Split-barrel locking mechanism for hair appliance
A hair-straightening device has a handle, a barrel, a spoon and a thumb rest. The barrel is comprised of an upper barrel and a lower barrel. The thumb rest includes a spoon lock that enables a user to choose between using the hair device as a hair-straightening appliance or as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in a pulled back position, the spoon lock is disengaged from the barrel connector and upper barrel. As such, as the thumb rest is depressed, the hinge pivots about its axis, causing the spoon to open with respect to the barrel. The user can then operate the device as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in the forward position, the spoon lock engages the barrel connector, which is connected to the upper barrel end. As the user depresses the thumb rest, the barrel connector and upper barrel end pivot about the hinge. This causes the entire upper barrel to open, rather than just the spoon. The user can then operate the device as a straightening iron.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/618,461 filed on Oct. 13, 2004, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to hair appliances and, more particularly, to a locking mechanism for a hair-straightening device, especially of the type that enables a user to easily alternate between a hair straightening device and a curling iron.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is known in the art to provide a hair-straightening device having a pair of opposing arms joined by a hinge, in which the arms contain heated plates that are adapted to grip a strand of hair and straighten the hair between the plates through the use of heat and tension. There have been numerous variations manufactured with combs or brushes added adjacent to the plates and variations having steam or ionic features enhancing the heated plates.
It is also known in the art to provide hair-curling devices, which use electrical heating elements to heat a cylindrical surface around which a strand of hair is wrapped to apply heat to the hair. These curling irons also have a spring-biased clamp, having a partial cylindrical section, which engages the cylinder around which the strand of hair is wrapped. The clamp facilitates curling of the hair by holding the hair firmly against the cylinder. The clamp is typically biased against the cylinder and is pivoted away from the cylinder by the pressing of a handle by the user. When the handle on the clamp is released, the clamp engages the cylinder.
While various known hair-straightening devices and hair-curling devices exist generally, there is a need for a device that comprises both a hair straightening-device and a hair-curling device in one easily interchangeable device. Other known devices require using two separate devices for the tasks of straightening hair and curling hair. This increases the cost for having multiple hair appliances as well as taking up more space in an often limited area such as a bathroom or salon area. Such shortcomings make it desirable to provide a mechanism that would conveniently enable a hair appliance to comprise both a hair-straightening device and a hair-curling device in one appliance.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide a hair-styling device that overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hair appliance that combines the features of a hair-straightening device and a hair-curling device in one easily convertible appliance. These and other objects are described below or inherent with respect to the present invention.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a hair-appliance comprises a handle, a barrel, a spoon and a thumb rest. The barrel is comprised of an upper barrel and a lower barrel. The hair appliance can also include an on/off switch, a power indicator, a charging socket and a cool-tip for easier handling of the hair device.
The thumb rest includes a spoon lock that enables a user to choose between using the hair device as a hair-straightening appliance or as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in a pulled back position, the spoon lock is disengaged from the barrel connector and upper barrel. As such, as the thumb rest is depressed, the hinge pivots about its axis, causing the spoon to open with respect to the barrel. The user can then operate the device as a curling iron.
When the thumb rest is in the forward position, the spoon lock engages the barrel connector, which is connected to the upper barrel end. As the user depresses the thumb rest, the barrel connector and upper barrel end pivot about the hinge. This causes the entire upper barrel to open, rather than just the spoon. The user can then operate the device as a straightening iron.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
As shown in
When the switch 52 is in a second position, as shown in
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A hair styling device comprising:
- a barrel including a first portion and a second portion;
- a hinge connecting said first portion and said second portion;
- a clamp member to hold a user's hair; and
- a locking mechanism adapted to be placed in a first position to enable separation of said clamp member from said barrel or a second position to enable separation of said first portion from said second portion.
2. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising
- an actuator to enable a user to separate said clamp member from said barrel when said locking mechanism is in said first position or to separate said first portion from said second portion when said locking mechanism is in said second position.
3. A hair styling device according to claim 2, further comprising
- a connection member extending from said barrel in contact with said actuator.
4. A hair styling device according to claim 3, wherein
- said actuator is unobstructed by said connection member when said locking member is in said first position to enable said clamp member to rotate about a hinge away from said barrel; and
- said actuator is obstructed by said connection member when said locking member is in said second position to enable said first portion to rotate about a hinge away from said second portion.
5. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising
- a spring to bias said first portion away from said second portion.
6. A hair styling device according to claim 5, wherein
- said locking mechanism comprises:
- a latch on one of said first or second portions; and
- a switch and a plate on the other of said first or second portions.
7. A hair styling device according to claim 6, wherein
- said plate obstructs said latch, preventing said first portion from being separated from said second portion, when said switch is in a second position.
8. A hair styling device according to claim 6, wherein
- said latch is unobstructed by said plate, enabling said first portion to be separated from said second portion, when said switch is in a first position.
9. A hair styling device according to claim 1, further comprising
- a first heatable plate on said first arm for contacting a user's hair and a second heatable plate on said second arm for contacting a user's hair.
10. A hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein
- a distal end of said first and/or said second portions are made from a material to maintain said distal end at a temperature lower than said first and/or second portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 13, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 13, 2006
Inventor: Kam Fung (Hong Kong)
Application Number: 11/250,049
International Classification: A45D 1/00 (20060101); A45D 1/04 (20060101);