PORTABLE HAIR CARE PRODUCT WITH DIGITAL MUSIC CAPABILITIES

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable hair care product that is configured to store, receive, and play music such as in an electronic format. A portable hair care device comprises a grasping region sized and shape to be grasped and held by the hand of a user such that the user can carry the hair care product. The device also includes an internal speaker, a digital storage element configured to store a digital music file, and a processor configured to process the digital music file and send a signal to the internal speaker for playing music from the digital music file.

Description

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT

This application claims priority of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/379,132, entitled PORTABLE HAIR CARE PRODUCT WITH DIGITAL MUSIC CAPABILITIES and filed on Sep. 1, 2010. The disclosure of the Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to beauty care products and more particularly relates to a portable hair care product.

Various portable devices, such as blow dryers, flat irons, steamers, or curling irons can be used to style a person's hair. A person may often spend a great amount of time each day using such portable hair care devices to style his or her hair. It can be desirable, while using such devices, to also take advantage of the time by performing another activity, such as listening to music. In order to listen to music while styling hair, a person will typically place a separate music player, such as a radio, CD player, etc., in the room where the styling is taking place. This can be inconvenient as it requires extra time and space to arrange for such a music player.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device for use in styling one's hair that is configured to play music without requiring the user to attach separate device such as an external speaker. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved hair care device that is adapted to play music.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a portable hair care product that is configured to store, receive, and play music such as in an electronic format. In an embodiment, there is disclosed a portable hair care device, comprising: a grasping region sized and shape to be grasped and held by the hand of a user such that the user can carry the hair care product; an internal speaker; a digital storage element configured to store a digital music file; and a processor configured to process the digital music file and send a signal to the internal speaker for playing music from the digital music file.

Various embodiments of the portable hair care device are described below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of various embodiments, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the disclosed devices and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable hair care device configured to play digital music files.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a set of playback controls of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present subject matter is further described, it is to be understood that this subject matter described herein is not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used here in is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which this subject matter belongs.

As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable hair care device comprised of a flat iron 105. Although described herein in the context of being a flat iron, it should be appreciated that the portable hair care device can be any of a variety of portable, hand held hair care devices including, for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, hair rods, tongs, etc. The musical playing capabilities of the flat iron 105 could be adapted for other portable hair care products. The flat iron 105 includes a communication port 110 that is configured to receive electronic data, such as music data. In an embodiment, the music data is configured pursuant to digital audio encoding, including MP3, MP4, as well as any other electronic music format. The flat iron 105 includes internal components that are configured to read, decode, and play the music data to produce an audio signal that is played on a speaker coupled to the flat iron 105. The speaker can be contained within an outer housing of the flat iron such that there is no requirement to couple an external speaker to the flat iron.

The flat iron 105 has a size and shape that is configured such that a human user can grasp and hold the flat iron in his or her hand. In this regard, the flat iron 105 has a handle region 115 that is sized and shaped to be held by a user. The flat iron 105 further includes a pair of arms 120 that are pivotably connected to one another at a first end of the device. In this regard, the arms can be pivoted toward or away from one another to grasp and release hair positioned between the arms 120.

With reference still to FIG. 1, heating elements 125 are positioned on internal surfaces of the arms 120. When hair is positioned between the arms and the arms 120 are moved toward one another, the heating elements 125 heat and straighten the hair in a well-known manner. The flat iron 105 includes a power source that is configured to provide electrical power to the components of the flat iron. The power source can be an alternating current source or it may be a direct current source. The flat iron 105 can include a removable or permanent battery.

A set of music playback controls 130 is located on the flat iron 105, such as on one of the arms. The controls 130 include one or more user input elements, such as buttons, that can be used to control playback of the music audio files contains in the flat iron 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the controls 130 are located on the surface of one of the arms 120. It should be appreciated that the controls can be positioned at any of a wide variety of locations on the flat iron 105.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the set of controls 130. The controls 130 may include any of a variety of buttons, including a play button, fast forward button, rewind button, next/previous track button, stop button, etc. The buttons may be hard buttons that can be mechanically manipulated (such as pressed) to control music playback. In another embodiment, the buttons may be virtual buttons that are displayed on a touch screen such as an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or other type of screen. The touch screen can be configured to display the buttons in a variety of formats. Any means for accepting user input regarding control of music playback can be used.

With reference still to FIG. 2, the communication port 110 can be any type of port that is configured to receive or transmit electronic data including digital audio files. In an embodiment, the port 110 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port that can receive a USB cable or USB thumb drive. The port 110 is coupled to internal electronic components configured to send, receive, and store digital audio files. In this regard, the flat iron 105 includes an internal memory on which electronic data, such as digital audio files, can be stored and accessed by the flat iron electronic components. The internal memory and electronic components are coupled to the speaker for playing the audio files over the speaker using the controls 130.

The flat iron may also include an external stereo jack such that the flat iron can be attached to an external stereo. This would permit the user to broadcast t audio digital signal with the digital music file over a stereo or karaoke machine, for example.

The flat iron 105 can also include an interface jack for connection with a personal computer such as a USB jack, and may include a means to attach a removable flash memory cartridge or a means to attach other external non-volatile memory devices. In this regard, the communication port 110 can serve as the jack or a separate jack can also be used in addition to the communication port.

The flat iron 105 includes a microprocessor in communication with the controls 130. The microprocessor includes an external interface in order for the flat iron to interface with a computer or outside source (such as a thumb drive or other external drive) to download or receive digital music files. As mentioned, the microprocessor receives and process any outside inputs for the user, such as from the controls 130 or features on the flat iron. The flat iron 105 may also include a wireless communication element that permits the flat iron 105 to wirelessly communicate with external device, such as to send or receive audio files. The external devices can include wireless speakers as well as wireless data storage means.

In an embodiment, the digital music files are stored in a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory interface may interface with storage means that may further save the digital music files to an internal or discrete flash memory and/or a removable flash memory. When the portable flat iron includes the ability to receive removable flash memory the music files may be pre-saved on the removable flash memory prior to insertion into the flat iron. Moreover the non-volatile memory interface 30 may interface with other external storage means, such as a disk drive or even optical type drives.

The flat iron may include a stereo or multi-channel a digital to analog converter or CODEC to convert the digital signal to an analog signal, which permits the user to listen to the digital music file. The CODEC may be configured to interface, via a headphone interfacing means, with headphones or with the speaker. The CODEC may also include analog to digital converter means such that the user's voice may be recorded in digital form. The CODEC would be attached to an amplifier and audio multiplexing means that would allow the portable flat iron 105 to interface with an on-board microphone and/or an external microphone.

During operation, a user uploads a digital music file into a non-volatile memory via interface of the flat iron. This could be accomplished by attaching the flat iron to a computer by the computer interfacing means. The digital music file may also be uploaded to the flat iron by the removable flash memory or a disk drive. After uploading the music file, the user would play the digital music file. This is done by converting the digital audio portion to an analog signal and sending the analog signal to an the headphone interfacing means or to the internal speaker. The user is then able to listen to the audio portion or music through a pair of headphones or through the speaker. As with most portable digital music players, the digital music file may be compressed, for which the player would decode the music prior to conversion to an analog signal.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.

Although embodiments of various methods and devices are described herein in detail with reference to certain versions, it should be appreciated that other versions, embodiments, methods of use, and combinations thereof are also possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

Claims

1. A portable hair care device, comprising:

a grasping region sized and shape to be grasped and held by the hand of a user such that the user can carry the hair care product;

an internal speaker;

a digital storage element configured to store a digital music file;

a processor configured to process the digital music file and send a signal to the internal speaker for playing music from the digital music file.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device is a flat iron.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device is a hair dryer.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device is a hair curler.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein the digital music file is an MP3 file.

6. A device as in claim 1, further comprising an interface jack configured to interface with an external device.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein the external device is a hard drive.

8. A device as in claim 6, wherein the external device is a thumb drive.

9. A device as in claim 6, wherein the external device is a pair of head phones.

10. A device as in claim 6, wherein the interface jack is a USB port.