits about a portion of the mandrel. During use, the curling mandrel can be heated and a strand of hair is clamped against the mandrel by the clamping member. Hair can be curled by rotating the mandrel to cause the clamped hair to be wrapped around the mandrel. Heat applied to the mandrel can alter the texture of the hair so as to curl it. After a predetermined amount of time, the clamping member is moved away from the mandrel, and the curled hair is unwound.
Other curling irons utilize multiple barrels arranged in a row, and around which hair can be wrapped for imparting a series of waves or curls in a user's hair. These appliances, however, are still limited in the variety of different effects that can be created, necessitating that a consumer purchase a variety of different devices if it is desired to produce a whole suite of styling effects.
Accordingly, while existing curling irons are generally suitable for what is regarded as ordinary performance, there is room for improvement in terms of overall functionality and performance. In particular, there is a need for a multi-barrel hair styling appliance configured for use with a plurality of different hair styling methods for imparting different hair styles or effects in a user's hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair styling appliance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiple barrel hair styling appliance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiple barrel hair styling appliance that is configured for use with a plurality of different hair styling methods.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiple barrel hair styling appliance that can impart a plurality of different effects in a user's hair including a rolling wave, s-wave, zigzag curl, outward flip, oval crimp, crimp curl, inward flip (or straight curve), and/or straighten.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide various methods of styling, or imparting effects to, a user's hair using a multiple barrel hair styling appliance.
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hair styling appliance includes a handle, a first barrel extending from the handle, a second barrel extending from the handle, the first barrel and the second barrel being disposed in a first plane and being non-moveable with respect to one another, and a third barrel extending from the handle, the third barrel being disposed in a second plane spaced above the first plane. The third barrel is hingedly connected to the handle and moveable between a closed position and an open position.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of styling hair is provided. The method includes the steps of moving a third barrel of a hair styling appliance away from a first barrel and a second barrel to define receiving space therebetween, inserting a strand of hair into the receiving space, and moving the third barrel towards the first barrel and the second barrel to clamp the strand of hair within the receiving space.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a hair styling appliance is provided. The hair styling appliance includes a handle and a plurality of mandrels connected to the handle, including at least a first mandrel and a second mandrel. The first mandrel is moveable with respect to the second mandrel while the second mandrel remains static with respect to the handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair styling appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a closed position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 2, showing a closed position.
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1, showing an open position.
FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1, showing a closed position.
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1, showing a closed position.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1, showing an open position.
FIG. 7 is a top, perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is an end, perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 9-12 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart a rolling wave to a section of a user's hair.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart a S-wave to a section of a user's hair.
FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to straighten a section of a user's hair.
FIG. 17 illustrates use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart an inward flip to a section of a user's hair.
FIG. 18 illustrates use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart a triangle crimp curl to a section of a user's hair.
FIGS. 19-21 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart a zigzag curl to a section of a user's hair.
FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart an inward flip to a section of a user's hair.
FIGS. 24-26 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 to impart an oval crimp curl to a section of a user's hair.
FIG. 27 is a simplified representation of a hair styling appliance according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 28 is a simplified representation of a hair styling appliance according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1-8, a hair styling appliance 10 (also referred to herein as hair styling iron or curling iron 10) according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The hair styling appliance 10 includes a handle 12 and a plurality of elongate mandrels or barrels extending from the handle 12. As used herein, “mandrel” or “barrel” means an elongate member about which strands of hair may be wrapped, and are not intended to confer any specific cross-sectional shape. In an embodiment, there are three barrels 14, 16, 18 that extend from the handle 12, although more or fewer than three barrels may be utilized. Moreover, while FIGS. 1-8 illustrate the barrels 14, 16, 18 as being cylindrical in shape, barrels of almost any other shape including for example, conical/tapered, stepped, wave, spiral, and the like, may be employed, without departing from the broader aspects of the invention.
As best shown in FIG. 8, the barrels 14, 16, 18 are arranged in a triangular configuration when viewed from a distal end of the appliance 10 (such that imaginary lines connecting the respective tangent points of each barrel form a triangle). In particular, and importantly, the lower first and second barrels 14, 16 are spaced from one another slightly in the horizontal direction, aligned with one another in a row, and are rigidly connected to the handle 12. The third, upper barrel 18 is positioned slightly above the lower barrels 14, 16 and located such that a centerline or axis of the third barrel 18 is spaced equidistantly, in the horizontal direction, from a centerline or axis of each barrel 14, 16. In particular, in an embodiment, the first and second barrels 14, 16 are disposed in a first plane, and the third barrel 18 is disposed in a second plane that is vertically offset from the first plane.
As best shown in FIG. 8, the third barrel 18 is slightly nested within a V-shaped groove formed by the outer surfaces of the first and second barrels 14, 16 (such that a horizontal line connecting the uppermost tangent points of the first and second barrels 14, 16 will intersect the third barrel 18). In an embodiment, a horizontal midline of the third barrel is located vertically spaced from the imaginary horizontal line connecting the upper tangent points of the first and second barrels 14, 16). That is, the third barrel 18, in the closed position is not aligned in a row with the first and second barrels 14, 16, but rather is spaced above the first and second barrels in the vertical direction.
In contrast to the first and second barrels 14, 16, the third barrel 18 is pivotally connected to the handle 12 and includes an actuator arm 20 that can be depressed to move the third barrel 18 between a closed position, shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8, where the barrels 14, 16, 18 are parallel to one another, and an open position, shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, where the third barrel 18 is angled with respect to the first and second barrels 14, 16 so that hair can be inserted into a receiving space 19 formed between the third barrel 18, and the first and second barrels 14, 16. In an embodiment, the third barrel is 18 spring biased such that a default position of the third barrel 18 is in the closed position. In use, a user may depress the actuator arm 20 to move the third barrel 18 to the open position against the spring bias. Importantly, in one embodiment, when in the closed position, the third barrel 18 contacts the first barrel 14 and the second barrel 16, for the purposes discussed hereinafter. That is, when in the closed position the third barrel 18 maintains touching contact with both the first barrel 14 and the second barrel 16 throughout the substantial entirety of its longitudinal extend due to its seated position within the V-shaped groove formed by configuration and position of the first and second barrels 14, 16.
As indicated above, and with specific reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the two, spaced apart barrels 14, 16 thus form the bottom of a triangle when viewed from the end (with each barrel 14, 16, 18 being a point in a triangle). The third barrel 18 (the apex of the triangle) is the moveable element, hinged to the handle 12. In the closed position, the triangle remains, and the third barrel contacts with the first and second barrels 14, 16 when in the closed position. The first and second barrels 14, 16 never touch each other and are maintained in static position.
In an embodiment, each of the barrels 14, 16, 18 has a thermally conductive outer surface and contains one or more embedded heating elements configured to heat each respective barrel. For example, each of the barrels 14, 16, 18 is adapted to be selectively heated by a heating means and controls of a conventional type (not shown). The barrels may be made of metals, glass or ceramic, and may be coated with ceramics, porcelain, minerals or other performance-enhancing coatings, including those that emit ions and infrared energy. As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the handle 12 of the hair styling appliance may include a control interface 22 having a plurality of visual indicators and user controls for controlling operation of the hair styling appliance 10. For example, in an embodiment, the hair styling iron 10 may include a power button for turning ON and OFF the device, a LCD or other screen providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of the barrels, as well as one or more buttons that are utilized to selectively increase the temperature of the mandrel barrels.
As also shown in FIGS. 1-6, a power supply or power cord 24 is connected the handle 12 opposite the barrels 14, 16, 18 to provide electrical power to the hair styling appliance 10. The power cord 24 is configured to engage a suitable electrical outlet (e.g., a wall outlet, etc.). However, in other embodiments, any suitable source of electricity may be incorporated into the hair styling appliance 10, including, but not limited to a battery or rechargeable battery. In an embodiment, the power cord 24 is mounted to a hub that is rotatable with respect to the housing or handle 12 to provide for better ergonomics.
Referring now to FIGS. 9-26, the multi-barrel hair styling appliance 10 of the present invention may be utilized to impart a variety of different hair styles or effects in a user's hair including, for example, a rolling wave, a S-wave, an inward flip, an outward flip, a crimp curl, a zigzag curl, an oval crimp, and/or to straighten hair.
FIGS. 9-12 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart a so-called rolling wave to a section 50 of hair. As shown in FIG. 9, as a first step, a user orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally vertically. The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19, as also shown in FIG. 9. A user then releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the barrels are in the closed position). As shown in FIG. 10, the user then rotates or twists the hair styling appliance 10 about a vertical axis 52, e.g., in the direction of arrow, A, in order to wrap the section 50 of hair around the three barrels 14, 16, 18 in a helical or spiral configuration. As shown in FIG. 11, once the section 50 of hair is wrapped entirely around the closed barrels, a user moves the hair styling appliance 10 vertically downward along vertical axis 52 to gently withdraw the appliance from the spiral section 50 of hair (without moving the barrel 18 to the open position). Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, upon completely withdrawing the barrels from the section 50 of hair, a soft (loose), rolling wave 54 is imparted to the section 50 of hair.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart a S-wave to a section 50 of hair. As shown in FIG. 13, as a first step, a user orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned above the first and second barrels 14, 16. A user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The user then releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the closed position). With reference to FIG. 14, the user then rotates the hair styling appliance 10 and barrels thereof in alternating directions (e.g., in the direction of arrow, B, then in the opposite direction, in the direction of arrow, C) while simultaneously, or intermittently or alternatingly, sliding the barrels 14, 16, 18 along the section 50 of hair towards the end thereof. In an embodiment, each alternating rotation may be between about 90 degrees and about 270 degrees and, preferably, about 180 degrees. This method imparts a wave to the entire section 50 of hair (without any helical or spiral twisting).
Turning now to FIGS. 15 and 16, the hair styling appliance 10 is shown as utilized to straighten a section 50 of hair. Similar to the method of FIGS. 13 and 14, a user first orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned above the first and second barrels 14, 16. The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The user then releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the closed position). Lastly, the user slides the barrels 14, 16, 18 along the section 50 of hair towards the end thereof, as shown in FIG. 16, without rotating the appliance, thereby straightening the section (i.e., producing a flat section of hair). As disclosed above, importantly, the third barrel 18 contacts the first and second barrels 14, 16, which functions to heat the section 50 of hair and straighten the section 50 of hair as is it pulled through the contact points between the first barrel 14 and the third barrel 18 and the second barrel 16 and the third barrel 18. As will be appreciated, the hair styling appliance 10 is therefore capable of straightening a section of hair similar to a flat iron. As the round barrels 14, 16, 18 of the appliance 10 are devoid of any sharp edges, however, the section of hair 50 moves much more smoothly through the clamping section of the appliance, resulting in a much straighter and flatter section of hair.
Referring to FIG. 17, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the hair styling appliance 10 may be utilized to impart an inward flip to a section of a user's hair (along with straightening the section 50 of hair). This styling method is similar to the straightening method of FIGS. 15 and 16. Namely, a user first orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned above the first and second barrels 14, 16. The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The user then releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the closed position). Lastly, the user slides the barrels 14, 16, 18 along the section 50 of hair towards the end thereof, as shown in FIG. 17, without rotating the appliance, thereby straightening the section (i.e., producing a flat section of hair). As the styling appliance 10 approaches the end of the section 50 of hair, the user, while the section 50 is still clamped between the third barrel 18 and the first and second barrels 14, 16, rotates the appliance 10 (and thus the barrels thereof) inwardly, in the direction of arrow, D. This action imparts an inward flip or curl at the end of the straightened section 50 of hair.
FIG. 18 illustrates use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart a crimp curl (also referred to herein as a triangle crimp curl to a section of a user's hair). As shown therein, the appliance 10 is placed in the closed position such that all three barrels extend parallel to one another, and a section 50 of hair is wrapped around all three barrels 14, 16, 18 in a helical or spiral manner. Each successive wrap of the section 50 of hair thus includes three linear portions extending between the respective tangent points formed by each barrel 14, 16, 18, with a curve at each apex that corresponds to the radius of each barrel (where the hair contacts and barrels). The successive wraps are then held in place on the heated barrels for a period of time, and then the end of the section is released and the appliance 10 withdrawn, leaving a plurality of crimp curls along the section 50 of hair. In an embodiment, the “tightness” of each crimp curl is determined by the diameter of the barrels of the appliance, such that using smaller diameter barrels will form tighter crimp curls, while using larger diameter barrels will form looser crimp curls.
FIGS. 19-21 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart a zigzag curl in a section 50 of hair. As shown in FIG. 19, a user first orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned below the first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the appliance 10 inverted so that the third barrel 18 is positioned on the bottom). The actuator arm 20 is then depressed to move the third barrel 18 to the open position. As shown therein, the section 50 of hair is then wrapped around only the third barrel 18 in a helical or spiral manner (while maintaining pressure on the actuator arm 20 to maintain the appliance 10 in the open position). As shown in FIG. 20, once the section 50 of hair is wrapped around the third barrel 18, the actuator arm 20 is released, which moves the third barrel 18 into the closed position and clamps the wound section 50 of hair against the first and second barrels 14, 16. In an embodiment, the actuator arm 20 can be periodically depressed to move the third barrel 18 between the closed position and the open position while the section of hair 50 is heated by the third barrel 18. Alternatively, the appliance 10 may be maintained in the closed position throughout the heating period. Finally, as shown in FIG. 21, at the end of the proceed, the hair styling appliance is oriented so that the barrels 14, 16, 18 point generally downward, the actuator arm 20 is depressed to move the appliance 10 to the open position, and the appliance is withdrawn from the section 50 of hair, leaving tight, spiral-like curls 56 in the section 50 of hair.
Turning now to FIGS. 22 and 23, the hair styling appliance 10 may be utilized to impart an outward flip to a section 50 of a user's hair (along with straightening the section 50 of hair). This styling method is similar to the inward flip method of FIG. 17, however, rather than imparting an inward curl at the end of the section of hair, and outward curl is formed. In particular, using the outward flip method, a user first orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned below the first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the appliance 10 is inverted so that the third barrel 18 is on the bottom). The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The user then releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the closed position). The user then slides the barrels 14, 16, 18 along the section 50 of hair towards the end thereof, without rotating the appliance 10, thereby straightening the section 50 (i.e., producing a flat section of hair). As the styling appliance 10 approaches the end of the section 50 of hair, the user, while the section 50 is still clamped between the third barrel 18 and the first and second barrels 14, 16, rotates the appliance 10 (and thus the barrels thereof) outwardly, in the direction of arrow, E. This action imparts an outward flip or curl at the end of the straightened section 50 of hair.
Turning now to FIGS. 24-26, use of the appliance 10 to impart an oval crimp curl is shown. With reference to FIG. 24, a user first orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned above the first and second barrels 14, 16. The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. As shown in FIG. 25, the section 50 of hair is then wrapped around the static first and second barrels 14, 16, but not the third barrel, while maintaining pressure on the actuator arm 20 to maintain the appliance 10 in the open position. The appliance 10 is then held in the open position for a desired duration, and then the end of the section of hair is released and the appliance 10 withdrawn, thereby imparting a plurality of somewhat loose curls 58 to the section 50 of hair, as shown in FIG. 26.
While FIGS. 1-26 illustrate three barrels, with the first and second barrels 14, 16 being static and the third barrel 18 forming the apex of a triangle when viewed from the end and being moveable between and open and closed position, the present invention is not intended to be so limited in this regard. In particular, in other embodiments, a multi-function hair styling appliance may have three barrels (where two of the barrels are moveable), four barrels (where one of the barrels is moveable and the other are static), four barrels (where two of the barrels are moveable and two of the barrels are static), or two barrels (where one of the barrels is moveable and the other barrel is static). For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-26, the first and second barrels 14, 16 may be moveable while the third barrel 18 is static. Alternatively, the first or second barrel 14, 16, and the third barrel 18 may be moveable, while the remaining barrel remains static.
As indicated above, and with reference to FIG. 27, a hair appliance 100 having a first barrel 110, a second barrel 112, a third barrel 114 and a fourth barrel 116 is shown. The hair appliance 100 is generally similar to hair appliance 10 in configuration and operation, although it has four barrels instead of three. In an embodiment, the barrel 110 and barrel 114 are arranged in a first plane, and the barrel 112 and barrel 116 are arranged in a second plane vertically spaced from the first plane. Alternatively, barrels 110, 116 may be arranged in a first plane, while barrels 112, 114 are arranged in a second plane spaced from the first plane. In an embodiment, one of the barrels 110, 112, 114, 116 is moveable (between open and closed positions) while the remainder of the barrels are fixedly connected to the handle 120 and remain static. In another embodiment, two of the barrels (e.g., barrel 110 and 112, or barrel 110 and 114, or barrel 110 and 116, are moveable, while the other barrels remain static). In embodiments, the moveable barrels may be moveable independently of one another or moveable collectively.
FIG. 28 illustrates a two barrel hair styling appliance 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hair appliance 130 is generally similar to hair appliance 10 in configuration and operation, although it has two barrels instead of three. As shown therein, the appliance has a first barrel 132 and a second barrel 134 connected to a handle 136. As alluded to above, one of the first barrel 132 and second barrel 134 is moveable (to open and closed positions) with respect to the other barrel, while the other barrel remains static), to clamp or retain a strand of hair therebetween.
The hair styling appliances of the present invention therefore allow for a variety of different hair styling methods to be carried out using such appliance, each of which produces a slightly different effect in a user's hair. The present invention therefore provides a multi-function hair styling appliance that is much more diverse than existing devices. In particular, while existing device may be capable of being used to impart one or two different styles in a user's hair, typically, numerous different devices of very different design are needed to achieve the various styling effects produced by the multi-barrel, multi-function hair styling appliances of the present invention.
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.
