HAIR STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS
A hair straightening apparatus is provided. The hair straightening apparatus includes an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge. A lower heating element extends from the lower clamping member. The lower heating element also includes a top heating surface and an opposing bottom heating surface.
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This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/428,753, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 23, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to the field of hair care, and more particularly, to a hair straightening apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many devices have been developed to aid in the styling of hair. Hair curlers, or curling irons, impart curls into hair by applying heat to a rod around which the hair is wound. Hair straighteners and smoothers operate using a similar premise, and typically include heat conducting elements between which hair is clamped and pulled through. The heat conducting elements are conventionally flat surfaces. Hair straighteners conventionally use a pair of untextured surfaces for engaging the hair. As a result, the hair can require additional brushing in order to achieve the desired style. Further, hair straighteners are generally configured for use with long hair, while separate devices, such as heated combs, may be configured for use with short hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention relates to an improved hair straightening apparatus.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a hair straightening apparatus is provided. The hair straightening apparatus includes an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge. A lower heating element extends from the lower clamping member. The lower heating element also includes a top heating surface and an opposing bottom heating surface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a hair straightening apparatus is provided that includes a latch. The hair straightening apparatus includes an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge. An upper heating element extends from the upper clamping member and a lower heating element extends from the lower clamping member. The hair straightening apparatus also includes a latch extending from the upper clamping member towards the lower clamping member. A latch receiving groove in the lower clamping member receives the latch.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a hair straightening apparatus is provided that includes a comb portion. The hair straightening apparatus includes an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge. An upper heating element extends from the upper clamping member, the upper heating element having one or more protrusions extending along a length of the upper heating element. A lower heating element extends from the lower clamping member. The hair straightening apparatus also includes a comb portion attached to the upper heating element. The comb portion includes one or more grooves interlocking with the one or more protrusions when the comb portion is attached to the upper heating element.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar components may be designated by the same or similar reference numerals although they are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.
Referring initially to
The handle end 102 may also be embodied to include at least one of a power button, a temperature dial, and first and second indicators. The power button may used to turn a power status of the hair straightening apparatus 100 on and off, while the temperature dial may provide a means to adjust the temperature at the heated application end 104. The first and second indicators may be utilized to provide an indication of the power status of the hair straightening apparatus 100 and a temperature set for the heated application end 104.
Different numbers and configurations of buttons, dials and indicators may be provided in accordance with additional embodiments of the present invention. Further, additional buttons, dials and indicators may be provided with different purposes in the operation of the hair straightening apparatus 100, according to additional embodiments of the present invention.
A power cord may extend from a proximal end of the handle end 102, farthest from the heated application end 104, in order to provide electricity to the hair straightening apparatus 100. The power cord may be disposed at any point on the handle end 102 of the hair straightening apparatus 100 that allows a user to still comfortably hold the handle end 102 of the hair straightening apparatus 100.
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The manner in which the lower clamping member 206 disengages from the upper clamping member 208 is based on the attachment of the lower clamping member 206 and the upper clamping member at a hinge 210. Specifically, when the lock release button 106 is slid along a longitudinal axis X of the handle end 102, a latch 202 is disengaged from a latch receiving groove 204, releasing the lower clamping member 206 from the upper clamping member 208. Thus, the lower clamping member 206 and the upper clamping member 208 are able to rotate apart at an axis provided at the hinge 210. In an embodiment of the present invention, an internal spring provides a force separating the lower clamping member 206 from the upper clamping member 208 and encouraging disengagement of the lower clamping member 206 when the latch 202 is disengaged from the latch receiving groove 204.
Due to the fact that the lower clamping member 206 and the upper clamping member 208 are separated through the handle end 102, a user holding the handle end 102 is able to control the spacing between the lower clamping member 206 and the upper clamping member 208 when disengaged. The user is also able to provide forces on the lower and upper clamping members 206 and 208, respectively, in directions for engagement of the lower clamping member 206 with the upper clamping member 208.
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The lower heating element 304 may be constructed of aluminum and coated in titanium or ceramic, for example. An upper heating element 311 extends from the upper clamping member 208 and an upper heating surface 312 protrudes from, and extends along, the upper heating element 311. The top heating surface 308 is disposed on a side of the lower heating element 304 that faces the upper heating surface 312 of the upper heating element 311. The lower heating element 304 and the upper heating element 311 do not extend into the handle end 102, preventing heating of the handle end 102 when the hair straightening apparatus 100 is in use.
A removable comb portion 314 is attached to the upper heating element 311 and includes comb tines, or teeth, 315. The comb portion 314 may be attached to the upper heating element 311 by one or more screws 320. The comb portion 314 attaches over a top surface of the upper heating element 311 and may extend along a length of the upper heating element 311. The tines 315 begin near the upper heating surface 312 and extend below the upper heating surface 312. The tines 315 may extend from both sides of the upper heating element 311.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the heated sidewalls 306 may include sloping portions 302 where the heated sidewalls 306 meet the top heating surface 308 and the bottom heating surface 310. Specifically, the sloping portions 302 may include a rounded edge. The rounded edge provides a gradual arcuate attachment of the heated sidewalls 306 to the top heating surface 308 and the bottom heating surface 310. The sloping portions 302 may also include a bisected edge. The bisected edge provides a straight attachment of the heated sidewalls 306 to the top heating surface 308 and the bottom heating surface 310 at approximately a 45-degree angle.
Referring now to
The comb tines 315 extend from the comb portion 314 and include a first narrow tooth comb 316 and a second narrow tooth comb 318. The first and second combs 316 and 318, respectively, extend along the length of the upper heating element 311. When the section of hair 400 is closed between the top heating surface 308 and the upper heating surface 312, the hair straightening apparatus 100 is pulled through the section of hair 400. Thus, when the first narrow tooth comb 316 is run through the section of hair 400, the section of hair 400 is heated through contact with the top heating surface 308 and the upper heating surface 312, and the second narrow tooth comb 318 is run through the section of hair 400, thereby straightening the section of hair 400.
Referring now to
When heat is supplied to the bottom heating surface 310 and the lower clamping member 206 is engaged with the upper clamping member 208 in a closed position, the bottom heating surface 310 is positioned in contact with the section of hair 400 of the user, preferably close to the scalp. The section of hair 400 is then run through the first narrow tooth comb 316 along the bottom heating surface 310, and through the second narrow tooth comb 318, thereby, straightening the section of hair 400. The embodiment described with respect to
Referring now to
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper heating element 311 may be provided in a T-shape, with the upper heating surface 312 protruding downward from the upper heating element 311. Specifically, the upper heating surface 312 may have a width less than the width of the upper heating element 311.
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While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A hair straightening apparatus comprising:
- an upper clamping member;
- a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge; and
- a lower heating element extending from the lower clamping member;
- wherein the lower heating element comprises a top heating surface and an opposing bottom heating surface.
2. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an upper heating element extending from the upper clamping member, the upper heating element having an upper heating surface, wherein the top heating surface and the upper heating surface face each other.
3. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper heating surface extends along a length of the upper heating element.
4. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 3, wherein the upper heating surface and the top heating surface come into contact when the upper clamping member and the lower clamping member are in a closed position.
5. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a comb portion attached to the upper heating element having comb tines, the comb tines protruding beyond the bottom heating surface when the upper clamping member and the lower clamping member are in a closed position.
6. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 5, wherein the comb portion comprises first and second combs extending along opposing sides of a length of the upper heating element.
7. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 6, wherein one or more protrusions extend from the upper heating element.
8. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 7, wherein the comb portion comprises one or more grooves that interlock with the one or more protrusions when the upper heating element is inserted into the comb portion.
9. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first comb and the second comb separately attach to the upper heating element.
10. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a latch extending from the upper clamping member towards the lower clamping member; and
- a latch receiving groove in the lower clamping member for receiving the latch.
11. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 10, wherein the latch comprises an arcuate leading edge.
12. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 10, wherein a notched recess in the latch receives a rim of the latch receiving groove, locking the latch within the latch receiving groove.
13. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a lock release button slidable along a longitudinal axis of the hair straightening apparatus, wherein the lock release button disengages the latch from the latch receiving groove.
14. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower heating element comprises a flat top heating surface and a flat bottom heating surface and the upper heating element comprises a flat heating element.
15. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower heating element comprises a flat top heating surface and an arcuate bottom heating surface and the upper heating element comprises a flat heating element.
16. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower heating element comprises an arcuate top heating surface and a flat bottom heating surface and the upper heating element comprises an arcuate heating element.
17. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 16, wherein the arcuate top heating surface is a convex surface and the arcuate heating element is a concave surface.
18. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper heating element comprises an arcuate upper heating surface and a flat heating element, the arcuate upper heating surface extending in a direction opposite to the flat heating element.
19. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 18, wherein the lower heating element comprises a flat top heating surface and an arcuate bottom heating surface, wherein the flat heating element and the flat top heating surface face each other.
20. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:
- a first double-sided comb portion attached to the upper heating element, the first double-sided comb portion comprising a first upper comb portion extending in a direction opposite to a first lower comb portion;
- a second double-sided comb portion attached to the upper heating element, the second double-sided comb portion comprising a second upper comb portion extending in a direction opposite to a second lower comb portion.
21. A hair straightening apparatus comprising:
- an upper clamping member;
- a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge;
- an upper heating element extending from the upper clamping member;
- a lower heating element extending from the lower clamping member;
- a latch extending from the upper clamping member towards the lower clamping member; and
- a latch receiving groove in the lower clamping member for receiving the latch.
22. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 21, wherein the latch comprises an arcuate leading edge.
23. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 21, wherein a notched recess in the latch receives a rim of the latch receiving groove, locking the latch within the latch receiving groove.
24. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a lock release button slidable along a longitudinal axis of the hair straightening apparatus, wherein the lock release button disengages the latch from the latch receiving groove.
25. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a comb portion extending along a length of the upper heating element, the comb portion attached to the upper heating element.
26. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 25, wherein comb tines protrude from the comb portion beyond the bottom heating surface when the upper clamping member and the lower clamping member are in a closed position.
27. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 25, wherein the comb portion comprises first and second combs extending along a length of the upper heating element.
28. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 27, wherein one or more protrusions extend from the upper heating element.
29. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 28, wherein the comb portion comprises one or more grooves that interlock with the one or more protrusions when the upper heating element is inserted into the comb portion.
30. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first and second combs separately attach to the upper heating element.
31. A hair straightening apparatus comprising:
- an upper clamping member;
- a lower clamping member attached to the upper clamping member at a hinge;
- an upper heating element extending from the upper clamping member, the upper heating element having one or more protrusions extending along a length of the upper heating element;
- a lower heating element extending from the lower clamping member;
- a comb portion attached to the upper heating element;
- wherein the comb portion comprises one or more grooves interlocking with the one or more protrusions when the comb portion is attached to the upper heating element.
32. The hair straightening apparatus of claim 31, wherein the upper heating element comprises an upper heating surface, the upper heating surface having a width less than a width of the upper heating element.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 18, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 26, 2013
Applicant: Kiss Nail Products, Inc. (Port Washington, NY)
Inventors: Kyusang HAN (Port Washington, NY), Won Seok Oh (Port Washington, NY), Kyoung Hak Lee (Plainview, NY)
Application Number: 13/552,187
International Classification: A45D 1/04 (20060101);