HAIR STYLING IRON WITH RAISED FINS

FER A FRISER AVEC DES ERGOTS RELEVES

English Abstract

An electrically powered, heated flat iron (1) has a first handle (2) and a second handle (3) joined by a hinge (4). An upper plate (6) is attached to the first handle (2), and a lower plate (7) is attached to the second handle (3). The upper plate has a groove (8) that extends generally longitudinally. The lower plate (7) has a set of raised ridges (9), the ridges (9) being aligned in a longitudinally extending row along the lower plate (7) so that the row is aligned with the groove (8).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un fer plat (1) chauffé, alimenté électriquement qui comporte une première poignée (2) et une seconde poignée (3) réunies par une charnière (4). Une plaque supérieure (6) est fixée à la première poignée (2) et une plaque inférieure (7) est fixée à la seconde poignée (3). La plaque supérieure comporte une rainure (8) qui s'étend de manière généralement longitudinale. La plaque inférieure (7) comporte un ensemble de nervures relevées (9), les rainures (9) étant alignées selon une rangée s'étendant longitudinalement le long de la plaque inférieure (7) de telle sorte que la rangée soit alignée avec la rainure (8).

Claims

CLAIMS.
1. An appliance for styling hair, said appliance comprising:
an upper plate attached to a first member and defining a first
longitudinal axis, said upper plate having an upper substantially planar
surface and a single enclosed groove extending generally longitudinally
with respect to said first longitudinal axis and recessed relative to said
upper planar surface,
a lower plate attached to a second member and defining a second
longitudinal axis in general alignment with said first longitudinal axis, said
lower plate having a lower substantially planar surface;
a heat element associated with one or both of said first and second
members and being adapted to be selectively actuated to heat a respective
plate associated with said first or second member;
a set of independent raised ridges extending from said lower plate
and being in general longitudinal alignment with respect to said second
longitudinal axis of said lower plate, said raised ridges being longitudinally
spaced and aligned with said single groove so that when said first member
is in contact with said second member, said ridges enter said single
groove, each ridge having a length L, a thickness T, and a height H, where
L is greater than T and greater than H, and each ridge is oriented so that
its length L is orthogonal to said second longitudinal axis; and
said first and second members being operatively connected and
mounted for movement between an open position and a generally
approximated position, whereby when in said approximated condition, a
subject's hair is contacted by said upper and lower substantially planar
surfaces of respective said upper and lower plates and being
dimensioned to apply a generally straightening effect to the subject's hair
while said ridges providing a detangling effect as the hair is passed through
said upper and lower planar surfaces.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said ridges are integrally
formed with said lower plate.
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3. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said ridges are integrally
formed on a secondary plate that is attached to said lower plate.
4. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said single groove and
said ridges are each generally centrally located with respect to the
respective
upper and lower plates.
5. An appliance according to claim 1, comprising at least three ridges
with longitudinally adjacent ridges being longitudinally spaced.
6. An appliance for styling hair, which comprises: a first hair treating
member defining a first longitudinal axis, said first treating member having a
substantially planar first treatment surface and defining- an enclosed
longitudinal groove recessed relative to said first treatment surface and
generally extending along said first longitudinal axis;
a second hair treating member defining a second longitudinal axis in
general alignment with said first longitudinal axis, said second treating
member having a substantially
planar second treatment surface and a plurality of raised ridges
generally extending longitudinally with respect to said second longitudinal
axis and depending outwardly from said second treatment surface, and
having longitudinally adjacent ridges being in spaced relation, each ridge has
a length L, a thickness T, and a height H, where L is greater than T and each
ridge is oriented so that its length L is generally orthogonal to the second
longitudinal axis, the length L of each ridge is greater than the height H;
said first and second treating members operatively coupled and
adapted for relative movement wherein said first and second treatment
surfaces engage hair passing to provide a straightening effect on the hair
with
said raised ridges of said second treating member being received within said
enclosed longitudinal groove of said first treating member; and
a heat element associated with at least one of said first and second
treating members.
7. An appliance according to claim 6, wherein the first treating member
includes a first plate element, the plate element having said longitudinal
groove.

8. An appliance according to claim 7, wherein said second treating
member includes a second plate element, said raised ridges depending
outwardly from said second plate member.
9. An appliance according to claim 8, wherein said first and second
treating members are adapted for relative pivotal movement.
10. An appliance according to claim 6, further comprising at least three
ridges with longitudinally adjacent ridges being longitudinally spaced.
11. An appliance according to claim 6, wherein said longitudinal groove
and said raised ridges are generally centrally located within said first and
second plate members.
12. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a heat element
associated with each of said first and second members and being adapted to
be selectively actuated to heat respective fist and second plates.
13. An appliance according to claim 8, comprising a heat element
associated with each of said first and second treating members to heat
respective first and second plate elements.
14. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the length L of each ridge
is at least about twice the thickness T of each ridge.
15. An appliance according to claim 14, wherein the length L of each ridge
is at least about three times the thickness T of each ridge.
16. An appliance according to claim 14, wherein each ridge defines a
general fin-like configuration.
17. An appliance according to claim 6, wherein the length L of each ridge
is at least about twice the thickness T of each ridge.
18. An appliance according to claim 17, wherein the length L of each ridge
is at least about three times the thickness T of each ridge.
19. An appliance according to claim 17, wherein each ridge defines a
general fin-like configuration.
20. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the length L of each ridge
is greatest at the intersection of the ridge with the lower plate.
21. An appliance according to claim 20 wherein the set of independent
raised ridges is a single sole set of independent raised ridges.
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22. An appliance according to claim 6, wherein the length L of each ridge
is greatest at the intersection of the ridge with the lower plate.
23. An appliance according to claim 22, wherein the set of independent
raised ridges is a single sole set of independent raised ridges.
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Description

CA 02665811 2009-04-06
WO 2008/052210
PCT/US2007/082787
HAIR STYLING IRON WITH RAISED FINS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hand held hair styling devices and, more
particularly, to hair styling devices having heated plates.
Description of Related Art
Various known hair styling irons have heated, flat plates. Certain flat
irons have non-flat heated surfaces comprising one or more of raised contours,
grooves, pins, and channels. While each has a specialized purpose, such as
shaping hair in a particular way, or detangling hair, none provide optimal
performance for simultaneously straightening hair, detangling hair, and
delivering
maximum heat transfer. For example, designs that have mere pins or bristle-
like
protrusions effectively comb through hair, and in some instances detangle the
hair, yet the pins are poor heat conductors and, therefore, do little to
transfer
heat. The result is that the heat transfer is almost entirely limited to
surfaces of
the flat iron surfaces that directly contact the hair. Furthermore, pins,
particularly
if a relatively large number are employed, have a tendency to get stuck in
tangled
hair and are difficult to pull through, particularly without causing
discomfort.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heated styling iron that
achieves straightening, detangling, and optimum heat transfer in a manner that
overcomes the shortcomings described above.
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
According to the present invention, a heated styling iron having two
opposed heated surfaces hingedly connected achieves straightening, detangling,
and optimum heat transfer by utilizing on one flat heated surface a row of fin-
like
raised ridges that are spaced apart longitudinally in a single row and that
are
oriented so that the longer dimension of the fin-like ridges are aligned
generally
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CA 02665811 2016-11-29
transverse to the longitudinal axis. Thus, as the iron is pulled through the
hair the
ridges guide the hair along their longer dimensions. The opposing flat heated
surface has a channel or groove that extends longitudinally in a manner so
that it
complementarily receives the row of ridges when the heated surfaces are closed
against each other. The sizing and shape of the groove is optimized to receive
the
ridges while the heated surfaces are closing around a lock of hair.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided an
appliance for styling hair, said appliance comprising:
an upper plate attached to a first member and defining a first longitudinal
axis, said upper plate having an upper substantially planar surface and a
single
enclosed groove extending generally longitudinally with respect to said first
longitudinal axis and recessed relative to said upper planar surface;
a lower plate attached to a second member and defining a second
longitudinal axis in general alignment with said first longitudinal axis, said
lower
plate having a lower substantially planar surface;
a heat element associated with one or both of said first and second
members and being adapted to be selectively actuated to heat a respective
plate
associated with said first or second member;
a set of independent raised ridges extending from said lower plate and
being in general longitudinal alignment with respect to said second
longitudinal
axis of said lower plate, said raised ridges being longitudinally spaced and
aligned
with said single groove so that when said first member is in contact with said
second member, said ridges enter said single groove, each ridge having a
length
L, a thickness T, and a height H, where L is greater than T and greater than
H, and
each ridge is oriented so that its length L is orthogonal to said second
longitudinal
axis; and
said first and second members being operatively connected and mounted
for movement between an open position and a generally approximated position,
whereby when in said approximated condition, a subject's hair is contacted by
said
upper and lower substantially planar surfaces of respective said upper and
lower
plates and being dimensioned to apply a generally straightening effect to the
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subject's hair while said ridges providing a detangling effect as the hair is
passed
through said upper and lower planar surfaces.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided an appliance for styling hair, which comprises: a first hair treating
member defining a first longitudinal axis, said first treating member having a
substantially planar first treatment surface and defining- an enclosed
longitudinal
groove recessed relative to said first treatment surface and generally
extending
along said first longitudinal axis;
a second hair treating member defining a second longitudinal axis in
general alignment with said first longitudinal axis, said second treating
member
having a substantially
planar second treatment surface and a plurality of raised ridges generally
extending longitudinally with respect to said second longitudinal axis and
depending outwardly from said second treatment surface, and having
longitudinally
adjacent ridges being in spaced relation, each ridge has a length L, a
thickness T,
and a height H, where L is greater than T and each ridge is oriented so that
its
length L is generally orthogonal to the second longitudinal axis, the length L
of
each ridge is greater than the height H;
said first and second treating members operatively coupled and adapted for
relative movement wherein said first and second treatment surfaces engage hair
passing to provide a straightening effect on the hair with said raised ridges
of said
second treating member being received within said enclosed longitudinal groove
of
said first treating member; and
a heat element associated with at least one of said first and second treating
members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heated iron according to the present
invention, including additional partial views showing various components.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
A heated flat iron 1 according to the present invention includes a first
member 2 and a second member 3 joined by a hinge 4. An electrical cord 5
extends therefrom for providing electrical energy from an external source. An
upper plate 6 is attached to the first member 2, and a lower plate 7 is
attached to
the second member 3. The upper plate comprises a groove 8 that extends
generally longitudinally. The lower plate 7 includes a set of raised ridges 9,
each
ridge 9 having a length L, a thickness T, and a height H, where L is greater
than T.
The ridges 9 are aligned in a longitudinally extending row along the lower
plate 7
so that the row is aligned with the groove 8. Each ridge 9 is oriented so that
its
length L is transverse to the longitudinally extending row. The row of ridges
may be
made on a secondary plate that is inlaid into the lower plate 7, or the ridges
may
be integrally formed therewith.
Conventional electric heat elements provide heat to either or both plates 6,
7. Conventional control buttons and dials are used to control settings
including
heat settings. Various surfaces may be treated, coated or comprised of
ceramics,
tourmaline, non-metals and other materials. Ion generators and far infra red
generators may be included. The iron 1 may be vented for wet and dry
applications, it may have a steam generator and fluid reservoir, and it may be
fitted
with a fan for blowing air.
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While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown
and described herein, various modifications may be made without departing from
the scope of the present invention.
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Representative Drawing