HAIR STYLING TOOLS ORGANIZER

A hair styling tools organizer includes a front plate slidably coupled to a wall of a cabinet, hair styling tools holders mounted to the front plate, a power strip coupled to the front plate, and a switch. The switch is in an electrical circuit that includes the power strip and an electrical power source. The switch may be mounted facing rearward at a rear end of the front plate and may be mechanically biased to a closed circuit state. The switch may be configured to electrically couple the power strip to an electrical power source by being in the closed circuit state in response to the front plate being in an open position. The switch may be configured to electrically disconnect the power strip from the electrical power source by being in the open circuit state in response to the front plate being in the closed position.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/133,548, filed Mar. 16, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Some implementations discussed herein are related to a hair styling tools organizer.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described herein are not prior art to the claims in the present application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Many hair styling tools are electrically powered, including hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, shears, and other hair styling tools. Some hair styling tools may be potentially dangerous when left on unattended. For instance hair dryers, curling irons, and flat irons may include resistive heaters that may present a potential fire hazard if left on unattended. As such, it may be a matter of safety for such hair styling tools to be turned off or otherwise disconnected from a power supply when not in use.

Some individuals may use numerous hair styling tools on a daily basis. It may be bothersome for some of these individuals to ensure that all of their numerous hair styling tools are disconnected from the power supply when not in use.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some implementations described herein may be practiced.

SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE IMPLEMENTATIONS

Some implementations discussed herein are related to a hair styling tools organizer.

In an example embodiment, a hair styling tools organizer includes a front plate, hair styling tools holders, a power strip, and a switch. The front plate may be slidably coupled to a wall of a cabinet. The hair styling tools holders may be mounted to the front plate. The power strip may be coupled to the front plate. The switch may be in an electrical circuit that includes the power strip and an electrical power source. The switch may be mounted facing rearward at a rear end of the front plate and may be mechanically biased to a closed circuit state. In response to the front plate being in a closed position relative to the wall of the cabinet, the switch may be in contact with a rear wall of the cabinet or to which the cabinet is mounted and the rear wall may overcome the mechanical bias to force the switch to an open circuit state. The switch may be configured to automatically electrically couple the power strip to an electrical power source by being in the closed circuit state in response to the front plate being in an open position relative to the wall of the cabinet in which the switch is away from the rear wall. The switch may be configured to automatically electrically disconnect the power strip from the electrical power source by being in the open circuit state in response to the front plate being in the closed position relative to the wall of the cabinet with the switch in contact with the rear wall and switched by the rear wall to the open circuit state.

In another example embodiment, a hair styling tools organizer includes a front plate, a hair styling tools holder, and a power strip. The front plate may be slidably coupled to a first wall. The hair styling tools holder may be mounted to the front plate. The power strip may be coupled to the front plate.

In another example embodiment, a hair styling tools organizer includes a front plate, a hair styling tools holder, a power strip or power outlet, and a switch. The front plate may be slidably coupled to a first wall. The hair styling tools holder may be mounted to the front plate. The power strip or power outlet may be coupled to the front plate or to a stationary wall or structure that remains stationary with respect to the front plate. The switch may be in an electrical circuit that includes the power strip or power outlet and an electrical power source. The switch may be configured to automatically electrically couple the power strip or power outlet to the electrical power source in response to the front plate being in an open position relative to the first wall. The switch may be configured to automatically electrically disconnect the power strip or power outlet from the electrical power source in response to the front plate being in a closed position relative to the first wall.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description, which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific implementations thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical implementations of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example hair styling tools organizer;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example hair styling tools organizer; and

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another example hair styling tools organizer, all arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various aspects of example implementations of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such example implementations, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example hair styling tools organizer 100 (hereinafter “organizer 100”), arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The organizer 100 is intended for the use and storage of hair styling tools. Hair styling tools may include hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, hair clippers, combs, brushes, and other hair styling tools, some or all of which may require electricity for operation. The organizer 100 may allow easy access to the hair styling tools during use, as well as safe storage of the hair styling tools and without having to unplug or manually power off any of the hair styling tools when not in use.

In an example embodiment, the organizer 100 includes one or more hair styling tools holders 102 (hereinafter “holder 102”) configured to retain or otherwise hold the hair styling tools when not in use. As illustrated, the holder 102 is mounted on a front plate 104 that slides and which can be pulled out, e.g., from within a cabinet and/or from under a countertop, to access the hair styling tools. When pushed back, e.g., back into the cabinet and/or under the countertop, a power strip 106 included in the organizer 100 may be automatically turned off to ensure that all of the hair styling tools are powered off, whether or not the user remembers or desires to power off the hair styling tools manually.

In more detail, the organizer 100 includes the holder 102, the front plate 104, the power strip 106, a back plate 108, and a cord anchor and switch 110.

The front plate 104 is slidably coupled to the back plate 108. The front plate 104 may be slidably coupled to the back plate 108 by one or more slides 111. In an example, each of the slides 111 includes a track mounted to the front plate 104 or the back plate 108 and one or more rollers, rails, or other members coupled to the other of the back plate 108 or the front plate 104 and that is received within and slides relative to the track. Example slides that may be suitable according to at least some embodiments are commonly sold in hardware stores as drawer slides and may include metal, plastic, wood, or other suitable materials.

The holder 102 is coupled to the front plate 104. For example, the holder 102 may be coupled to the front plate 104 using adhesive, nuts and bolts, screws, and/or other fasteners. The holder 102 is illustrated as an open-top rectangular box. The holder 102 may alternatively include an open-top and open-bottom rectangular tube, an open-top cylindrical box, an open-top and open-bottom cylindrical tube, or a box or tube with some other shape. The holder 102 may alternatively or additionally include a lid and/or one or more brackets, baskets, hooks, or other holders to hold or otherwise retain hair styling tools. Some hair styling tools such as hair irons (e.g., curling irons, flat irons) and hair dryers include resistive heaters or are otherwise capable of generating heat and/or may still be hot when put away in the holder 102 by a user. Accordingly, the holder 102 may be made entirely or partially of a fire-resistant material. For example, the holder 102 may include a fire-resistant liner.

The power strip 106 is coupled to the front plate 106. For example, the power strip 106 may be coupled to the front plate 104 using adhesive, nuts and bolts, screws, and/or other fasteners. The power strip 106 may include one or more plug receptacles 106A (hereinafter “receptacle 106A” or “receptacles 106A”) and a power strip switch 106B. The receptacles 106A are illustrated as NEMA 5-15 receptacles, e.g., receptacles that conform to the NEMA 5-15 grounded standard. Alternatively or additionally, the receptacles 106A may include Argentina IRAM 2073 & 2071 and compatible types (Type I) receptacles, Australian standard AS/NZS 3112 (Type I) receptacles, Brazilian standard NBR 14136 (Type N) receptacles, BS 546 and related types (Type D & M) receptacles, CEE 7/1 unearthed sockets and CEE 7/2 unearthed plugs receptacles, or other suitable receptacles as appropriate in view of applicable standards.

The power strip switch 106B may be configured to electrically connect or disconnect the receptacles 106A to or from an electrical power source. In some embodiments, the power strip switch 106B may be manually operated by user. Alternately or additionally, the power strip switch 106B may be omitted.

In some embodiments, the power strip 106 may be omitted and/or replaced by one or more individual receptacles 106A.

The back plate 108 may be mounted to, e.g., an inside wall of a cabinet. Alternately, the back plate 108 may be mounted to an outside wall of a cabinet and/or beneath a countertop. More generally, the back plate 108 may be mounted to any object that is sufficiently strong to support the organizer 100, allowing a user the liberty to install the organizer 100 at any desired location. The back plate 108 and the front plate 104 may include wood, metal, plastic, composite material(s), or other suitable material(s).

In these and other embodiments, the front plate 104 may be slidably mounted to the wall indirectly through the back plate 104. In other embodiments, the front plate 104 may be slidably mounted directly to the wall (e.g., using the sliders 111), in which case the back plate 104 may be omitted altogether. In such embodiments, the cord anchor and switch 110 may be mounted facing backward at or near the rear end 104B of the front plate 104 to be turned off in response to interaction (e.g., contact) with a rear wall of the cabinet to which the front plate 104 is mounted. Alternatively or additionally, the cord anchor and switch 110 may be mounted to the rear wall of the cabinet facing forward to be turned off in response to interaction with the rear end 104B of the front plate 104. Alternatively or additionally, the cord anchor and switch 110 may be mounted facing frontward at or near the rear end 104B and top or bottom of the front plate 104 and the tab 116 may be mounted to the cabinet near a location of the switch 110 relative to the cabinet when the front plate 104 is in the open position to interact with the switch to turn it on when the front plate 104 reaches the open position. Alternatively or additionally, the tab 116 may be mounted at or near the rear end 104B and top or bottom of the front plate 104 and the cord anchor and switch 110 may be mounted to the cabinet near a location of the tab 116 relative to the cabinet when the front plate 104 is in the open position to interact with the tab to cause the switch to be turned on when the front plate 104 reaches the open position.

In embodiments in which the front plate 104 is slidably coupled to the back plate 108, the front plate 104 may be laterally displaced from the back plate 108. Further, the front plate 108 may be configured to slide relative to the back plate 108 in a forward direction 112 or a backward direction 114, at least within a predefined range of motion. Accordingly, the front plate 108 may include, relative to the back plate 104, both a closed position in which the hair styling tools may be stowed away and partially or completely inaccessible to a user, and an open position in which the hair styling tools are accessible to the user. The closed and open positions of the front plate 108 are described in more detail to follow. Movement of the front plate 104 has been described with reference to the back plate 108. In other embodiments, movement of the front plate 104 may be described with reference to a cabinet wall or other stationary object to which the back plate 108 may be statically mounted or to which the front plate 104 may be slidably mounted in embodiments in which the back plate 108 is omitted.

The back plate 108 includes a front end 108A and a rear end 108B. The front plate 104 includes a front end 104A and a rear end 104B. In the closed position of the front plate 104 relative to the back plate 108, the front and rear ends 104A and 104B of the front plate 104 may generally be adjacent to, respectively, front and rear ends 108A and 108B of the back plate 108. In the open position of the front plate 104 relative to the back plate 108, the front end 104A of the front plate 104 may generally be forward of the front end 108A of the back plate 108 and the rear end 104B of the front plate 104 may generally be forward of the rear end 108B of the back plate 108. Positions of the front plate 104 relative to the back plate 108 in which the front plate 104 is between the open position and the closed position may be referred to as partially open positions.

The front plate 104 may freely slide between the closed position and the open position along the sliders 111, as desired by the user, but may be prevented from sliding beyond the open position in the forward direction 112 or beyond the closed position in the backward direction 114. Accordingly, the sliders 111, the front plate 104, and/or the back plate 108 may include features (e.g., tabs, indents, detents, or other features) that prevent forward movement (e.g., movement in the forward direction 112) of the front plate 104 relative to the back plate 108 beyond the open position and that prevent backward movement (e.g., movement in the backward direction 114) of the front plate 104 relative to the back plate 108 beyond the closed position. In these and other embodiments, insofar as the power strip 106 and the holder 102 are coupled to the front plate 104, the power strip 106 and the holder 102 move relative to the back plate 108 when the front plate 104 moves relative to the back plate 108.

The cord anchor and switch 110 is mounted to the rear end 108B of the back plate 108. As illustrated, the power strip 106 further includes a cord 106C that electrically couples the power strip 106 to the cord anchor and switch 110. A maximum distance between the power strip 106 and the cord anchor and switch 110 may occur when the front plate 104 is in the open position. A length of the cord 106C may be sufficient to accommodate the maximum distance when the front plate 104 is in the open position.

The cord anchor and switch 110 may be electrically coupled to a power source, as noted in FIG. 1. The cord anchor and switch 110 may include a switch configured to electrically couple the power strip 106 to the electrical power source in response to the front plate 104 being in the open position, or at least in a partially open position, relative to the back plate 108. The switch may further be configured to electrically disconnect the power strip 106 from the electrical power source in response to the front plate 104 being in the closed position relative to the back plate 108.

In these and other embodiments, the switch may be mechanically biased (e.g., spring loaded) to a closed circuit state in which the power strip 106 is electrically coupled to the power source. When the front plate 104 is in the closed position, a tab 116 mounted near or at the rear end 104B of the front plate 116 may overcome the mechanical bias and force the switch to an open circuit state in which the power strip 106 is electrically disconnected from the power source. However, when the front plate 104 is in the open position or at least a partially open position in which the tab 116 is not in contact with the switch, the switch may be mechanically biased to the closed circuit state to electrically couple the power strip 106 to the power source.

In other embodiments, the switch may be mechanically biased to the open circuit state, in which case the cord anchor and switch 110 may be mounted at or near the front end 108A of the back plate 110 and the tab 116 may be mounted at or near the front end 104A of the front plate 104. In this and other embodiments, the power strip 106 may be electrically disconnected from the power source when the front plate 104 is in the closed position and in the partially open positions. In this example, the power strip 106 may remain electrically disconnected from the power source until the front plate 104 reaches the open position, at which point the tab 116 may be in contact with the switch and may overcome its mechanical bias to force the switch to the closed circuit state.

As previously mentioned, the organizer 100 may be mounted within a cabinet and/or under a countertop. The cabinet may include a door that may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet, e.g., by hinges. Alternatively, the door may be a sliding cabinet door that is slidably coupled to the cabinet. When the front plate 104 is in the closed position, the cabinet door may be closed to hide the organizer 100 and the hair styling tools. The cabinet door may be opened so that the front plate 104—along with the holder 102, the power strip 106, and any hair styling tools that may be stored in the holder 102—may be slid to the open position to access the hair styling tools. In other embodiments, the cabinet door may be mounted to the front end 104A of the front plate 104 and may slide open and closed with the front plate 104.

The organizer 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be mounted to an inner right-side wall of a cabinet or outer right-side wall beneath a countertop, or other installation in which it may be desirable for the front plate 104 to be laterally displaced to the left of the back plate 108 (leftward comes out of the page in FIG. 1). In other embodiments, it may be desirable to install an organizer such as disclosed herein to an inner left-side wall of a cabinet or outer left-side wall beneath a countertop, or other installation in which it may be desirable for a front plate of the organizer to be laterally displaced to the right of a back plate of the organizer.

For example, FIG. 2 illustrates another example hair styling tools organizer 200 (hereinafter “organizer 200”), arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The organizer 200 is similar in many respects to the organizer 100 and includes a holder 202, a front plate 204, a power strip 206, a back plate 208, a cord anchor and switch 210, one or more slides 211, and a tab 216 that are generally similar to the holder 102, the front plate 104, the power strip 106, the back plate 108, the cord anchor and switch 110, the slides 111, and the tab 116 of FIG. 1 and will not be described in further detail. One difference between FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 is that, in FIG. 2, the front plate 204 is laterally displaced to the right of the back plate 208 (rightward comes out of the page in FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 illustrates another example hair styling tools organizer 300 (hereinafter “organizer 300”), arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The organizer 300 is similar in many respects to the organizer 100 and includes multiple holders 302A-302F (hereinafter “holders 302”), a front plate 304, a power strip 306, and a cord anchor and switch 310 that are respectively similar in some respects to the holders 102, 202, the front plates 104, 204, the power strip 106, 206, and the cord anchor and switch 110, 210 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Although not illustrated in FIG. 3, the organizer 300 may additionally include a back plate and one or more slides, similar to the back plates 108, 208 and the sliders 111, 211 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, the back plate may be omitted altogether and the front plate 304 of the organizer 300 may be mounted directly to a cabinet wall or other wall through sliders (e.g., sliders 111, 211) without use of a back plate.

In FIG. 3, the organizer 300 includes multiple holders 302, instead of the single holder 102, 202 in the organizers 100, 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, the holders 302 include five generally cylindrical holders 302A-302C, 302E, and 302F and one generally rectangular box holder 302D. In other embodiments, the holders 302 may include more or fewer cylindrical holders or rectangular box holders and/or holders of different shapes than cylindrical or rectangular box. The holders 302 may be welded or otherwise coupled to a mount strip 312 and the mount strip 312 may be coupled to the front plate 304 with screws 314, adhesive, or other coupler means.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the cord anchor and switch 310 is mounted to the front plate 304 instead of to a back plate. In these and other embodiments, a switch 310A of the cord anchor and switch 310 may be mechanically biased (e.g., spring loaded) to a closed circuit state in which the power strip 306 is electrically coupled to a power source (not shown) through a cord 316. When the front plate 304 is in the closed position, a wall (e.g., a rear wall of a cabinet or a wall to which the cabinet is mounted) may overcome the mechanical bias and force the switch 310A to an open circuit state in which the power strip 306 is electrically disconnected from the power source. However, when the front plate 304 is in the open position or at least a partially open position in which the wall is not in contact with the switch 310A, the switch 310A may be mechanically biased to the closed circuit state to electrically couple the power strip 306 to the power source.

In other embodiments, the cord anchor and switch 310 may be mounted to the rear wall of the cabinet or to the wall to which the cabinet is mounted or to another wall or structure that remains fixed or stationary with respect to the front plate 304. Analogous modifications may be made to FIGS. 1 and/or 2. The cord anchor and switch 310 may be mounted to the wall to be turned on or off based on the position of the front plate 304. For instance, the cord anchor and switch 310 may be turned on (e.g., closed circuit state) when the front plate 304 is in the open position and may be turned off (e.g., open circuit state) when the front plate 304 is in the closed position. When the front plate 304 is in a partially open position, the cord anchor and switch 310 may default to on in some embodiments.

Alternatively or additionally, the power strip 306 may be mounted to the rear wall of the cabinet or to the wall to which the cabinet is mounted or to another wall or structure that remains fixed or stationary with respect to the front plate 304. Analogous modifications may be made to FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

Alternatively or additionally, the power strip 306 may be omitted and the cord anchor and switch 310 may be electrically coupled to operate an outlet in the rear wall of the cabinet or in the wall to which the cabinet is mounted or in another wall or structure that remains fixed or stationary with respect to the front plate 304. Analogous modifications may be made to FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the organizers 100, 200, and 300 without departing from the scope of the described embodiments. For example, in FIGS. 1-3, the front plates 104, 204, and 304 are slidable relative to the back plates 108 and 208 and/or relative to a wall to which the front plates 104, 204, 304 may be mounted. In other embodiments, the front plates 104, 204, 304 may be rotatable relative to the back plates 108 and 208 and/or relative to a wall to which the front plates 104, 204, 304 may be mounted or may have some other movable arrangement with respect to the back plates 108 and 208 and/or with respect to the wall to which the front plates 104, 204, 304 may be mounted.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described herein, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds, compositions, or biological systems, which can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A hair styling tools organizer, comprising:

a front plate slidably coupled to a wall of a cabinet;
a plurality of hair styling tools holders mounted to the front plate;
a power strip coupled to the front plate;
a switch in an electrical circuit that includes the power strip and an electrical power source, wherein: the switch is mounted facing rearward at a rear end of the front plate; the switch is mechanically biased to a closed circuit state; in response to the front plate being in a closed position relative to the wall of the cabinet, the switch is in contact with a rear wall of the cabinet or to which the cabinet is mounted and the rear wall overcomes the mechanical bias to force the switch to an open circuit state; the switch is configured to automatically electrically couple the power strip to an electrical power source by being in the closed circuit state in response to the front plate being in an open position relative to the wall of the cabinet in which the switch is away from the rear wall; and the switch is configured to automatically electrically disconnect the power strip from the electrical power source by being in the open circuit state in response to the front plate being in the closed position relative to the wall of the cabinet with the switch in contact with the rear wall and switched by the rear wall to the open circuit state.

2. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hair styling tools holders includes at least one open-top cylindrical box and at least one open-top rectangular box.

3. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hair styling tools holders includes at least one of: an open-top rectangular box, an open-top and open-bottom rectangular tube, an open-top cylindrical box, an open-top and open-bottom cylindrical tube, a bracket, a basket, or a hook.

4. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of hair styling tools holders comprises a fire-resistant material.

5. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 4, wherein the fire-resistant material of the at least one of the plurality of hair styling tools holders is formed as a fire-resistant liner of the at least one of the plurality of hair styling tools holders.

6. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 1, wherein the front plate is slidably coupled directly to the wall of the cabinet with one or more sliders.

7. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 1, wherein the front plate is slidably coupled to the wall of the cabinet indirectly through a back plate in which:

the back plate is directly coupled to the wall of the cabinet; and
the front plate is slidably coupled directly to the back plate with one or more sliders.

8. A hair styling tools organizer, comprising:

a front plate slidably coupled to a first wall;
a hair styling tools holder mounted to the front plate; and
a power strip coupled to the front plate.

9. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 8, further comprising a switch in an electrical circuit that includes the power strip and an electrical power source, wherein:

the switch is configured to automatically electrically couple the power strip to the electrical power source in response to the front plate being in an open position relative to the first wall; and
the switch is configured to automatically electrically disconnect the power strip from the electrical power source in response to the front plate being in a closed position relative to the first wall.

10. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 9, wherein the front plate is slidably coupled to the wall indirectly through a back plate in which:

the back plate is directly coupled to the wall; and
the front plate is slidably coupled directly to the back plate with one or more sliders.

11. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 10, wherein:

the switch is mechanically biased to a closed circuit state;
the switch is mounted at a rear end of the back plate;
a tab is mounted to a rear end of the front plate; and
in response to the front plate being in the closed position, the tab is configured to interact with the switch to overcome the mechanical bias of the switch to put the switch in an open circuit state.

12. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 10, wherein the back plate is mounted to the wall by being mounted to an inside wall of a cabinet.

13. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 10, wherein the back plate is mounted to the wall by being mounted to an outside wall of a cabinet and beneath a countertop.

14. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 8, wherein the hair styling tools holder includes an open-top rectangular box, an open-top and open-bottom rectangular tube, an open-top cylindrical box, an open-top and open-bottom cylindrical tube, a bracket, a basket, or a hook.

15. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 8, wherein the hair styling tools holder comprises a fire-resistant material.

16. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 15, wherein the fire-resistant material of the hair styling tools holder is formed as a fire-resistant liner of the hair styling tools holder.

17. The hair styling tools organizer of claim 8, wherein the front plate is slidably coupled directly to the wall with one or more sliders.

18. A hair styling tools organizer, comprising:

a front plate slidably coupled to a first wall;
a hair styling tools holder mounted to the front plate;
a power strip or power outlet coupled to the front plate or to a stationary wall or structure that remains stationary with respect to the front plate; and
a switch in an electrical circuit that includes the power strip or power outlet and an electrical power source, wherein: the switch is configured to automatically electrically couple the power strip or power outlet to the electrical power source in response to the front plate being in an open position relative to the first wall; and the switch is configured to automatically electrically disconnect the power strip or power outlet from the electrical power source in response to the front plate being in a closed position relative to the first wall.
Patent History
Publication number: 20160270516
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 16, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2016
Inventors: E. LaRell Stephens (Lehi, UT), Lora J. Stephens (Lehi, UT)
Application Number: 15/072,225
Classifications
International Classification: A45D 44/02 (20060101);