Abstract: A portable apparatus for generating vapor for a facial sauna includes a housing enclosing a vented liquid storage tank having an inlet for receiving liquid to be vaporized and an outlet. An electrically heated vapor generator is located in the housing and receives liquid from the tank outlet through an electrically operated diaphragm pump for producing vapor which is discharged from an vapor outlet in the housing. The housing includes an elastic wall portion immediately adjacent and confronting the diaphragm operating armature of the pump. The elastic housing portion is manually displaceable inwardly of the housing for displacement of the pump diaphragm by the armature to prime the pump. An adjustable control is provided for regulating the pumping rate of the pump. The vapor generator is provided with anti-sputter baffles to prevent liquid droplets from being discharged with the vapor.

Abstract: A diffusion device is provided within or as an attachment to the nozzle of a hair dryer which provides a nearly constant air volume at varying velocities. A hair dryer improvement for varying the air flow output from the hair dryer nozzle. The improvement is a diffusion device which consists of a pair of vanes pivotally mounted downstream of the nozzle. Placement of the vanes in varying positions causes the output air flow to be either concentrated along the nozzle axis or diffused by causing varying portions of the air flow to be directed through the peripheral side wall of the diffusion device. Since the diffusion device offers very little obstruction to the air flow, the volume of air remains nearly constant for the varying diffuser vane positions.

Abstract: An improved therapeutic vibration device using dual motors and rotating discs having eccentric weights. The rotating discs have slightly different effective diameters and are mutually frictionally connected by either providing the rims thereof with a different number of gear teeth or with an elastomeric or other friction material. A vibrational device having such separated motors can be enclosed in a cushion or pillow for convenient use by an individual.

Abstract: There is disclosed massage mechanisms comprising one or more drivers having an angled socket on the end of each driver. The socket has a massage head rotatably engaged therewith by means of a post fixed essentially perpendicularly to the back of the massage head. The massage heads are generally conical in shape and can have collars around the periphery and downward from the base. The socket is angled to a degree which results in the axis of the head and the axis of the driver guide shaft intersecting at a point on the massage head or the driver. The diameter of the post on the massage head is less than the inside diameter of the socket. In operation the edges of the massage head rise and fall about 26.degree.-30.degree. in an undulating motion without imparting rotational motion while imparting a kneading, massaging action. The driver rotates at about 60-70 RPM which enables the massaging action to be synchronized to the heartbeat.

Abstract: An electrically heated, hand-held portable facial sauna appliance has a top air inlet, side air inlet, an air flow adjustment arrangement and a fan to mix ambient air with steam generated from a quantity of water contained in an internal steam generating chamber having an associated electric heater and a bottom fill opening such that the appliance must be inverted to fill the chamber with water. A water trap and overflow arrangement in the container ensures that the chamber cannot be overfilled and enables the appliance to be overturned during use without leaking. The appliance is provided with attachments in the form of a facial mask, concentrator tube, brush and sponge, each designed to fit over a steam-air mixture outlet and control the quantity of air entering through the top air inlet.

Abstract: A telescoping electric hair curling iron includes a molded hollow handle of plastic material having front and rear openings and a longitudinally extending thumb-operated cantilever spring element integrally molded as part of the handle wall. The forward end of the cantilever spring element is downwardly bent to form a depressible thumb button immediately adjacent the front handle opening for operating a spring-biased elongated hair gripping clip pivotally mounted on an electrically heated hair curling rod arranged for slidable telescopic movement through the front opening between a retracted storage position within the handle and an extended operative position outside the handle when the curling rod is in the operative position. The curling rod as heated by a PTC heating element therein. A swivel cord connector is mounted on the inner end of the curling rod and is slidable therewith within the handle and in the retracted position of the curling rod extends out the rear handle opening.

Abstract: A lockable rotatable heated curling brush which is used for styling and curling hair includes a rod housing which serves as a handle, an inner tube fixedly connected to said handle and protruding therefrom, a heater inside said inner tube electrically connected to a swivel cord, and an outer tube rotatably supported by said inner tube, said outer tube having a round brush on the outer surface thereof. The outer tube is held in the handle by a circular guide in front which mates with a notched flange at the rear of the outer tube. There is a spring latch device which locks or frees the outer tube so it can rotate. The inner tube within the outer tube is aluminum and is in heat conducting relationship with the heater and the outer tube.

Abstract: A hair dryer, the temperature of the air stream from which is automatically controlled by the temperature of the hair being dried, is provided. The dryer includes a primary air inlet, a fan for blowing inlet air out of the dryer, and a heater by which the blown air is heated before it is directed against a user's hair. The dryer also includes a feedback air duct and a thermistor positioned in the duct to sense the temperature of the air being reflected off the user's hair as it is dried. In accordance with the temperature of the reflected air, the thermistor changes resistance, which change is sensed by an integrated circuit zero crossing switch that electronically signals a thyristor causing the thyristor either to switch off or proportionally reduce the power to the heater, and therefore the amount of heat energy input in the blown air.

Abstract: An appliance or device for treating hair includes a tubular barrel containing a generator for heat and vapor and a plurality of hair winding mandrels which are slidably mounted over the tubular barrel. The mandrels have different external sizes and configurations, but have interior structures which, though they may differ, allow each mandrel to be used with the same tubular barrel. A mandrel for straightening strands of hair when moved relative to the strands and for waving strands of hair when held stationary relative to the strands is provided. The mandrel is adapted to be removably associated with the tubular barrel. In the preferred embodiment, the mandrel is comprised of a heat-treating surface having a sinusoidal configuration. Apertures through the surface convey vapor from the vapor generator in the tubular barrel to the strands of hair engaged therewith.

Abstract: A salon-type hair drying device is provided, which is easily collapsable when the device is not in use. The device includes a hair dryer in a storage case. Attachable to the hair dryer is a bonnet through a stem plenum portion of which heated air from the dryer is directed into its head surrounding portion and onto a person's hair to be dried. The bonnet is maintained in place on the person's head, without otherwise being held, by a support member that attaches to the dryer and extends through the bonnet's stem plenum portion. When the device is not in use, the support member, which is preferably made of a tape measure type metal, is rolled up with the bonnet and stored in the case with the dryer.

Abstract: An appliance is provided which is capable of transmitting heat retained therein to cooked food placed in the appliance, so that the food can be kept hot when an electrical cord used for initially causing the appliance to be electrically heated is disconnected therefrom. The appliance includes an outer casing and a removable cover, both of which are made of materials that retard heat loss from the appliance, preferably non-metallic materials. It further includes a housing enclosed by the casing and cover and made of a non-metallic material, such as plastic, in which a non-metallic heat retaining material, such as wax, is confined. Disposed throughout the heat retaining material is a resistance heater, which is removably connected to the electrical cord for melting the material, so that the heat of fusion of the melted material may be transmitted into the food to reduce its cooling rate after the heater is disconnected from the cord.

Abstract: An electrically heatable article containing a layer of wax and adapted to conform to the shape of a body surface, when the wax is melted, for thereafter treating the body surface with the heat of fusion of the wax. In an article, such as a head treatment cap, the wax is contained in a layer of modules arranged near the scalp side of the cap, a resistance heating element is provided for initially heating the wax to its melting point, and insulation is provided for preventing heat loss through the outside of the cap.

Abstract: An appliance or device for treating hair includes a tubular barrel containing a generator for heat and vapor and a plurality of hair winding mandrels which are slidably mounted over the tubular barrel. The mandrels have different external sizes and configurations, but have interior structures which, though they may differ, allow each mandrel to be used with the same tubular barrel.

Abstract: An electrical connector for attaching an electrical cord to an electrical appliance is provided. The connector has an ejector which allows for one hand disengagement of the connector and cord from the appliance. The ejector has a first portion movable through and out of the connector and an integral hinge shaped second portion. By application of finger pressure on the second portion to flatten it, the first portion is moved out of the connector and against the appliance causing an oppositely directed movement of the connector, thereby disengaging the connector and cord from the appliance.

Abstract: A foot massager and bath is disclosed in which either a massage or a heated bath or both are optionally available to the user. The bath is maintained in temperature by an element protruded through the wall of the unit to provide a metal-to-bath heat exchange and is shielded from the user's feet by a grille portion of the unit. A vibrating massage is provided by an electrical vibrator mounted on a plane above the plane of the deck upon which the feet are rested and which is coupled to the deck at a point substantially below the foot plane to provide a variable-direction motion of the foot plane area and a consequent variation in the vibrations imparted to the feet. A variable-capacity mount is disclosed which supports the unit on a surface by means of a variable-contoured elastomeric support under differing weight circumstances to provide increased stiffness in the support to accommodate an increased load from within the unit.

Abstract: An appliance or device for treating hair includes a tubular barrel containing a generator for heat and vapor and a plurality of hair winding mandrels which are selectively slidably mounted over the tubular barrel. The mandrels have different external sizes and configurations, but have interior structures which, though they may differ, allow each mandrel to be used with the same tubular barrel. In one embodiment, the vapor and heat are conveyed from the tubular barrel to the exterior surfaces of the mandrels to treat hair by fins which form ducts within the mandrels that extend radially inwardly toward the tubular barrel. There are apertures both in the mandrels and the tubular barrel with which the ducts register to convey the vapor. Pivoted to each mandrel by means of a sliding pivot is a clip having a clamping portion for initially engaging hair before the hair is wound around the mandrel.

Abstract: A thermal hair styling appliance includes interchangeable attachments, such as hair retaining clips, comb-brush clips or other types of attachments which are selectively attached to an operating button that is pivoted on a handle of the appliance. The appliance further includes a main electric heater which is controlled by a thermostat which, in turn, responds to a pair of auxiliary heaters. By selectively energizing the auxiliary heaters, the temperature of the main heater is controlled. A versatile hair styling appliance is thus provided. According to one embodiment, the operating button includes at least one projection which engages a slot in the end of the attachment being used. The attachment is held within the button by detents which engage other slots in the end of the attachment.