HAIR IRON

Abstract

A novel and advantageous hair iron is disclosed. Particularly, a novel and advantageous hair iron having plates for imprinting a design on hair is disclosed. More particularly, a novel and advantageous hair iron having removable and interchangeable plates for imprinting one or more designs on hair is disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority to Provisional Application No. 63/422,420, entitled HAIR IRON, and filed Nov. 3, 2022, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous hair iron. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous hair iron having plates for imprinting a design on hair. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous hair iron having removable and interchangeable plates for imprinting one or more designs on hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Hair irons have been used to straighten or impart waves to hair for many years, typically with the aid of heat. Such irons typically comprise two arms coupled about a pivot point. Each arm includes an interior plate. Hair is positioned between the plates and the plates are closed together such that the hair is clasped there between. The configuration of the plates is then imparted to the hair.

While it is known to style hair using a heated hair iron, for example to straighten, crimp, or curl hair, there is a lack of tools for imparting specific designs to the hair. Further, there is a lack of tools that allow a user to customize the design to be imparted to the hair.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a hair iron that can be customized with one or a plurality of designs for imparting to hair.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a hair iron system. In one embodiment, the hair iron system includes a hair iron tool, a positive plate, and a negative plate. The hair iron tool has first and second arms, a proximal end, and a distal end. Each arm has a plate receiving portion near the proximal end thereof. The positive plate has a design projection. The negative plate has a design depression. The design depression receives the design projection during use of the hair iron system. The plate receiving element of the first arm removably receives the positive plate and the plate receiving element of the second arm removably receives the negative plate.

Each of the plates may include a plate engagement piece and each of the plate receiving elements each may include a plate receiving element engagement piece. The plate engagement pieces and the plate receiving element engagement pieces engage one another to position the plates on the hair receiving elements.

The hair iron system may further a first locking piece for locking the positive plate in place on the plate receiving element of the first arm and a second locking piece for locking the negative plate in place on the plate receiving element of the second arm.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of a hair iron system, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 1b illustrates hair imprinted with a design using a hair iron system as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2a illustrates a top view of plates of a hair iron tool, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2b illustrates a top view of plates of a hair iron tool, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2c illustrates a top view of plates of a hair iron tool, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2d illustrates a top view of plates of a hair iron tool, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3a illustrates a bottom perspective view of a plate of a hair iron tool, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3b illustrates a bottom view of plates of a hair iron tool, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4a illustrates a front view of a hair iron tool without plates placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4b illustrates a side view of a hair iron tool without plates placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4c illustrates a top side view of a hair iron tool without plates placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4d is a bottom side view of a hair iron tool without plates placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5a is a bottom view of a hair iron tool without a locking piece placed thereon, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5b is a top view of a hair iron tool without a locking piece placed thereon, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6a is a top side view of a hair iron tool with a plate partially placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6b is a bottom side view of a hair iron tool with a plate partially placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view and a bottom view of a locking piece, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top perspective view of a hair iron tool with plates placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9a illustrates lightning bolt plates, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9b illustrates a hair iron tool with the lightning bolt plates of FIG. 9a placed therein.

FIG. 10a illustrates star plates, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 10b illustrates a hair iron tool with the star plates of FIG. 10a placed therein.

FIG. 11 illustrates a packaged hair iron system, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous hair iron. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous hair iron having plates for imprinting a design on hair. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous hair iron having removable and interchangeable plates for imprinting one or more designs on hair.

FIG. 1a illustrates a hair iron system 10, in accordance with one embodiment. As shown, the hair iron system 10 may include an assembled hair iron 5, one or more sets of plates 30, and a heat protection glove 12. The assembled hair iron 5 comprises a hair iron tool 21, a plate 30, and a locking piece 40. At least one set of plates 30 includes a positive plate 32 and a negative plate 34. FIG. 1a illustrates a variety of positive plates 32. For use, the positive and negative plates are positioned on plate receiving elements of opposite arms of the hair iron tool.

FIG. 1b illustrates a design imprint 14 on hair made by using the hair iron system. In the embodiment shown, the design imprint 14 is a heart. In this image, the hair is shown with the designs pressing downwardly into the hair. It is to be appreciated that by using the hair iron oppositely, the designs may be extend upwardly from the hair.

FIG. 2a illustrates a top view of five sets of plates 30. These include three sets of positive and negative plates 32, 34, one set of flat plates 36, and one set of ridged plates 38. It is to be appreciated that more or fewer sets of plates may be provided. The sets of positive and negative plates 32, 34 may be used to impart a design to hair. The flat plates 36 of FIG. 2a may be used for straightening hair. The ridged plates 38 may be used for imparting crimps or waves to hair. Each plate may be sized to substantially cover a plate receiving element of the hair iron tool. Alternatively, the plates may be sized such that a plurality of plates may be placed on a plate receiving element of the hair iron tool. For example, two positive plates may be placed on a first plate receiving element of the hair iron tool and two complementary negative plates may be placed on a second plate receiving element of the hair iron tool.

The plates may be formed of any suitable material for conducting heat. In general, it may be useful for the plates to comprise a material that spreads heat evenly. For example, the plates may be formed of ceramic, metal, Teflon, chrome, titanium, and/or tourmaline. The choice of material may be influenced by the type of hair being styled (thick and course versus thin and fine), the acceptable level of damage to the hair, the heat required to style the hair, etc.

Each positive plate 32 has an outwardly projecting design, referred to as a design projection 33. Each negative plate 34 has an inwardly depressed design, referred to as a design depression 35. For a set of plates, the design projection and the design depression are complementary. The sizing of the design projection and the design depression is selected such that the design depression receives the design projection. More specifically, the sizing of the design projection and the design depression is selected such that the design depression can receive a design projection with hair positioned between the design depression and the design projection. Accordingly, the size of the design depression is somewhat larger than the sizing of the design projection.

In some embodiments, a plate may have more than one design—for example, a positive plate may have two design projections and a negative plate may have two complementary design depressions. Further, in some embodiments two or more positive plates and two or more negative plates may be designed to work together to add further customizability to the design.

FIG. 2a illustrates a heart design, a lightning bolt design, and a star design. FIG. 2b illustrates a smiley face design. FIG. 2c illustrates a flower design. FIG. 2d illustrates a butterfly design. Any suitable design may be used. In some embodiments, the design may comprise a word, a letter, a number, or other symbol. The designs may be oriented horizontally or vertically on the plates. In one embodiment, letter plates are sized such that two or more letters may be provided on each arm of the hair iron tool to allow a user to imprint initials on their hair. Further, in some embodiments, users may be have an ability to customize a flat plate to have a desired design.

The plate receiving elements of the hair iron tool arms receive the plates in a removably fixed manner. FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate the bottom surface of a plate 32, 34. The plate 32, 34 includes an engagement piece 37 for engaging the hair iron tool. The heat receiving elements of the hair iron tool include complementary engagement pieces. For example, the plate and the plate receiving element of the tool may engage using a ridge and slot. The cross section of the ridge(s) may be rectangular, may have a T cross section, or other. The slot is configured to receive the ridge. In the embodiment shown, the plate 32, 34 includes two ridges 37 for engaging corollary slots on the plate receiving element of the hair iron tool. In alternative embodiments, a single ridge, or more than two ridges 37 may be provided. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement piece 37 of the plate may be a slot and the heat receiving element of the hair iron tool may have a ridge engagement piece for receipt by the slot.

In another embodiment, the positive plate may have a ridge and the negative plate may have a slot (or vice versa) with the positive plate heat receiving element having a slot and the negative plate receiving element having a ridge (or vice versa). This may ensure that the positive plate and the negative plate are always oriented in a certain manner in the hair iron tool. For example, the may ensure that the positive plate can only be received by an upper arm of the hair iron tool and the negative plate can only be received by a lower arm of the hair iron tool.

In yet another embodiment, the plate receiving elements may be provide with lateral u- or c-curved extensions for receiving edges of the plate. In such embodiment, the plates may have curved edges that correspond to the shape of the extensions. Alternatively, any manner of removably fixing the plates to the hair iron tool arms may be used, such as a snap fit, a friction fit, or other.

FIGS. 4a-4d illustrate a hair iron tool 20 without plates placed therein, in accordance with one embodiment. FIGS. 5a and 5 illustrate a hair iron tool without a locking piece placed thereon, in accordance with one embodiment. The portion of the hair iron tool that receives the plates may be referred to as the proximal portion of the hair iron tool. The portion of the hair iron tool that is grasped by a user may be referred to as the distal portion of the hair iron tool.

The hair iron tool is configured to be heated. More specifically, the plate receiving element or the hair iron tool is configured to be heated. Any suitable heating element may be used. For example, a far-infrared heat element, a ceramic heating element, a PTC heating element, or an alloy heating element may be used. Power for heating the plate receiving element (or, more specifically, the heating element associated with the plate receiving element) may be provided via connection to an outlet, for example using the cord shown extending from the distal end, or may be provided via battery (single use or rechargeable). Heating of the plate receiving elements in turn heats plates placed thereon.

The hair iron tool 20 has first and second arms 21. Each arm includes a plate receiving element and an handle portion. A heating element is provided associated with each plate receiving element. The plates are received by the plate receiving elements of the arms. The arms may be hingedly connected, for example at a distal portion of the hair iron tool. While a hinge connection is specifically referenced, any manner of providing the arms such that they can be moved towards and away from one another may be used. The arms 21 terminate in end pieces 26 at the forward ends thereof. The first and second arms 21 may alternatively be referred to as upper and lower arms. Each arm 21 includes a plate receiving element 22. The plate receiving element 22 includes an engagement piece 24 for receiving, or receipt by, the engagement piece of a plate. In the embodiment shown, each plate receiving element 22 includes two engagement pieces 24 and the engagement pieces 24 are slots. The plate receiving elements 22 are heat plates and get hot during use.

The relative extension of the plate receiving element from the proximal end of the hair iron tool towards the distal end of the hair iron tool can be varied. Similarly, the width (transverse to the distal to proximal extension) of the plate receiving element 22 may be varied. In some embodiments, each plate receiving element 22 may be configured for receiving more than one plate. In such embodiment, a plurality of design plates may be chosen and inserted into the hair iron tool such that a plurality of designs may be imprinted in the hair at once.

The hair iron tool has an outer surface. The outer surface of the proximal portion of the arms may be designed to receive a locking piece. For example, the proximal portion 23 may have a depressed outer surface and terminate in a step 27 such that the locking piece may be slide over the depressed portion until it abuts the step 27. In some embodiments, when the locking piece is in place over the proximal portion, an outer surface of the locking piece may align with the step 27. The arms 21 further may include a protuberance 25 around which an end of the locking piece may be fixed. In some embodiments, the hair iron tool 20 may include grip elements 25 and/or contoured features to facilitate a user grasping and working with the hair iron tool.

FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a plate 30/34 being inserted into the hair iron tool 20. The engagement pieces 37 of the plate 30 are received by the engagement pieces 24 of the hair iron tool 20. In the embodiment shown, the plate engagement pieces and the hair iron tool engagement pieces 24 are aligned at a proximal end of the hair iron tool 20. For example, in a ridge and slot configuration, the ridge is inserted into the slot at the proximal end of the hair iron tool. The plate 30/34 is then slid into place along the plate receiving element 22.

FIG. 7 illustrates a locking piece 40. As shown, the locking piece has a distal end 42 and a proximal tip 44. In position on the hair iron tool, the distal end 42 abuts the step 27. The proximal tip 44 may comprise an extended cool tip edge. In some embodiments, the distal end 42 may include corners to wrap around the protuberance 24 of the arms 21 of the hair iron tool. Ridges 44 may be provided along sides of the locking piece 40 near the distal end 42.

FIG. 8 illustrates part of an assembled hair iron 5. As shown, the plates 30 have been inserted along the plate receiving elements of the hair iron tool 30. Locking pieces 40 have been slid over the hair iron tool to lock the plates 30 in place.

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrates lightning bolt plates and an assembled hair iron tool with the lightning bolt plates inserted therein. FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrates start plates and an assembled hair iron tool with the star plates inserted therein. It is to be appreciated that these are exemplary only and virtually any design or symbol may be used.

FIG. 11 illustrates a package 50 holding the hair iron system. As shown, the package 50 holds the assembled hair iron, heat protection glove, and plates. A bag for storing the plates may be provided.

To imprint a design on hair, the user selects a positive plate and a negative plate having the desired design. The user engages the positive plate with the plate receiving element of a first arm of the hair iron tool and engages the negative plate with the plate receiving element of a second arm of the hair iron tool. Locking pieces may be placed on the hair iron tool to form the assembled hair iron and lock the positive and negative plates in place. The tool is heated. A section of hair is positioned between the positive plate and the negative plate. The first and second arms of the hair iron tool are pressed together and held in a closed position for an amount of time sufficient to imprint the design on the section of hair, for example 5 seconds. To imprint a second design, the positive plate and the negative plates having the first design are removed from the hair iron tool and replaced with a positive plate and a negative plate having a second design and the process is repeated.

As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

Additionally, as used herein, the phrase “at least one of [X] and [Y],” where X and Y are different components that may be included in an embodiment of the present disclosure, means that the embodiment could include component X without component Y, the embodiment could include the component Y without component X, or the embodiment could include both components X and Y. Similarly, when used with respect to three or more components, such as “at least one of [X], [Y], and [Z],” the phrase means that the embodiment could include any one of the three or more components, any combination or sub-combination of any of the components, or all of the components.

In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A hair iron system comprising:

a hair iron tool having: a proximal end and a distal end; a first arm and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm having a plate receiving element provided at the proximal end;

a positive plate having a design projection;

a negative plate having a design depression, wherein the design depression receives the design projection during use of the hair iron system;

wherein the plate receiving element of the first arm removably receives the positive plate and the plate receiving element of the second arm removably receives the negative plate.

2. The hair iron system of claim 1, wherein each of the plates include a plate engagement piece and the plate receiving elements each include a plate receiving element engagement piece, and wherein the plate engagement pieces and the plate receiving element engagement pieces engage one another to position the plates on the hair receiving elements.

3. The hair iron system of claim 1, further comprising a first locking piece for locking the positive plate in place on the plate receiving element of the first arm and a second locking piece for locking the negative plate in place on the plate receiving element of the second arm.