Abstract: The invention concerns a device (10) for treating the hair, comprising two arms (12, 4) that are able to move relative to one another between a first opened configuration for inserting hair between the arms (12, 14) and a second closed configuration for treating the hair, at least one of the arms (12, 14) comprising: —a shell, —a support housed in said shell, —a treatment plate supported by the support, —an electrical heating element received in a housing defined between the support and an inner face of the treatment plate, —a first sealing element sandwiched between the support and the treatment plate, —a second sealing element, wherein the second sealing element is sandwiched between the support and the shell.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a heat level of a hair care appliance is provided. The hair care appliance includes a heating element configured to heat to a plurality of heat levels and a touchscreen comprising a user interface. The appliance is configured to receive a user selection of one or more hair parameters via the user interface, determine a heat level corresponding to the selected one or more hair parameters, and control the heating element to cause the heating element to heat to the determined heat level.

Abstract: A back board and a method of holding a skateboard on a person's back are described. A back board can include a magnet infused skateboard or a magnet mounting assembly, attached to a skateboard. A back-mounted magnet infused holster, wherein, wearing the back-mounted magnet infused holster under or over clothing, the first magnet in or on the skateboard is configured so that together with the second magnet in the holster, the skateboard will hold to the back of ones back when placed.

Abstract: A hair dryer system includes a hands-free dryer having a base, an air flow generator that causes an air flow, and a heating element in contact with the air flow. The hands-free dryer includes a nozzle through which the air flow exits the hair dryer, and an actuator that is physically coupled to the base and to the nozzle, and that moves the nozzle in at least one degree of freedom relative to the base. The hands-free dryer includes an actuator driver circuit that drives the actuator according to a user-selected one of a plurality of stored alternative user-selectable oscillation modes. The hair dryer system also includes a user interface, optionally pertaining to a hair-styling tool, that is in communication with the actuator driver circuit. The communication identifies to the actuator driver circuit the user-selected one of the plurality of stored alternative user-selectable oscillation modes.

Abstract: A hair dryer system includes a hands-free dryer having a base, an air flow generator that causes an air flow, and a heating element in contact with the air flow. The hands-free dryer includes a nozzle through which the air flow exits the hair dryer, and an actuator that is physically coupled to the base and to the nozzle, and that moves the nozzle in at least one degree of freedom relative to the base. The hands-free dryer includes an actuator driver circuit that drives the actuator according to a user-selected one of a plurality of stored alternative user-selectable oscillation modes. The hair dryer system also includes a user interface, optionally pertaining to a hair-styling tool, that is in communication with the actuator driver circuit. The communication identifies to the actuator driver circuit the user-selected one of the plurality of stored alternative user-selectable oscillation modes.

Abstract: A back board and a method of holding a skateboard on a person's back are described. A back board can include a magnet infused skateboard or a magnet mounting assembly, attached to a skateboard. A back-mounted magnet infused holster, wherein, wearing the back-mounted magnet infused holster under or over clothing, the first magnet in or on the skateboard is configured so that together with the second magnet in the holster, the skateboard will hold to the back of ones back when placed.

Abstract: A hands-free motion tracking hair dryer system may include a base, an air flow generator, a conduit through which the air flow passes, and a heating element to selectively heat the air flow. The conduit may be coupled to the air flow generator and channel the air flow to an outlet nozzle, and includes a telescoping joint between the air flow generator and the outlet nozzle. The system includes an actuator that changes the length of the conduit at the telescoping joint while the air flow is passing therethrough, and a motion tracker that can sense a motion of the user. An actuator control circuit drives the actuator based on the motion sensed by the motion tracker, to adjust the conduit length in response to the motion of the user.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (10) for treating the hair, comprising two arms (12, 4) that are able to move relative to one another between a first opened configuration for inserting hair between the arms (12, 14) and a second closed configuration for treating the hair, at least one of the arms (12, 14) comprising: —a shell, —a support housed in said shell, —a treatment plate supported by the support, —an electrical heating element received in a housing defined between the support and an inner face of the treatment plate, —a first sealing element sandwiched between the support and the treatment plate, —a second sealing element, wherein the second sealing element is sandwiched between the support and the shell.

Abstract: A curling iron having a handle, a heated barrel rotatable relative to the handle, a spring loaded clamp, and a motor coupled between the handle and the barrel and rotating the barrel in at least one of two directions relative to the handle. A motor control switch that enables and disables the rotation of the barrel and a rotation sensor coupled to the motor control switch to sense the initial direction of rotation of the handle. A motor control circuit is coupled to the motor, the motor control switch, and the rotation sensor, and the motor control circuit causes the barrel to rotate in an initial direction after rotation of the barrel has been enabled and rotation of the handle has been detected. The motor control circuit can cause the barrel to stop rotating once rotation of the barrel has thereafter been disabled.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing database functions in a system of database devices includes performing database management tasks for a database on a first device connected to a network. The first device is designated a database host. Data file storage and retrieval tasks for the database are sent to a second device connected to the network. The second device is designated an off-host storage device. The first device may be a database server appliance, which includes a processor; a database server process, a special purpose operating system and non-volatile storage. The database server process persistently stores data files for the database on a second device connected to the database server appliance over a network. The special purpose operating system has features and configuration that are dictated by the database server and supporting components.