Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1~i3583
ELOCKED ROLLER HAIR C~RLING SYSTEM
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVEN~ION
The invention relates to a flocked hair curling roller system
in which the rollers are heated by the insertion of a cylindrical
heating post member in an interior cylindrical bore contained within
the roller.
United States Patents Nos. 3,519,792, Re. 26,766 and Des. 256,509
disclose hair curling roller systems having a plurality of hair
curling rollers mounted on post members which generate hea-t within
the rollers. Typically in such systems the post members have been
of the same size when the rollers are of the same size and where the
rollers have varied in size the post members have varied in size for
accommodating the different size rollers.
For proper styling of the hair, it is desirable to use rollers
of several different sizes. At the same time, it is convenient for
the use of the hair curling roller system if all of the heating posts
are of the same size so that the rollers can be placed onto any of
the posts. If all of the posts are made with the same diameter then
the posts must be small in order to accommodate the smaller rollers.
In the larger rollers, however, if the diameter of the inner cavity
into which the heating post is inserted is small so that the roller
can be mounted on a small diameter post, the heat from the post does
not sufficiently radiate out to the outer surface of the larger
rollers. Consequently, when different size rollers are included in
the system, larger heating posts have been included for heating the
larger rollers.
United States Patents Nos. 3,888,266 to Weldon and 4,2~2,3~0
to Walter both disclose flocked hair curling rollers. The hair
curler disclosed in Patent ~o. 3,888,266 has a flocked outer surface
having a large number of upstanding short non-hydroscopic filaments
or fibers capable of retaining moisture by capillary action. The
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hair curling roller disclosed in Patent No. 4,202,360 has a
cylindrical member having a flocked outer sur~ace and a hollow
cylindrical core which is adapted to receive a heating element. A
pair of end caps are joined directly to the outside surface of the
flocked roller at the ends of the cylinder. An inner cylindric^al
surface of each of the end caps directly engages the oute~ surface
of the flocked roller and in order to secure such engagement,
protrusions on such inner surface extend into recesses on the roller.
The protrusions alternatively may be carried by either the end cap
or the end of the flocked roller with the recesses being on the other
member.
The flockedhair curling roller disclosed in Patent No. 4,~0~,360
does not contain a space between the outside surface of the flocked
roller and the inside surface of the end caps at the point of
engagement of the end caps with the flocked roller. Because of the
periodic heating and cooling of the roller during its use and storage,
the end caps are subjected to periodic expansion and contraction
which may cause structural fatigue of the end caps thereby potentially
damaging them.
Moreover, the direct engagement of the inner surface of the end
caps disclosed in Patent No. 4,202,360 with the outer flocked surface
of the roller can cause the flocking to be rubbed off the edge of
the roller in the area ~f overlap between the end caps and the roller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVEWTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
hair curling roller system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
hair curling roller system in which all of the heating posts have
substantially the same diameter and there are at least two different
size rollers.
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A further object of the present invention is to provide an
improved flocked hair curling roller which creates a high heat
transfer between a heating element disposed within a cylindrical
bore within the roller and the exterior flocking carried on the
outside surface of the roller.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved hair curling roller system having at least two different
size rollers with the large rollers having core sections construc'ed
for facilitating the transfer of heat to the outer surface so that
the outer surface of the larger rollers are heated to substantially
-the same level as the smaller roller.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide
a flocked hair curling roller which is not subject to structural
fatigue caused by expansion and contraction between the end caps and
the outside surface of the hair curling roller to which the end caps
are joined.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
a flocked hair curling roller in which the flocking carried on the
outside surface of the hair curling roller in proximity to the ends
thereof is not rubbed ofE by the end caps attached to the end of the
hair curling roller.
The hair curling roller system in accordance with the present
invention includes a plurality of rollers and ~ plurality of post
members for heating the rollers, which are mounted on the post members
for heating. While all of the post members having substantially the
same diameter and the inner cavities of the rollers into which the
post members are inserted have substantially the same diameter, the
outer diameters of the rollers are o~ two different sizes. The
interior core of the rollers with the larger outer diameter is
specially constructed for facilitating the transfer of heat from the
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inner cavity to the outer surface of the roller so that when the
rollers are heated the level, i.e. temperature or concentration, of
heat on the outer surface of all of the rollers is approximately the
same. In the larger rollers, the inner core includes a cylindrical
hub surrounding the inner cavity of the roller and a plurality of
heat radiating ribs arranged around the hub and extending in a radial
direction out from the hub with air spaces remaining between adjacent
ribs; an outer sleeve then surrounds these ribs.
The hair curling rollers used in the roller system in accordarlce
with the present invention preferably includes: a central col:e
member having an opening in one lateral end of the core member and
longitudinally extending within the core member to form an inner
cavity and the coremember being formed of a material highly conductive
of heat; a hollow sleeve member arranged on the core member, the
sleeve member having a flocked outer surface; a first end ring
attached to the core member at one lateral end thereof, the first
end ring having a flange extending over but spaced from the adjacent
end portion of the flocked outer surface of the sleeve member; and
a second end ring having an attachment member, the second end ring
being connected to the core member at the other lateral end thereof
by the attachmentmember, the second end ring having a flange extending
over but spaced from the adjacent end portion of the flocked outer
surface. In accordance with the present invention, each of the
larger rollers has a central core member with a plurality of heat
radiating ribs extending out from this central core member and the
flocked sleeve member surrounds the ribs.
The opening in the core member forming the inner cavity extends
through the core member from one lateral end surface to the other
lateral end surface. The attachment member is a prong moun-ted on
an inner surface of the second end ring facing the core member, and
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the prong is inserted into the opening in the core member for securing
the second end ring to the core member. The portion of the opening
at the end of the core member adjacen-~ the second end ring is of a
smaller diameter than the remainder of the opening extending throLlgh
the core member. The prong has two parts formed of a resili~nt
material within a space between the parts so that the parts can be
squeezed together upon insertion oE the prong into the opening in
the core member and snapped back to their original position once ~:he
prong is inserted so as to secure the second end ring to the cr~re
member.
The first and second end rings are preferably formed of a
material having low heat conducting properties. The first end ring
has an opening which is aligned with the opening in the core member
and is approximately of the same diameter as the opening in the core
memberO The opening in the core member is of a sufficient diameter
and of sufficient length measured from the first end ring to permit
the insertion of the heating post member within the inner cavi-ty
within the core member ~or transmitting heat to the roller. The
flocking material is preferably formed of nylon which has a diameter
preferably of 3 denier and a length of 0.5 mm.
A hair curling roller in accordance with the inventionpreferably
includes an interior core member having an inner hub and a plurality
of ribs radially extending from such hub and a longitudinally
extending cylindrical member surrounding such ribs; a first end ring
mounted at one end of the cylindrical member and having a flange
extending over but spaced from the adjacent portion of the outer
surface of the cylindrical member; and a second end ring mounted at
the opposite end of the cylndrical member, the second end ring having
a flange extending over but spaced from the adjacent portion of the
outer surface of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member is
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formed of a heat conductive material. The first and second end rings
are formed of a material having low heat conductive properties.
In order to improve the transfer of heat between the central
core member an~ the outer sleeve, a thin layer, or several thin
layers, of a metal material, such as aluminum, can be wrap~ed aro~nd
the ribs so as to lie between the ribs and the outer sleeve.
A flocked hair curling roller in accordance with the invention
also may include a longitudinall~ extending cylindrical member having
a flocked outer surface; a Eixst end ring moun-ted at one end o~ ~he
cylindrical member and having a flange extendin~ over but spaced
from the adjacent portion oE the flocked outer surface of the
cylindrical member; and a second end ring mounted at the opposite
end of the cylindrical member, the second end ring having a flange
extending over but spaced from the adjacent portion of the flocked
outer surface of the cylindrical member. ~he cylindrical member is
formd of a heat conductive ma~erial. The first and second end rings
are formed of a material having low heat conductive properties. The
flocking material is preferably formed of nylon which preferably has
a diameter of 3 denier and a length of 0.5 mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling roller set in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the rollers removed
so as to show the heating post members.
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the hair curling roller
set shown in Figure 1~
Figure 4 is a front elevational cross-sectional view of the
accessory compartment mounted on the back of the hair roller system
shown in Figure 3 with hair pins contained within the compartment.
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Figure 5 is an elevational view of a Elocked curling roller
that can be used in accordance with the invention.
Figure 6 is a bottom end view of the floc~ed curling roller of
Figure 5.
~ igure 7 is an exploded isometric view of a Eloc~ed curling
roller constructed in accordance with the invention.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the floc~ed curling roller of
Figure 5.
Figures 9a and 9b are cross-sectional views oE two differ~nt
size large rollers along lines A-A in Figure 8 with the top end ring
removed.
~ igure 3c is a cross-sectional view similar to Figures 9a and
9b but the view is of a small size roller.
Figure 10 is a view illustrating the use of the Elocked curling
roller of ~he present invention.
Pigure ll is an elevational view of another e~bodiment of a
flocked curling roller in accordance with the invention.
Figure 12 is an end view of the flocked curling roller of Figure
11 ~
Figure '3 is an exploded isometric view of a flocked curling
roller illustrated in Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a sectional view of the flocked curling roller of
Figure ll.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E. PREF~RRED E~BODIMENT
~ hair curling roller set 2, such as shown in ~igure l, has a
housing 4 which is covered by a pivoted lid 6~ Lid 6 is pivoted
about bearings 8 located at the upper end of the rear of the housing.
Inside of the housing there are a plurality of different sized hair
rollers which are arranged on posts 16. Posts 16 are shown in Figure
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2 in which the hair rollers have been removed from the posts mounted
on housing 4.
The hair curling rollers in curling set 2 are of three different
sizes with the l~rgest two types of rollers being shown by rollers
10 and 12, with roller 10 being larger than roller 12, and the
smallest roller being shown by roller 14. Each of the hair rollers,
10, 12 and 14 in accordance with the preferred embodiment oE the
present invention are floc~ed hair curling rollers. Most hair curl:ing
roller sets include hair rollers of at least two differen-t sizes ~nd
normally three different sizes such as shown in Figure 1.
Mounted on the back of housing ~ of hair curling set 2 is a
detachable accessory compartment 20, as shown in Figure 3. Accessory
compartment 20 has a base 22 and a removable top 24. Base 22 is
removably hooked onto a prong 26 which is connected by a connecting
pin 28 to housing 4. Hair pins 25a, 25b and 25c can be held in
accessory compartment 20 such as shown in Figure 4. These hair pins
of three different si2es -far use with the different size rollers.
~ eat is supplied to the rollers by heat generated within the
posts 16. The posts are hea`ted by an electrical resistance network
as conventional within the art. Electricity is supplied to the
resistance network through the electric line cord 18.
A flocked curling roller 30, as shown in Figures 5, 7, 8, 9a,
and 9b in accordance with the invention has an interior core member
with a central hub 42 and a plurality of ribs 40, a hollow sleeve
member 32, a~ end ring 34~lich is joined to one end of the
f c~
interior core member and a ~3es~d end ring 36 which is joined to the
other end of the core member. End ring 36 preferabl~ is integrally
molded with the interior core member, as shown in Figure 8. The
core member has an opening 38 in one lateral end of the core member
which opening extends longitudinally within the core member~ The
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1~635133
core member is formed of a material which is highly conductive of
heat such as a metal or a filled plastic.
The hollow sleeve membex 32 is located around the core memher
such that the inner surface of the hollow sleeve is in surface contact
with the outer surface of the central cora member. The outs:ide
surface of the hollow sleeve member is coated with a layer of flocking
material 33 which has good heat conductive properties.
As shown in Figures 7, 9a and 9b, the two larger rollers, 10
and 12, have an interior core member which includes a central hub
42 surrounded by a plurality of ribs 40 which radially extend out
from hub 42 and are spaced apart so as to be separated by air spaces.
The ribs 40 serve as heat radiating fins in order to facilitate the
transfer of heat from central hub 42, which is heated by posts 16
in curling set 2, to hollow sleeve member 32 and the layer of flocking
material 33. If a solid core member was used in these larger rollers,
the large solid core would prevent effective transfer of heat from
the interior of the core member in contact with the heating posts 16
to the outer surface of the core member and the hollow sleeve member.
The heat radiating ribs improves the heat transfer characteristics
of the roller so that the layer of flocking material 33 on hollow
sleeve 32 is heated to substantially the same level, i.e. temperature
and concentration of heat, on the larger rollers- as on the smaller
rollers. As shown in Figures 9a and 9b the larger roller 10 includes
longer ribs with greater air spaces between the ribs than the middle
size rolier 12. In contrast, however, the small rollers, such as-
roller 14 as shown in Figure 9c, only has a central hub portion with
no heat radiating ribs.
E~ Xi~gS 34 a~ 36 ha~e flanges 58 and
60, r~spectively. The inner diameter of each of flanges 58 and 60
is greater than the diameter of the outside surface with layer 33
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of flocking material on the hollow sleeve member 32 as can be seen
~rom Figure 8. The central hub 42 of the core member has an end 43
having an opening 44 having a diame-ter smaller than the opening 38
disposed in the other end of the central core member. The diameter
o~ the cylindrical hole within the central hub 42,-therefore, reduces
from that of opening 38 to that o~ opening 44 în proximity to the end
43 to ~orm a surface which engages attachment prongs 48 and 50 which
are disposed in the center of the end ring 34.
The attachment prongs 48 and 50 on end ring 34 are made from a
resilient material which has a memory for asssuming its original
shape such as plastic. The attachment prongs are used -to fixedly
engage end ring 34 within the end 43 of central hub 42. When
attachment prongs 48 and 50 are inserted within opening 44, the
prongs are pushed together so that they may clear the reduced diameter
of the opening. After the outwardly tapered portions of the prongs
have cleared openlng 44, they spring back to their original position
which causes their engagement with the reduced diameter section 43
of central hub 42 to locX the end ring 34 longitudinally in place
within the end of the core member.
Rotation of the end ring 34 is prevented by a locking tab
which engages recess 46. The function of the locking means is to
prevent rotation of the end ring with respect to the flocked surface
around which the hair of the user is wrapped. In order to further
secure end ring 34 to the core member, several pins, such as pin 54
can be used as shown in Figure 8.
End rings 3q and 36 are manufactured from a material, such as
plastic, which has a low coefficient of heat conductlon. The low
coefficient of heat conduction of end rings 34 and 36 prevents the
user from being burned while wrapQing hair around the flocked outside
surface 33 which is designed to be heated to a high temperature by
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the insertion of a heating post 16 within the opening 38 of t:he
interior core member and end ring 36, which are shown in Figure 6.
The location of the inner surfaces of the flanges 58 and ~0 of
-the end rings 3~ and 36 so that it is not in surface contact with
the flocked surface 33 on hollow sleeve member 32 but is spaced from
such surface, provides several advantages. In the first place, the
expansion and contraction of the diameter of the hollow sleeve memaer
consequent from repeated heating and cooling cycles does not cause
strain on the flanges and the end rings. ~ccordingly, with the
arrangement of the present invention there is no possibility of
expansion-contraction stress failure on the end caps which is possible
with the flocked hair curling roller illustrated in ~nited States
Patent No~ 4,202,360. Second, since there is no surface contact
between the flocked surface 33 and the inner surface of the flanges,
the flocking is not worn or damaged by the attachment of end ring 34
to the core member.
A flocked curling roller 110, as shown in Figures 11 and 12,
in accordance with another embodiment of the invention has a central
core member 112, a hollow sleeve member 114, a first end ring llfi
which is joined to one end of the central core member and a second
end ring 118 which is joined to the other end of the central core
member~ The central core member has an opening 120 in on~i lateral
end of the core member which opening extends longitudinally within
the core member. The core member 112 is formed of a material which
is highly conductive of heat such as a metal or a filled plastic.
The hollow sleeve member 114 is located with respect to the
central core member such that the lnner surface of the hollow sleeve
is in contact with the outer surface of the central core member.
The outside surface 122 of the hollow sleeve member is flocked with
a material which has good heat conductive properties.
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The first end ring 116 and the second end ring 118 each have
an annular recess 126 which has an outside surface 128. The diameter
of outside surface 128 of recess 126 measured from the longitudinal
a~is that is greater than the diameter of the outside surface 122 of
t~e hollow sleeve member 11~ to which the flockiny 124 is applied as
can be seen from Figure 14. The central core member 112 has an end
132 having an opening 134 having a diameter smaller than the opening
120 disposed in the other end of the central core member. The
diameter of the cylindrical hull within the central core member }12
reduces from that of opening 120 to that of opening 134 in proximity
~ 3~
to the end ~ to form ct surface 136 which engages an attachment
member 39 which is disposed in the center of the second end ring 118.
The attachment member 138 on end ring 118 is made from a resilient
material which has a memory for assuming its original shape such as
plastic. The attachment member, which Eunctions as a prong, has two
parts 140 which are separated by a space. The attachment member is
used to fixedly engage the second end ring 118 within the end 132 of
the core member 112. When the attachment member 140 is inserted
within the opening 134, the parts 140 are pushed together so -that
they may clear the reduced diameter of the opening. After the
outwardly tapered portions of the parts 140 have cleared the opening
134, they spring back to their original position which causes their
engagement with the surfaces 136 to lock the end ring 118
longitudinally in place within the end 132 of the central core member
112.
Rotation of the second end ring 118 is prevented by a locking
means 144 formed by a projection 146 which engages recess 148. The
function of the locking means is to prevent rotation of the first
and second end rings with respect to the flocked surface around which
the hair of the user is wrapped.
S~3
The end rings 116 and 118 are manufactured ~rom a material,
such as plastic, which has a low coef~icient of heat conduction.
The low coefficient of heat conduction of the end ring~ 116 and 118
prevents the user from being burne~ while wrapping hair around the
flocked outside surface 122 which is designed to be heated to high
temperature by the insertion of a heating element within the opening
12~ of the central core member. A heating element has not been
illustrated in the drawings for the sake of clarity since the use
of insertable heating elements within the center of hair rollers-is
known.
The location of surface 128 of the second end ring 118 so that
it is not in surface con-tact with the flocking 124 of the outside
surface 122 cf the hollow sleeve member 114 but is spaced from such
surface provides several advantages. In the first place, the
expansion and contraction of the diameter of the hollow sleeve member
consequent from repeated heating and cooling cycles does not cause
strain on the outside surface 128. Accordingly, as with the other
embodiment of the present invention described above, with this
arrangement there is no possibility of e~pansion-contraction stress
failure on the end caps which is possible with the flocked hair
curling roller illustrated in United States Patent No. 4,202,360.
Second, since there is no surface contact between the flocking 124
and the surface 128, the flocking is not worn or damaged by the
attachment of the second end ring 118 to the central core member 112.
~3~?
Preferably, the flocking material of layers 33 and 124 is nylon
fiber having a diameter of approximately 3 denier and a length of
approximately 0.5 mm. The flocking provides a large surface area
which contacts the hair which is rolled around the outside surface
of the centraI aore member by a user such as shown in Figure 10.
The large surface area of the flocking permits efficient hea~ transfer
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33
between the hollow sleeve member and the hair which is wrapped around
the outside flocked surface. In any conventional manner, the flocking
is glued to the outside surface of the hollow sleeve member with any
adhesive which is resistant to moisture and various commercial
products which are used by women for setting and conditioning hair.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific Eorms
without departing Erom the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are presented merely asillustrative
and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated
by the attached claims rather than the foregoing description. All
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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