Ceramic and tourmaline hair appliances

Abstract

A coating mixture is applied to a hair appliance such as a styling iron, a dryer, or a roller by being mixed with a paint or by other known deposition means, and includes a ceramic component and a tourmaline component. Preferably, the ceramic component contains one or more of Silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, Ferrous oxide, Natrium oxide, potassium oxide, Titanium oxide, Calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide. The tourmaline component comprises crushed tourmaline particles of a size and concentration generally known in the art. By applying both components, preferably in the form of a mixed paint, a surface on an appliance or accessory that is adapted to receive heat will emit ions and, due to the known characteristics of both ceramic and tourmaline, will retain and distribute heat efficiently and evenly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/701,167 filed on Jul. 21, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for styling hair including, but not limited to, curling irons, flat irons, dryers and dryer attachments, rollers or curlers and, more particularly, to such devices that are provided with ceramic material components and tourmaline material components that emit ions in concentrations that enhance or improve hair characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known in the art that delivering ions or ionically charged molecules to a person's hair provides benefits including the removal of undesirable static charge that naturally occurs in hair. Furthermore, it is believed that ions purify by removing particles present in the environment. Various hair care and hair styling implements exist such as hair dryers and heated brushes that comprise an ion generator that emits ions in response to electrical energy or heat. For example, known hair dryers and heat brushes contain a metallic node system that delivers ions into the stream of flowing air within the dryer when voltage is applied to the node. Other examples include hair driers that have a ceramic radiator positioned adjacent to a heater such that heat applied to the ceramic causes ions to emit and heat radiates from the ceramic. The use of ceramic coatings in flat irons for straightening hair, as well as curling irons and other devices that contact the hair, is commonly known to provide desirable heat distribution, heat retention, and heat transfer characteristics that evenly, efficiently and predictably deliver heat to hair in comparison to non-coated metals.

Similarly, it is known to use certain minerals in a manner like that described above with respect to ceramic coatings. In particular, the mineral tourmaline has known properties for producing ionically charged molecules and far infra red radiation when applied in such use with hair appliances as described above.

It has been observed, through testing of products and, particularly, measuring ion output using an ionic meter, that varying conditions affect the actual amount of ion output as well as the time it takes to produce ion output and the temperature and airflow ranges at which ion output is optimal. Such factors include heat and airflow characteristics of a dryer, heat characteristics of an iron in terms of both temperature and time to reach a predetermined temperature, ambient temperature, ambient humidity, surface area of the surface or object being heated to emit ions, and other factors. It is therefore difficult to design a product for optimal performance since all performance-affecting factors are not constant and cannot be anticipated in every case. Thus, one cannot determine if ceramic is best suited or if tourmaline is best suited for a particular product, particularly if the product has various operational settings. Known devices have a relatively narrow bandwidth of conditions in which optimal ion output is achieved.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ceramic-tourmaline mixed coating to any one of a variety of hair appliances or accessories such that, under a wide variety of conditions including heating characteristics of an appliance and surrounding temperature and humidity, an optimal ionic discharge can be achieved.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.

According to the present invention, a coating mixture that can be applied by being mixed with a paint or by other known deposition means, includes a ceramic component and a tourmaline component. Preferably, the ceramic component contains one or more of Silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, Ferrous oxide, Natrium oxide, potassium oxide, Titanium oxide, Calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide. The tourmaline component comprises crushed tourmaline particles of a size and concentration generally known in the art. By applying both components, preferably in the form of a mixed paint, a surface on an appliance or accessory that is adapted to receive heat will emit ions and, due to the known characteristics of both ceramic and tourmaline, will retain and distribute heat efficiently and evenly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a process of forming a ceramic and tourmaline coating and applying it to a hair appliance in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a process of applying a coating in accordance with the present invention. Reference numerals correspond to each step described. A coating mixture (10) is applied to a hair appliance (12) such as a styling iron, a dryer, or a roller by being mixed with a paint (14) or by other known deposition means, and includes a ceramic component (16) and a tourmaline component (18). Preferably, the ceramic component (16) contains one or more of Silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, Ferrous oxide, Natrium oxide, potassium oxide, Titanium oxide, Calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide. The tourmaline component (18) comprises crushed tourmaline particles of a size and concentration generally known in the art. By applying both components, preferably in the form of a mixed paint (10), a surface on an appliance (12) or accessory that is adapted to receive heat will emit ions and, due to the known characteristics of both ceramic and tourmaline, will retain and distribute heat efficiently and evenly.

It is understood that the present invention is not in any way limited to any specific type of appliance or accessory for the hair and, thus, may be implemented with both heated hair appliances and non-heated appliances that are used in cooperation with heated appliances. While the preferred embodiment contemplates mixing the ceramic and tourmaline components with a paint to facilitate application, it is understood that other means of depositing the two components may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) A hair appliance comprising

a heating surface; and

a coating applied to said heating surface, said coating comprising a ceramic component; and a tourmaline component.

2) A hair appliance according to claim 1, wherein

said ceramic component comprises one or more substances selected from the following: silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, ferrous oxide, natrium oxide, potassium oxide, titanium oxide, calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide.

3) A hair appliance according to claim 2, wherein

said tourmaline component comprises crushed tourmaline particles.

4) A coating for a heating surface on a hair appliance, said coating comprising

a ceramic component; and

a tourmaline component.

5) A hair appliance according to claim 4, wherein

said ceramic component comprises one or more substances selected from the following: silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, ferrous oxide, natrium oxide, potassium oxide, titanium oxide, calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide.

6) A hair appliance according to claim 5, wherein

said tourmaline component comprises crushed tourmaline particles.