Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Hair Styling Device
CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefits
of provisional
application no. 61/511,778 filed July 26, 2011 and provisional application no.
61/558,385
filed November 10, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many types of hair styling devices exist. One of the ongoing challenges
is to curl hair
without causing damage to the hair. Most hair curling devices work by applying
heat to the
hair with a heating element, such as a standard curling iron. This can dry and
even burn the
hair strands and cause damage. Styling the hair with a styling brush and a
hair dryer is
known, but this requires the user to manipulate both the brush and the hair
dryer at the same
time which is often difficult and tiring. Further, the user has to wind and
unwind the hair
strand to be styled from the brush multiple times. This can be difficult to do
on the hair on
the back of the user's head. Also there is the risk that the hair will get
tangled in the brush,
causing breakage of the hair and slowing the process down. Hair styling
devices that suction
the hair into a chamber to dry are also known. The known versions of these
have several
disadvantages. First the devices tend to be primarily designed to straighten
hair, curling the
hair is a secondary thought if at all. Second, many of the known devices are
primarily
designed for salon installations, with personal use devices as a secondary
consideration.
Therefore, the devices tent to be bulky and expensive to manufacture. None of
the prior art
discloses a small, hand held device that efficiently and easily dries and/or
curls hair. Also,
many of the prior art devices the air flow into the hair styling/drying
chamber is uneven, with
less than optimal flow to pull the hair in to the chamber and hold it in the
chamber while
being dried and/or curled.
[0003] The foregoing example of the related art and limitations related
therewith are intended
to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art
will become apparent
to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study
of the drawings.
SUMMARY
[0004] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and
illustrated in
conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and
illustrative,
not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above
described problems
have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other
improvements.
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[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a hair curling
device that the user
does not have to wind the hair around the styling implement.
[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a hair styling
device for curling hair
that uses suction to pull the hair around a hair styling core.
[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide for styling of hair
without having to
press a heated element directly against the hair to be styled, which can cause
damage to the
hair.
[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a hair styling
device that can have
interchangeable hair styling shapes.
[0009] One embodiment of a hair styling device has a hollow hair styling
chamber having a
first end and a second end forming a first flow path. The hair styling chamber
is
aerodynamically connected with a fan chamber having a means to induce an
airflow at the
second end. The means to induce an air flow can create an air flow along the
flow path from
the first end to the second end of the hair styling chamber and the fan
chamber. The fan
chamber also being aerodynamically connected to an air channel forming a
second flow path,
said air channel being roughly parallel to the hair styling chamber from the
second end to the
first end. The air channel is aerodynamically connected to a mixing tip, the
mixing tip being
aerodynamically connected to the hair styling chamber by an intake channel.
The mixing tip
is located on the first end of the hair styling chamber from the fan chamber.
The mixing tip
functions to mix a first air flow of outside air with a second air flow from
the air channel to
form a combined air flow in the hair styling chamber and creating a suction
that functions to
draw a lock of hair into the hair styling chamber. The mixing tip has a
generally cone shaped
hair inlet narrowing towards the inlet channel functioning to increase a flow
rate of the air to
pull a lock of hair into the styling chamber.
[0010] In one embodiment the hair styling device to form a hair strand into a
curl has a body
with a handle. The body has a main styling chamber and air flow channel
parallel to the
styling chamber. The body is attached to the handle, which has a vacuum
impeller mounted
in a fan chamber. The fan chamber is aerodynamically connected to the main
styling
chamber and to an air flow channel. The styling chamber can have a styling
form, which in
the depicted embodiment is a spiral for forming spiral curls. The styling form
can be heated
directly by a heater and the air flow channel can have heating elements to
heat the air flowing
through it. At the opposite end of the body from the impeller, there is a hair
inlet through
which hair is drawn into the styling chamber around the styling form by
suction of the air
flow.
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[0011] Another description of the device is a hair styling device having a
first chamber
defining an air flow path from a first end to a second end, a second chamber
having a first
end and a second end, said second chamber defining a respective flow path, a
blower having
an input and an output, the input of the blower coupled with the second end of
the first
chamber, the output of the blower connected with the first end of the second
chamber and
with an exit port, a mixing tip, the mixing tip having a mouth of a first
diameter and a throat
of a second diameter, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the
throat coupled
with the first end of the first chamber, and the second end of the second
chamber coupled
with a plurality of openings between the mouth of the mixing tip and the
throat of the mixing
tip.
[0012] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,
further
aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the accompanying
drawings
forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters
designate corresponding
parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of the hair styling device
[0014] Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the front of the hair styling
device.
[0015] Figure 3 is a close up of the front of the hair styling device in a
schematic drawing.
[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective drawing of a hair strand drawn into the hair
styling device.
[0017] Figure 5 is a side plan view of an alternate embodiment of the hair
styling device.
[0018] Figure 6 is a partial cut away view of Figure 5.
[0019] Figure 7 is a partial cut away view of Figure 5.
[0020] Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the alternate embodiment.
[0021] Figure 9 is a schematic view of the air flow in the mixing tip.
[0022] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the front cap being removed.
[0023] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a partial cut away view showing the
front cap
removed.
[0024] Figure 12 is a close up view of one end of the style form and the
connection piece.
[0025] Figure 13 is a close up view of one end of the style form and the
connection piece.
[0026] Figure 14 is an exploded view of Figure 13.
[0027] Figure 15 is a close up of the locking tab disengaged.
[0028] Figure 16 is a close up of the locking tab engaged.
[0029] Figure 17 is a perspective view of a possible style form embodiment.
[0030] Figure 18 is a perspective view of a possible style form embodiment.
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[0031] Figure 19 is a perspective view of a possible style form embodiment.
[0032] Figure 20 is a perspective view of a possible style form embodiment.
[0033] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in
detail, it is to
be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the
details of the particular
arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments.
Exemplary
embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is
intended that the
embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative
rather than
limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description
and not of
limitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The disclosed hair styling device is used to form a hair strand or
strands into a desired
curl or other shape. Referring first to Figure 1, the hair styling device 100
has a body 110
and a handle 102. The body 110 has a hollow main styling chamber 101 and an
air channel
106 that runs parallel to the styling chamber 101 for at least a portion of
the length of the
styling chamber, 101. The length of the main styling chamber 101 will depend
on the length
of hair to be styled and the desired total weight of the device. For hand held
units, there will
be a practical limit of the length that is comfortable for most users to hold.
The air channel
106 in the depicted embodiment is a similar length to the styling chamber, but
this is not
required, or even particularly likely on versions for longer hair. In the
depicted embodiment
the air channel 106 is also a heating chamber for heating the air. A heating
chamber could
also be located around the hair inlet 111. The body 110 is attached to the
handle 102 at one
end. The handle 102 has a vacuum impeller 103 powered by a motor 104 mounted
in a fan
chamber 105. The fan chamber 105 is aerodynamically connected to the main
styling
chamber 101 and to the air chamber 106. The styling chamber 101 has a styling
form 107 in
the depicted embodiment. It is not necessary for the operation of the device
to have the style
form 107 in the style chamber 101. If a person only wished to dry their hair
in a generally
straight style, then they could use the device with no style form in the
chamber. The depicted
embodiment of the style form is a spiral for forming spiral curls. A large
number of possible
shapes of the styling form could be used with the present device. The hair
could be formed
into looser or tighter spiral curls, zigzag shapes, flips and other styles are
possible with the
disclosed device. The styling form can vary in diameter of the cylindrical
core, pitch of the
vanes, thickness of the vanes, or even discard the vanes in favor of shapes,
pegs and other
methods for imparting form to hair. If desired the disclosed device could also
be used to dry
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the hair straight if the styling form 107 is removed or a specific
straightener/dryer form is
used.
[0035] The styling form 107 is heated by heater 108 in the depicted
embodiment. In the
depicted embodiment the styling form 107 is made of aluminum for good heat
transfer. A
heated style form 107 could also have an aluminum or other metal core with a
thermally
conduction plastic or ceramic over molded cover. It is possible to have an
unheated styling
form 107, in which case it could be formed of plastic The heating chamber 106
has heating
elements 109. The heater 108 and the heating elements 109 could be wire coils
or ceramic
heating elements. At the opposite end of the body from the handle 102, there
is a hair inlet
111, through which hair H is drawn into the styling chamber 101 around the
styling form107
by the air flow described below.
[0036] In use, the impeller 103 creates an air flow when powered by motor 104.
The air is
pulled into impeller 103 as shown by arrow A. This creates an air current that
draws air
through the styling chamber 101, as shown by arrow B. The air leaving the
impeller is split
into two air streams; one is exhausted out of the styling device, shown by
arrow C, and the
other stream flows into the air channel 106 and over heating elements 109,
shown by arrow
D. The heating elements 109 are not required in all embodiments. Depending on
the heating
capacity required any given embodiment could have a heated style form 107 and
heating
elements 109, or just one of the heating means. The choice of heating the
style form, the air
flow or both will depend on a number of design considerations including
desired hair style or
body, desired physical embodiment of production product or creation of
multiple product
using different heating system but utilizing the same vacuum impeller system.
The air
flowing over the heating elements 109 is heated and exits the heating chamber
at the mixing
tip 112, shown by arrow E. Outside air is drawn into the unit 101 at hair
inlet 111, shown by
arrow F.
[0037] Figures 2 and 3 show the hair inlet 111 and mixing tip 112 of the first
embodiment.
The hair inlet 111 is cone shaped in the depicted embodiment to provide smooth
gathering of
the hair and to utilize increasing the speed of the air flow caused by the
narrowing of the flow
path created by the cone and an intake channel to provide maximum air velocity
at the point
the hair and air is drawn into the styling chamber. The hair inlet 111 could
also be pyramidal
shaped or other similar shapes. Heated air flows from the mixing tip 112 into
the cone
through holes 113 when heating elements 109 are in use. Holes 113 are evenly
spaced
around the cone in the depicted embodiment, but this is not required. There
could be just 2 or
3 narrow slots, or 4-6 holes spaced around the cone. The holes 113 can also be
located a
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number of different positions in the depth of the cone. The holes 113 and the
configuration
of the cone shape of the hair inlet allow the force of the air entering the
styling chamber to
smoothly pull a hair strand H to be styled into the styling chamber and around
the styling
form 107, as seen in Figure 4. The mixing tip will be discussed in greater
detail below.
[0038] The hair strand H can be either wet or dry. The air temperature in the
styling
chamber is between 140 to 300 degrees F during operation. In the preferred
embodiment the
hair strand H is drawn into the styling chamber 101 and held there with the
heat on for about
45 to 60 seconds. The heat is then turned off, but not the airflow for another
15 to 20
seconds. This holds the curl in the styling chamber at a reduced temperature
and helps to set
the curl.
[0039] Referring next to Figures 5 to 7, another embodiment of the hair
styling device 200
has a body portion 210 and a handle portion 202. The body portion 210 has a
hollow main
styling chamber 201 and air channel 206 that runs roughly parallel to the
styling chamber 201
for at least a portion of the length of the styling chamber, 201. The air
channel 206 has a
bypass air heating element 209 in the depicted embodiment. Some embodiments
will not
have the air heating element and the air will be not be actively heated in the
air channel 206.
Of course, some heating will occur due to friction. The length of the main
styling chamber
201 will depend on the length of hair to be styled and the desired total
weight of the device.
For hand held units, there will be a practical limit of the length that is
comfortable for most
users to hold. In the depicted embodiment at least a portion of the walls of
the styling
chamber 201 are transparent or translucent. This is not required for function,
but is a user
convenience feature. The air channel 206 in the depicted embodiment is a
similar length to
the styling chamber, but this is not required, or even particularly likely on
versions for longer
hair. The air channel could also be located around the hair inlet 211.
[0040] The body 210 is attached to the handle 202 at each end in this
embodiment. A
vacuum impeller 203 is powered by a motor 204 mounted in a fan chamber 205 to
produce
the air flow. Other means of producing an air flow could be uses as well,
including fans,
propellers or other known means. No limitation is intended or should be
inferred. The fan
chamber 205 is aerodynamically connected to the main styling chamber 201 and
to the air
channel 206. The styling chamber 201 has a styling form 207, which in the
depicted
embodiment is a spiral for forming spiral curls. It is not necessary for the
operation of the
device to have the style form 207 in the styling chamber 201. If a person only
wished to dry
their hair in a generally straight style, then they could use the device with
no style form in the
chamber. The style form 209 has a heated core 208 in the depicted embodiment.
In some
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embodiments the style form 209 may not be heated. Any given embodiment may
have the
heated core 208 or the air heating element 209 only or may have both the
heated core 208 and
the air heating element 209. The choice will depend on a variety of design
considerations,
including price point of the final product, amount of hair to be styled at a
time and the size
and length of the style form.
[0041] The air flow in this embodiment is substantially similar to the airflow
of the first
embodiment as shown in Figures 6 and 7. In use, the impeller 203 creates an
air flow when
powered by motor 204. The air is pulled into impeller 203 as shown by arrow G.
Outside air
is drawn into the unit 201 at hair inlet 211 in first air flow, shown by arrow
L. In this
embodiment the mixing tip 212 and the hair inlet 211 are both contained in a
removable inlet
cap 220. This creates an air current that draws air through the styling
chamber 201, as shown
by arrows H. The air leaving the impeller is split into two air streams; one
is exhausted out
of the styling device, shown by arrows I at two sets of exhaust vents. The
first set of exhaust
vents 230 shown in Figure 6. This first set of vents is radially located
around the body 210
behind the fan chamber 205 as shown in Figure 7. The other set of exhaust
vents 231 is
located around the power cord 232. The rest of air stream flows into the air
channel 206 and
over heating elements 209, shown by arrow J forming the second air flow. The
air flowing
over the heating elements 209 is heated and exits the heating chamber at the
mixing tip 212,
shown by arrow K when the heating element is present. When the heating element
is not
present the air flows through the air channel 206 to the mixing tip.
[0042] Figure 7 shows the air flow through the mixing tip 212 into the styling
chamber 201
and the rest of the device. The hair inlet 211 is cone in the depicted
embodiment to provide
smooth gathering of the hair and to utilize increasing the speed of the air
flow caused by the
narrowing of the flow path created by the cone and an intake channel to
provide maximum air
velocity at the point the hair and air is drawn into the styling chamber220.
The hair inlet 211
could also be pyramidal shaped or other similar shapes that smoothly narrow
towards the
intake channel.
[0043] A second air flow, shown by arrow K, from the air channel 206 is
combined and
entrained with the first air flow L in the mixing tip into combined air flow M
that flows into
intake channel 220. The air flow in the intake channel 220 must be fast enough
to suction the
hair into the device and down into the styling chamber 201. It is believed
that the Venturi
effect created by the cone and the intake channel 220 such that the mouth of
the intake
channel is the point of greatest air flow velocity and thus greatest suction.
The mixing tip
211 also ensures that when heating elements are used the heated air in the
second air flow is
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thoroughly mixed with the incoming air of the first air flow to reduce or
eliminate hot spots
or uneven heating of the hair strand.
[0044] Once inside the styling chamber 201 the cross sectional area increases,
but the static
pressure remains lower than outside the intake, encouraging airflow into the
style chamber
and around the style form. This air flow is shown in schematic form in Figure
9. The mixing
tip 211 creates a stable, efficient air flow despite the mixing of the air
flows, allowing good
suction and good results with hair styling. As seen in Figure 8, the holes 213
in the mixing
tip 211 do not need to be evenly sized or spaced, although the holes 213 do
need to be
surrounding the intake channel 220.
[0045] In this embodiment the style form 209 can be removed and changed for a
different
shaped style form. A large number of possible shapes of the styling form could
be used with
the present device. In the depicted embodiment the style forms 209 have two
mechanical
means to secure them into the hair styling device 200; a latch at the base and
the air intake
cap 220 on the end of the styling chamber 201. Each style form 207 can have
visual and
physical guides to aid in alignment. To change the style form 207 for a
different one the user
will remove the air intake cap 220 as seen in Figures 10 and 11. In the
depicted embodiment
the air intake cap 220 is retained in opening 223 by compressible tabs 221
that grip ridges
222 on the cap. Other known means of holding the air intake cap 220 in place
would function
as well. Once the air intake cap 220 is removed from opening 223, the front of
the styling
chamber 201 is open exposing a first end 224 of style form 207.
[0046] Figures 12 and 13 are perspective view of back end the style form 207
connection
piece 240 that connects the style form 207, and thereby the styling chamber
201, to the fan
chamber 205. The second end 225 of the style form 207 a power connection
member 226
extending from the end. The power connection member 226 has a filter frame 250
with a
filter 251 mounted around it. The filter 251 and the frame 250 form a disk
that seals the
bottom of the style form 207 to the connection piece and prevents hair or
other materials from
being pulled into the impeller. As seen in Figure 14, a connection member
retainer 227 with
a locking tab 227 is mounted around the connection member and between the
style form 207
and the filter frame 250. Locking tab 228 extends through filter frame 250 and
extends
substantially parallel to the connection member 226. To mount the style form
207 in the
connection piece 240 the connection member is inserted in to power connection
jack 241 and
the locking tab 228 is inserted through slot 242.
[0047] Referring next to Figures 15 and 16, the locking tab 228 extends
through slot 242.
The filter frame 250 is now against the connection piece 240. The locking tab
228 has
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projection 229 which engages with the filter frame 250 when the style form 207
is rotated,
which locks the style form 207 in place. The cap 220 is then placed over the
end of the
styling chamber 201 further locking it in to place. Other possible attachment
mechanisms are
possible as well, and no limitation should be inferred on the exact attachment
mechanism of
the style form 207. In one possible embodiment the style chamber and style
form could be a
single integrated unit that is changed out completely as a unit when a
different style is
desired. Conversely, a simpler embodiment could have the styling form fixed
into the styling
chamber with no option of removal and no removable tip or associated locking
features. The
air flow through the configuration in shown by arrows in Figure 14, 15 and 16.
Air then
flows into the impeller as discussed above.
[0048] A large number of possible shapes of the styling form could be used
with the present
device. Figures17 through 20 show four possible configurations of style forms.
Additionally,
the form 209 and styling chamber 2011 have a shallow draft of approximately
3/4 to 1 degree.
This achieves several things, including preventing scratches in the styling
chamber from
pulling style forms in and out, ensuring a better seal between the form and
the chamber and
preventing improper insertion of style forms.
[0049] In the depicted embodiment the hair styling device 200 has two sets of
controls; a
variable control for heat level and on-off controls for suction and heat. This
allows the user
to set the amount of heat and to turn off the heat when desired; separate from
the suction that
creates the air flow. The "master" control is the suction on-off. This will be
located in a
convenient location near the thumb or index finger. Unless the suction control
is on, nothing
else on the hair styling device will work and all heating systems will be
locked out. This is a
safety feature to prevent overheating.
[0050] The heat on-off will control heat to the system. With the suction
running, the user
will engage the heat. If the user wished to cool the hair to set a style, they
would toggle the
heat and shut off one or both of the heating elements, depending on the
embodiment. This
control will be located for use by the index finger and will be designed and
placed to avoid
confusion with suction on-off.
[0051] In one embodiment the user will have dual heat controls allowing the
user to set the
heat generated by each heating element independently.
[0052] Additional features could be added to the hair styling device, such as
ionic generators,
including tourmaline crystals, could be added to the device to allow the user
to control the
buildup of positive ions caused by the heating of the air flow. Silver ion
sanitizing methods
could also be used as well in the device.
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[0053] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed
above,
those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations,
additions and sub-
combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims
hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,
permutations,
additions and sub-combinations are within their true spirit and scope. Each
apparatus
embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.
[0054] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of
description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of
such terms and
expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described
or portions
thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within
the scope of the
invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present
invention has been
specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features,
modification and
variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled
in the art, and
that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope
of this invention
as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the
specification, all
intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included
in the ranges
given are intended to be included in the disclosure
[0055] In general the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized
meaning,
which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and
contexts known to
those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their
specific use in the
context of the invention.
