Hair Styling Heat Protector

Abstract

A device formed from a lightweight, heat resistant material to protect the skin while using a heat generating hair styling device is disclosed. A channel is formed between an inner band and an outer band of the device to facilitate moving hot liquids or gels away from the front of a wearer's face. The rear of the device has a variable connecting structure to facilitate fitting the device to different sized heads.

Description

This application claims priority to provisional application 60/822,939, filed on Aug. 19, 2006, which is incorporated in its entirety herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technology disclosed herein relates generally to the field of hair care and, in particular, to devices used in connection with curling irons and other heat producing products used in hair care such as straightening combs and heated rollers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Using a curling iron can be dangerous work as one navigates around exposed ears, neck and forehead. The iron is hot and the skin of the forehead, ears, and neck is sensitive. Furthermore, even when using a mirror, it is possible to have the hot curling iron come into contact with the skin and cause a scar, or come close enough so that the heat from the iron hurts and leaves the skin irritated.

Therefore there is a need for a way to prevent injury to the skin of the forehead, neck, and ears from heat-producing hair care devices such as curling irons, straightening combs and heated rollers.

Related art that has addressed this problem include the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,296,078, issued to P. Young on Jun. 13, 1940, discloses a shield for protecting the face and neck from hot air while drying hair with a hot air dryer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,840, issued to Stella L. Clavelle on Oct. 14, 1997, discloses a skin heat shielding system comprising an elastic headband member positionable about the head of a user; a forehead shielding member constructed from a heat resistance plastic having a first headband attachment portion and a forehead shielding portion extending outwardly from the headband attachment portion, the first headband attachment portion being detachably securable to a first headband section of the headband member with a first detachable fastening mechanism; a neck shielding member constructed from a heat resistance plastic having a second headband attachment portion and a neck shielding portion extending outwardly from the headband attachment portion at an angle of less than sixty degrees, the second headband attachment portion being detachably securable to a second section of the headband member with a second detachable fastening mechanism; and a pair of ear shield members each having a fabric outer shell that is impregnated with metallic particles and that forms an internal compartment that is accessible through an elasticized opening, a heat insulating inner shell secured within the internal compartment of the outer shell having an ear receiving compartment formed therein that is sized to receive therein the ear of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. D446,609, issued to Regina Ann Hill on Aug. 14, 2001, illustrates a protective headband.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,633, issued to Myra J. Mosely on Jan. 14, 2003, discloses a system of components that cooperate to shield the exposed skin of the ears, forehead and neck against contact by a hot curling iron includes a head band, an ear piece, and neck shield. The ear pieces fit over the ears, cupping the tops and backs of the ears to both protect them and derive support for the system from them. The head band and neck shield attach to ear pieces and are made of a heat resistant fabric. The three components will not prevent burns in every case but can prevent or limit injury from the proximity of the hot curling iron and harm from the occasional, inadvertent touching of the iron.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,347, issued to Jackie L. Brundlidge on Mar. 23, 2004, discloses protective headwear for use under a hair dryer including a strap which extends across the forehead of the wearer. A visor is attached to the bottom of the strap and covers and protects the eyes and nose of the wearer. A pair of earpieces is connected to opposite sides of the forehead strap by means of elastic connectors. Each earpiece has a first section and a bendable end section which extends around an ear of the wearer. Flaps are attached to and hang down from the first section to cover the ears. The forehead strap may be elastic and extendable, and the visor may be fan shaped.

While these patents and other previous methods have attempted to solve the problems that they addressed, none address channeling hot liquids or gels towards the back of a person's head, as does embodiments of the technology disclosed herein.

Therefore, a need exists for a hair styling heat shield with these attributes and functionalities. The hair styling heat shield according to embodiments of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved heir styling heat shield which can be used commercially. In this regard, the technology disclosed herein substantially fulfills these objectives.

The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technology disclosed herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor's claimed invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the technology disclosed herein, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a device that prevents or minimizes burning or irritation of the forehead, neck and ears when using a heat generating hair styling device. In particular, the technology disclosed herein relates to a device that allows the user to deflect the heat from hot hair appliances, e.g. hot combs, curling irons, flat irons, hot rollers, away from the face, forehead, neck and ears while allowing a user to get as close to the root of the hair follicle as possible.

According to its major aspects and briefly described, the technology disclosed herein is a system of components that cooperate with each other to shield the exposed skin of the ears, forehead and neck against contact by a heated hair care device during use. The components are made of a lightweight, heat resistant material, e.g. plastic, silicone, that can be contoured around a user's head.

One of the components is a front shield formed as a visor-like tip that is operable for adjusting up or down depending on the user's needs. When the front shield is in the down position it protects the forehead, sides of the face and ears from coming in contact with a hot air appliance. When the front shield is in the down position it falls just above a user's line of vision, i.e. at the top of the brow area of a user's face.

Another component is a back shield that is operable for adjusting up or down depending on the user's needs. When the back shield is the down position it protects the nape of a neck. The front shield can be in the upright position while the back shield is in the down position, or the position of the front shield and the back shield can match.

Another component is a connecting base formed to allow the front shield and back shield to cooperate with each other. The material for the front shield, back shield and connecting base may be operable for being sanitized, such as when used commercially.

Another component is a pair of adjustable ear protectors which are operable to be moved in different positions along the connecting base. In the preferred embodiment these adjustable ear protectors have a soft material, e.g. foam, which is disposed such as to protect the ears of a user. These adjustable ear protectors protect the user from having the hard edge of the technology disclosed herein cut into the back of the ear as well as make the use of the shield more comfortable.

Another component is liners, attached to the inside of the front shield, the back shield and the connecting base as a cushion for the forehead and neck. The preferred material for the liners is foam. Polished strips of replaceable, i.e. releasable, cardboard may also be used as liners in a commercial environment.

Another component is at least one arrangement of hook and loop fastener, e.g. VELCRO, which adjusts the fit of the technology disclosed herein around a user's head.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the technology disclosed herein. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technology disclosed herein.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technology disclosed herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor's claimed invention.

One aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it prevents getting burned during the use of a heat generating hair styling device.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it reduces the chance of a user getting a lifelong scar of his/her face, ears or neck from using a heat generating hair styling device.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it allows close access to the roots of hair follicles of a user.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it is easy to use.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be made inexpensively.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be made from readily available materials.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be used in a commercial environment.

These and other features and advantages of the technology disclosed herein will be presented in more detail in the following specification of the invention to illustrate the principles of the invention.

There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims to be appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the technology disclosed herein. It is important, therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technology disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The technology disclosed herein, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the simplest form of the technology disclosed herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a rear elevation view of a hair style heat shield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the rear of a hair style heat shield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of the rear of a hair style heat shield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of the rear of a hair style heat shield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technology disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the technology disclosed herein. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the technology disclosed herein may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known operations have not been described in detail so not to unnecessarily obscure the technology disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, in an exemplary embodiment a hair styling heat shield 10 is formed as one piece and is comprised of three elements, an inner band 100, a channel 200 and an outer band 300, where the channel 200 joins the inner band 100 to the outer band 300.

The inner band 100 terminates in a first end 110 and a second end 130. The first end 110 has a male connector 120 disposed at the bottom of the inner band 100 near the first end 110. The inner band 100 has a plurality of a female connector 140 formed in an array starting near the second end 130 and proceeding away from the second end 130 as shown.

In some embodiments the male connector 120 has a sleeve 125 formed approximately midway around the male connector 120 as shown. The sleeve 125 facilitates the releasable securing of the male connector 120 into one of the female connector 140.

In one embodiment the one piece heat resistant hair styling heat protector is formed to be capable of flipping up or down.

In another embodiment the male connector is formed in the shape of a cone with a distal end smaller than a proximal end where the distal end is dimensioned to fit inside the female connector.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, many of the features and components described above in the context of a particular hair styling heat protector configuration can be incorporated into other configurations in accordance with other embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A one piece heat resistant hair styling heat protector comprises

an inner band,

an outer band, and

a channel, where the channel joins the inner band to the outer band,

wherein the inner band terminates in a first end and a second end,

the first end has a male connector disposed at the bottom of the inner band near the first end,

the inner band has a plurality of a female connector formed in an array starting near the second end and proceeding away from the second end.

2. The heat protector of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve formed around the male connector approximately midway around the male connector.

3. The heat protector of claim 1, wherein the heat protector is capable of flipping up or down.

4. The heat protector of claim 2, wherein the heat protector is capable of flipping up or down

5. The heat protector of claim 1, wherein the male connector is formed in the shape of a cone with a distal end smaller than a proximal end where the distal end is dimensioned to fit inside the female connector.

6. The heat protector of claim 1, wherein the channel is capable of guiding a hot liquid or a hot gel away from the face of a wearer.