Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
lZ3~622
STUMBLE HAIR CURLER
Background
Hair curlers adapted to be steamed before they are
applied to hair are known. The present invention is dip
rooted to solving several problems associated with known
hair curlers by reducing the number of components, non-
during the components more flexible for ease of dolor-
motion to partially conform to the shape of a person's
head, reducing the cost of manufacture of said hair
curlers, etc.
Summary Of The Invention
The present invention in one embodiment is directed
to a hair curler which includes a first cureless sleeve
of flexible foam polymeric material closed at one end. A
second more rigid sleeve surrounds the first sleeve. The
second sleeve has spaced longitudinal slots on its periphery
to render the central portion of the second sleeve more
flexible. The other end of the first sleeve is open for
receiving steam.
The hair curler preferably has the following addition-
at features. Teeth are provided along the periphery of the
slots in the second sleeve so that they may catch hair and
retain the hair curler in place. A shield may be provided
for removable attachment to the ends of the hair curler.
The sleeve may be provided with a core which is removable
whereby the first and second sleeves may be used with or
without the core.
1;~3~62~
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Various objects and advantages of the invention will
be set forth hereinafter.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention there
is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred;
it being understood, however, that this invention is not
limited to the precise arrangements and instrwnentalities
shown.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hair curler in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure issue an exploded view of the components of
the hair curler shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3
in figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4
in figure 3.
Figure 5 is an exploded view of an alternative core.
Figure 6 is an exploded view of one end of a core.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment
of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment
of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9
in figure 8.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of another embodiment.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of another embodiment.
Figure 12 is a plan view of a sleeve.
Figure 13 and 14 are perspective views of another
embodiment.
Detailed Description
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like
numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in figure 1
a perspective view of a hair curler in accordance with the
present invention designated generally as 10. As shown more
clearly in figure 2, the hair curler 10 includes an eon-
yawed core 12 which may be made from a heat conducting
metal such as aluminum or from a polymer plastic material.
The core 12 has longitudinally extending perforations or
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slots 14. Core 12 is provided with a closed end 16 having
a handle 15. See figure 3. At its other end, core 12 is
provided with a removable end cap 18. End cap 18 is adapt
ted to be removably telescoped over a reduced diameter
portion 22 at the end of the core 12 remote from the
closed end 16. End cap 18 is provided with a hole 20
coaxial with the core 12. Ease of manufacture is facile
stated by making end cap 18 separate from the core.
The core 12 is surrounded by a first sleeve 24 of
porous material with a slight force fit there between.
Sleeve 24 is preferably a foam polymeric plastic material
whose radial thickness is substantially greater than the
radial thickness of the core 12 and whose length Coors
ponds with the length of core 12. The sleeve 24 is
surrounded by second sleeve 26 with a slight force fit
there between. Sleeve 26 is preferably jade from a polyp
metric material impervious to liquids and is slightly
shorter than sleeve 24 whereby sleeve 26 is not likely to
touch a person's ear.
The sleeve 26 may have a length corresponding to the
length of sleeve 24 and is substantially thinner than
sleeve 24. Sleeve 26 has a plurality of holes or long-
tudinally extending slots 28 in its central portion.
The slots 28 render the central portion of the sleeve 26
very flexible so that it may be readily deformed by minimal
finger pressure to facilitate catching hair. The side
edges of the slots 28 are preferably provided with a pour-
amity of arcuately disposed fingers or teeth 30 which are
adapted to catch hair when the hair curler is wound around
hair. Teeth 30 catch hair and comb it. The number of
slots 28 is variable. my way of example, a sleeve 26
having a diameter of approximately 1 1/4 inches (31 mm), I
prefer to provide at least four slots 28 with the gap
between oppositely disposed teeth 30 being approximately
1/4 inch (6.4 mm) and the length of the teeth being approxi-
mutely 3/16 inch (5 mm). Those dimensions will change on
different size rollers.
123762;2 -
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A shield 32 is optionally provided and facilitates
handling of the steamed curler and/or retaining hair around
the curler. The shield 32 is generally C-shaped as shown
more clearly in figures 2 and 4. Shield 32 is provided
with tabs 34 and 35 at its ends adjacent the bight. A
radially outwardly directed handle 38 is attached to the
bight on the shield 32. See figure 4. The inner surface
of the tabs 34, 35 are provided with notches 36 to facilitate
attaching the shield 32 to opposite ends of the sleeve 26.
Shield 32 is slightly shorter than sleeve 26 so that the
tabs 34, 35 are under tension. The notches 36 facilitate
adjustment of the gap 40 between the inner periphery of
shield I and the outer periphery of sleeve 26. See figures
3 and 4. Shield 32 reduces the rapidity of heat loss
whereby the curler stays warm for a longer period of time.
Steam may be introduced into the interior of core 12
by way of hole 20 in a conventional manner. If the shield
32 is utilized to support the hair curler during steaming,
it is removed. Thereafter, the steamed roller is wound
around hair. Thereafter, either a hair clip 44 and/or
the shield 32 is applied to hold the hair around the roller
in the gap 40. The flexibility of the tabs 34, 35 and the
notches 36 facilitate adjustment of the gap 40 to accommo-
date the amount of hair wound around the roller.
The flexibility of the sleeve 26 imparted by the
longitudinal slots I facilitates deformation of the
central portion of the hair roller to approximate the
curvature of the persons head. Thus, the hair curler
10 is more comfortable to a wearer since the central
portion of the roller is flexible and self-accommodating
to the arcuate curvature of a person's head which varies
at different locations around the person's head. In
addition, hair curler 10 may be utilized in connection
with long hair where flexibility of the hair curler is not
essential. The core 12 is totally removable before or
after the hair curler 10 is wound around a person's hair.
1~3~76~2
--5--
Removal of the core 12 further increases the flexibility
of the hair curler 10.
In figure 5, there is illustrated another embodiment
of the core which is designated 12'. The core 12' is ides-
tidal with core 12 except as will be made hereinafter. The
length of the slots 14' in core 12' is greater than the length
of the slots 14. Thus, the slots 14' extend through the no-
duped diameter portion 22'. This feature is a manufacturing
expedient which facilitates ease of Mackinac the core 12' and
facilitates ease with which the end cap 18 may be telescoped
over the reduced diameter 22'.
If the particular circumstances indicate that it would
be desirable not to utilize the shield 32 for retaining hair
on the hair curler, hair clip 44 may be utilized to embrace
a portion of hair and extend along the inner and outer sun-
faces of the sleeve 26. See figure 1.
In figure 7 there is illustrated a cross sectional
view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein
the hair curler is designated generally as 50. Hair curler
50 is identical with the hair curler 10 except as will be
made hereinafter. Hair curler 50 is cureless and includes
a first flexible foam sleeve 52 corresponding to sleeve 24
which is surrounded by sleeve 54 corresponding to sleeve
26. A shield 56 which corresponds to shield 32 is attached
to the ends of sleeve 52 by end tabs as described above.
One end of the sleeve 52 is closed in any convenient manner.
A simple and inexpensive manner for closing one end of the
sleeve 52 is by way of a end cap 56' havincJ a short boss 58
telescoped into the sleeve 52 as shown at the left hand end
of figure 7. Alternatively, cap 56' could be cup shaped and
telescoped over the outer periphery of one end of sleeve
52. If desired, the open end of the sleeve 52 may be
provided with a removable end cap 60 having a hole 62
coaxial with the inner periphery of the sleeve 52. Curler
50 is utilized in the same manner as described above.
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The hair curler 50 is lighter in weight and cheaper
to manufacture than the hair curler 10. In addition, the
lack of a core renders the hair curler 10 more flexible
and comfortable. Excluding the shield, hair curler 10 has
a weight of approximately 15 grams whereas hair curler 50
without the shield may have a weight of 7 to 8 grams.
In figure 8, there is illustrated another embodiment
of the present invention wherein the hair curler is design
noted generally as 70. The hair curler 70 is identical
with the hair curler 10, except as follows. A sleeve 72
is telescoped over the sleeve 26 and has a length cores-
pounding to the length of sleeve 26. Sleeve 72 is preferably
a layer of foam polymer plastic material corresponding to
the material of sleeve 24. Sleeve 72 is preferably thinner
than the radial thickness of the sleeve PA. The relative
thickness of sleeves 24 and 72 may be different as desired.
The provision of the sleeve 72 renders the curler 70 with
longer heat retention than hair curler 10 while permitting
wrapping hair there around without feeling the higher tempt
erasure within the roller. In addition, sleeve 72 spaces
the hair to be curled from the sleeve 26 so as to prevent
the application of moisture which may condense on sleeve
26 when the steam is very hot and/or wet. Sleeve 72 is
removable and utilized to convert hair curler 10 to hair
curler 70 when the condition of the steam warrants the
same. Hair curler 70 is otherwise identical with hair
curler 10.
In figure 10 there is illustrated another embodiment
of a hair curler designated 75. Curler 75 is Charles and
includes a sleeve 76 of foam polymeric plastic. The bore
of sleeve 76 is designated 78. Sleeve 76 is telescoped
into perforated sleeve 80 with a slight interference fit.
Perforations 81 in sleeve 80 may be of larger diameter ad-
jacent the central portion than adjacent the ends thereof.
Sleeve 80 is made from a polymeric plastic impervious to
liquids and has a reduced thickness at its ends.
Jo
123 7622 --
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A first plastic end cap 82 is snapped onto the no-
duped thickness of sleeve 80 and closes one of sleeve 76.
A second plastic end cap 84 is snapped onto the reduced
thickness at the other end of sleeve 80. End cap 84 has
a hole Us coaxial with bore 78. Hole 86 has a diameter
greater than that of bore 78. In addition to its simply-
city and low cost, roller 75 is readily usable by unskilled
persons and can be attached to hair wound there around by a
detachable clip similar to clip 44.
In figure 11 there is illustrated another embodiment
of a cureless hair curler designated 90. Curler 90 in-
eludes a sleeve 92, like sleeve 76, telescoped into a
sleeve 94. Sleeve 94 is the same as sleeve 80 but is
integral in one piece with end wall 100. Sleeve 94 has
rows of holes with holes 96 being smaller in diameter than
holes 98 so the central portion of sleeve 94 is more flex-
isle. At the end of sleeve 94 remote from wall 100, there
is provided radially inwardly directed flange 102 terminal-
in at hole 104 coaxial with bore 106 in sleeve 92. The
diameter of hole 104 is greater than the diameter of bore
106 but less than the diameter of sleeve 94.
oiler 90 is comprised of only two components. The
hole 104 is sufficiently large so that the sleeve 92 may
be deformed and then inserted into sleeve 94. A few drops
of hair conditioner may be introduced into sleeve 92 while
it is in sleeve 94. Sleeve 94 will distribute the hair
conditioner so that it is picked up by steam and duster-
butted to the hair which is wound there around.
In figure 12 there is illustrated a sleeve 108 having
circum~erentially rows of holes 110. Holes 110 are larger
in the central portion than near the ends of the sleeve.
Hence the central portion is more flexible. This method
of attaining flexibility may be used in the other embody-
mints discussed above in connection with sleeves 26, 54,
80, 94, each of which is impervious to liquids and more
rigid than the foam plastic sleeve associated therewith.
lZ3~762Z --
--8--
In figures 13 and 14 there is illustrated another
embodiment of a hair curler designated generally as 112.
Curler 112 is the same as curler 10 except as follows.
Curler 112 has a removably core 114 having slots like core
112, and over which is telescoped a sleeve 116. Sleeve 116
is like sleeve 24 and has a slight force fit. Curler 112
does not have a sleeve corresponding to sleeve 26. Curler
112 may have a shield 117 which lacks a handle and which
relies on deformation of the foam plastic sleeve 116 to
facilitate attachment. Shield 117 is not connected to
sleeve 116 or core 114 by any tabs. Shield 117 is made
of plastic and has flexible free ends 119, 121. Shield
117 embraces about 200 to 270 of the circumference of
sleeve 116 and has a large number of open areas for escape
of steam.
Alternatively, curler 112 may have a shield 118 as
shown in figure 14.
The shield 118 is like shield 32 but the tabs 120
are longer so that they cooperate with the ends of core
114. If desired, shield 11~ may have longitudinally ox-
tending slots. Curler 112 may be attached to hair by a
clip 124 which is like clip 44. Curler 112 has less parts
and is less expensive than curler 10.
Each curler lends itself to use with a clip such as
clip 44. Each curler has an opening at one end for intro-
during steam whereinto. Each curler is more flexible in
its central portion as compared with its ends.
The present invention may be embodied in other
specific forms without departing from the spirit or Essex-
trial attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should
be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing
specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
'.,
