HEATED HAIR CURLER FOR EVEN CURLING OF HAIR

Abstract

A device for curling hair comprised of an elongated cylindrical body member with heat-resistant handles on both ends and a housing unit located between the two ends. The cylindrical body is constructed of a conductive material. The cylindrical body further has on its surface a means for evenly spacing the hair to be heated, and is preferably comprised of a raised spiral groove made of a non-conductive medium. In a preferred embodiment, the device is operated with at least one hand on either of the heat-resistant handles and by the act of winding the hair around the cylindrical body. The device is heated using electrical power, which in the present embodiment is supplied by an electrical cord but may also be supplied by alternate power sources. The device facilitates even curling of the hair across the head, thereby reducing the time and energy involved in using a traditional hair curler.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the area of hair styling and more specifically to a new heated hair curler allowing for even curling of portions of hair using a novel spacing mechanism as well as a stationary, non-roller action that together allow for symmetrical curling of hair over the entire head.

2. Description of Related Art

Numerous heated hair curling mechanisms exist which serve to allow the user to change the shape and appearance of hair. More specifically, these existing mechanisms employ the fundamental principle of attaching hair to a heating unit and subsequently using a rolling motion to wrap the hair around the heating unit in order to achieve a curled appearance in the hair. Many of these devices employ a clamping device to keep the hair in place while it is rolled, heated and shaped into a helical curl.

Some models utilize a single handle to facilitate rolling of the hair around a heated end at the opposite end. Many such devices use a pressure lever mechanism to secure hair against the heating unit, thereby limiting the size of the available heated portion Certain models employ a spiral or bristle functionality in order to further shape or concurrently comb the hair. These models require the user to focus on one side of the head at a time, which takes a significant amount of time and often results in asymmetrical curls.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,949 to Julemont discloses a heating hair curler with a fixed and mobile spiral profile used together to heat a lock of hair on at least two sides at the same time. This system does not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,215 to Cafaro discloses a heated hair curling brush with a lighting means enclosed in the barrel and a means for forcing hot air through the device in order to brush and blow hair simultaneously. This system does not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,562 to Takimae discloses an electric curling iron with a clamping mechanism designed to press hair to be curled against the electrically heated rod. This system does not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,092 to Manabe et al. discloses an electrically heated hair curling iron with a rechargeable storage battery for heating hair without the need for a corded power supply. This system does not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. application Ser. No. 10/821,109 to Cafaro et al. discloses various hair styling devices with ion generators. This system does not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. application Ser. No. 10/155,051 to Huntley discloses a spiral curling iron with an elongated heating element containing a helical groove and clamp that together place spiral curls into hair. This system does not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to improve upon existing heated hair curling irons by providing a means whereby hair may be curled evenly on all sides of the head without using a rolling motion. Moreover, the present invention improves upon the prior art by allowing for more hair to be heated with a single motion, thereby minimizing time and electricity. The absence of a traditional elongated handle mechanism on the device provides additional heated surface area and serves to increase the amount of hair that may be curled at one time. The spacing mechanism of the device further serves to heat sections of hair more thoroughly, as it ensures that small, even sections or hair contact the heated cylindrical body.

The present invention discloses a heated hair curler comprising a cylindrical body with two heat-resistant handles at opposite ends of the cylindrical body, a non-conductive means for spacing the hair positioned on the surface of the cylindrical body, characterized by the fact that the cylindrical body is heated by means of an electrical heating unit. The electrical heating unit provides energy in the form of heat to the cylindrical body but not to the handles or the spacing means contained on the cylindrical body. The heating unit is activated by a control panel located on the heated hair curler, which further comprises a temperature control mechanism. The device is operated by taking sections of hair from either side of the head and wrapping the hair around the sections of the cylindrical body created by the non-conductive spacer, thereby forming curled sections of hair on both sides of the head. This particular functionality improves upon the prior art by reducing the time and electrical energy required to heat sections of hair over a more extensive area and in an even, symmetrical manner.

One particular feature of the invention illustrates that the heated cylindrical body is capped on both ends by a small heat-resistant handle, thereby allowing the user to grip the device at either end without fear of causing injury, namely a burn injury to the skin. The placement of the non-conductive handles further allows the user to engage in either-handed wrapping of the sections of hair around the heated cylindrical body, thereby exerting more control and precision with regard to the curling of hair.

One additional feature of the invention illustrates that the non-conductive raised spiral groove placed around the entirety of the heated cylindrical body ensure that proper spacing of the hair occurs, thereby minimizing over- or under-heating of any one section of hair. The non-conductive raised spiral groove spacers further ensure that even heating of hair is achieved.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the unique placement of the two heat-resistant handles at either end of the cylindrical body maximizes the length of the conductive surface, thereby allowing hair from various parts of the head to be heated simultaneously. In turn, this allows for symmetrical curling of hair around the head, alleviating a need in the art for a hair curler that can satisfactorily heat hair evenly across the head.

Finally, also according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the unique placement of the two heat-resistant handles at either end of the cylindrical body maximizes the length of the conductive surface that may be used to heat sections of hair. This feature improves upon prior art by allowing faster and more efficient curling of the hair on the entire head, thereby resulting in savings of time and money to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the heated curler for even curling of hair in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the heat-resistant control unit placed midway between the end handles in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the on/off switch and corresponding LED indicator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the temperature control dial in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled heat-resistant control unit placed midway between the end handles in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the electrical cord connected to a power supply such as a standard 125V AC power socket in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the conductive barrel comprising the cylindrical body of the instant device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the helically-shaped non-conductive means for spacing hair in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled cylindrical body composed of a helically-shaped non-conductive means for spacing hair placed around the conductive barrel in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed and described, it should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heated hair curler for even curling of hair according to the present invention comprises a barrel-shaped heating unit of essentially cylindrical shape 1 with two heat-resistant handles on either end 3. The heat-resistant handles 3 are attached to the cylindrical body by means of attachment commonly known to one of skill in the art and may be comprised of any non-conductive material.

The cylindrical heating unit 1 further comprises a non-conductive means for spacing hair 2 along the length of the cylindrical heating unit 1. In a preferred embodiment, the non-conductive means for spacing hair 2 is a raised spiral attached to the cylindrical heating unit 1, where the spaces created by the spiral may be of any desired measurement.

FIG. 7 shows the cylindrical heating unit 1 in the preferred embodiment, and it further illustrates that the cylindrical heating unit 1 possesses a smooth surface that does not cause hair to be caught upon it. FIG. 8 shows a stand-alone view of the non-conductive means for spacing hair 2 in the raised spiral formation of the preferred embodiment, wherein the spacing between the spiral grooves may be of any measurement necessary to achieved the desired hair curling effect. FIG. 9 shows the cylindrical heating unit 1 with the non-conductive means for spacing hair 2 positioned around the diameter of the barrel, wherein the spiral grooves of the preferred embodiment are evenly spaced along the length of the cylindrical heating unit 1 but may alternatively be spaced in any manner desirable to the user.

The cylindrical heating unit 1 is further comprised of an electrical heating unit 4, which in the preferred embodiment is located midway between the two heat-resistant handles 3, but alternatively may be located at any point along the cylindrical heating unit 1. The electrical heating unit 4 is attached to the cylindrical heating unit 1 by means known to one of skill in the art, and in a preferred embodiment is attached so as to permit placement of hair around the cylindrical heating unit 1 during the act of using the invention. The electrical heating unit 4 provides electrical power to the conductive cylindrical heating unit 1, thereby causing the latter to become heated. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical heating unit 4 fits around the cylindrical heating unit 1 and should be comprised of a non-conductive material suitable for housing the electrical control mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical heating unit 4 is preferably a smooth, rounded housing that fits around the diameter of the cylindrical heating unit 1; alternately, the electrical heating unit 4 may be comprised of any suitable material and in any shape which allows connection to the cylindrical heating unit 1 without the entry of heat therein.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the degree to which the cylindrical heating unit 1 is warmed is controlled by the temperature control mechanism 6 contained within—and visible on the surface of—the electrical heating unit 4. The temperature control mechanism 6 may be in the form of a manual dial, a digital entry device, or any other means for selecting a desired heating temperature. The precise temperatures to which the device may be heated are those temperatures known to one of ordinary skill in the art to be effective at quickly heating hair without causing damage or burn. As shown in FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment comprises a manual temperature control mechanism 6 in the form of a dial, but may alternatively comprise any type of control mechanism.

The electrical heating unit 4 is further comprised of a power control switch 7, which serves to allow or disallow electrical current to be applied to the cylindrical heating unit 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the power control switch 7 may be a manual sliding switch that oscillates between “on” and “off” positions; alternately, the power control switch 7 may be a binary push button or any other kind of control system. In conjunction with the power control switch 7, the invention comprises a power indicator 9 that serves to indicate whether power is being supplied to the invention at any given point in time. In the preferred embodiment, the power indicator 9 comprises a light-emitting diode (“LED”) semiconductor light source, but may alternately comprise any type of indicator. The fully-assembled electrical heating unit 4 of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 5.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the electrical heating unit 4 may be attached to a power supply by means of an electrical supply cord 5, with attachment occurring at any point on the electrical heating unit 4. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical heating unit 4 is connected to the electrical supply cord 5 by means of a flexible joint 8 that preserves the integrity of the connection while the device is in use. As shown in FIG. 6, the preferred embodiment comprises an electrical supply cord 5 of variable length that may be connected to a standard 125 V AC power supply. Alternately, the invention may be powered by battery or any other form of electrical input.

Claims

1. A hair curler comprising:

a cylindrical barrel;

a handle extending from each end of said cylindrical barrel, wherein said handle is resistant to heat;

a heater within said cylindrical barrel adapted to provide heat to said cylindrical barrel;

a spacing mechanism positioned on the surface of said cylindrical barrel;

a control unit located along the length of said cylindrical barrel.

2. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical barrel is comprised of a conductive material.

3. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said spacing mechanism is resistant to heat.

4. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said control unit directs said heater within said cylindrical barrel.

5. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said spacing mechanism is in the shape of a spiral that is raised above the surface of said cylindrical barrel.

6. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said spacing mechanism may be adjusted to control the width of the spaces created by said spacing mechanism.

7. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is located midway between each of said heat-resistant end handles.

8. A hair curler according to claim 1, further comprising a first manually operated power control for providing power to said hair curler to cause said cylindrical barrel to heat.

9. A hair curler according to claim 8, wherein said power is supplied by a standard 125-Volt AC electrical outlet.

10. A hair curler according to claim 8, further comprising an electrical cord attached to said control unit for the purpose of supplying said power.

11. A hair curler according to claim 8, further comprising a second manually operated power control for adjusting the intensity and degree of heat provided to said cylindrical barrel.

12. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein a user manually applies one or more strand of hair to said cylindrical barrel.

13. A hair curler according to claim 12, wherein a user maintains one hand on either of said heat-resistant handles.