HAIR STYLING APPARATUS
A hair styling apparatus includes a handle dimensioned for engagement by a user and a treatment head mounted to the handle and defining a longitudinal axis. The treatment head includes a straightening segment for imparting a straightening effect on hair and a curling segment for imparting a curling effect on the hair. The straightening segment has a plurality of stationary elements and a plurality of movable elements disposed adjacent the stationary elements. The movable elements are adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement relative to the stationary elements whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements receive hair therebetween. First and second curling segments may be on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment. At least one or both of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/899,916 filed Nov. 5, 2013.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to hair styling, and, more particularly, relates to a hair styling apparatus for selectively imparting a straightening and/or curling effect on hair.
BACKGROUNDVarious known hair styling appliances exist in which hair is dried, heated, styled and straightened. Handheld appliances of this type typically include a heater, a fan element, and a comb attachment. In these types of appliances, straightening may be achieved by combing. At least one known design includes multiple flat surfaces that close against each other to compress hair strands between flat surfaces. However, these devices are devoid of any capability of imparting a curl to a hair segment.
Another device is disclosed in PCT WO 2007/136445 to Julemont/CONAIR CORP., the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
SUMMARYAccordingly, the present disclosure is directed to further improvements in hair styling apparatuses. In accordance with one embodiment, a hair styling apparatus includes a handle dimensioned for engagement by a user and a treatment head mounted to the handle and defining a longitudinal axis. The treatment head includes a straightening segment for imparting a straightening effect on hair and a curling segment for imparting a curling effect on the hair. The straightening segment has a plurality of stationary elements and a plurality of movable elements disposed adjacent the stationary elements. The movable elements are adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement relative to the stationary elements whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements receive hair therebetween. First and second curling segments may be on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment. At least one or both of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element.
A tensioning spring for biasing the plurality of moving elements in a longitudinal direction to a position whereby the stationary and movable elements are in an at least partially overlapping relation may be provided. A tensioning dial for selectively adjusting resistance of the tensioning spring may also be provided.
At least one comb segment may be adjacent a longitudinal side of the straightening segment. First and second comb segments may be on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment. The first and second comb segments may be disposed between the straightening segment and respective first and second curling segments.
A heater may be adjacent the straightening segment for heating the strand of hair.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated by reference to the drawings wherein:
Referring initially to
Referring now to
The straightening segment 22 also includes a movable or dynamic unit 38 disposed within the stationary unit 26, e.g., at least partially within the longitudinal passage defined by the central openings 36. The movable unit 38 includes a movable base 40 and a plurality of movable elements 42 depending radially outwardly from the movable base 40 and relative to the longitudinal axis ‘k”. The movable elements 42 are also disposed in longitudinal spaced relation. The movable unit 38 is adapted for longitudinal movement, e.g., reciprocal longitudinal movement, relative to, and at least partially within, the stationary unit 26. In one embodiment, the movable unit 38 is mounted about a rod 44 extending through a longitudinal opening 46 in the movable base 40 and slides along the rod 44 during longitudinal movement of the movable unit 38. Each movable element 42 includes a generally triangular shape with a pair of extending and converging sides 45 joined at apex 46 generally complementary to the shapes of the stationary elements 30. The sides 45 include first and second internal shearing edges 48. The shearing edges 48 may be planar or beveled. The converging sides 44 may include beveled, oblique, or curved surfaces 50 arranged adjacent the apex 46. The curved surfaces 50 may facilitate placement of a strand or strands of hair (hereinafter, hair) relative to the converging sides 44 and also will assist in moving the movable unit 38 during hair treatment as will be discussed.
Each movable element 42 of the movable unit 38 is disposed adjacent a respective stationary element 30 of the stationary unit 36 to receive the hair strand therebetween. It is noted that during positioning of the hair strand, the curved surfaces 50 adjacent apex 46 of the movable elements 42 facilitate placement of the hair strand between the adjacent stationary and movable elements 30, 42. The movable elements 42 are sized to be at least partially received within the openings 36 of adjacent stationary elements 30, i.e., each movable element 42 may move into and out of proximity relative to a respective adjacent stationary element 30. The moveable element 42 and associated adjacent stationary element 30 impart a straightening effect on hair.
With reference now to
With reference to
As depicted in
In operation, a user holds the hair styling apparatus 10 by the handle 12. The user brushes the treatment head 14 into the hair as if using a styling brush. Strands of hair will contact the curved, angular surfaces 50 of the converging sides 44 when entering the gaps 70 (best shown in
When it is desired to impart a curl or flip to the hair strand, e.g., at the end of the hair strand, the handle 12 may be rotated to cause contact of either curling segment 24 to the hair strand with the hair strand at least partially wrapping about the respective curling segment 24 in a manner similar to the use of a curling iron. Either side of the treatment head 14 may be utilized to impart curls or waves to the hair with the curling segments 24.
Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above description, disclosure, and figures should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore, that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A hair styling apparatus, which comprises:
- a handle defining a longitudinal axis, the handle dimensioned for engagement by a user; and
- a treatment head mounted to the handle, the treatment head including: a straightening segment for imparting a straightening effect on hair, the straightening segment having: a plurality of stationary elements; and a plurality of movable elements disposed adjacent the stationary elements, the movable elements adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement relative to the stationary elements whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements receive hair therebetween; and a curling segment for imparting a curling effect on hair.
2. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 1 first and second curling segments on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment.
3. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element.
4. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of the first and second curling segments includes a heating element.
5. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 1 including a tensioning spring for biasing the plurality of moving elements in a longitudinal direction whereby adjacent stationary and movable elements are in overlapping relation at least in the absence of hair therebetween.
6. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 5 including a tensioning dial for selectively adjusting resistance of the tensioning spring.
7. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 2 including at least one comb segment adjacent a longitudinal side of the straightening segment.
8. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 7 including first and second comb segments on opposed longitudinal sides of the straightening segment.
9. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first and second comb segments are disposed between the straightening segment and respective first and second curling segments.
10. The hair styling apparatus according to claim 1 including a heater adjacent the straightening segment for heating the hair.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 5, 2014
Publication Date: May 7, 2015
Inventor: Lourdes Lopez Valle (Mahopac, NY)
Application Number: 14/533,573
International Classification: A45D 1/04 (20060101); A45D 1/28 (20060101); A45D 2/00 (20060101);