Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROTATION RESPONSIVE MOTORIZED HAIR CURLER
Cross-Reference to Related Application
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No 62/043,763
filed
August 29, 2014. The entirety of this application is incorporated herein by
reference.
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to curling irons, and in particular, to an improved
curling iron
having a rotatable barrel.
Background
Hairstyles are as unique as one's personality. One popular tool used by many
to style
their hair is that of the curling iron. It is commonly used to add style,
body, flips, flair and the
like to ones hair in a quick manner with a minimum of fuss. However, to do
these tasks, one
must grab a swath of hair in the curling iron and then turn the whole iron to
twirl the hair around
the heated barrel. This is a task that is easier said than done, especially
for younger children,
elderly, or those with diminished mobility in their arms. Many times, users
cannot hold the iron
long enough to effect a curl or turn the iron tight enough to create the
desired curl. Additionally,
some users can accidentally contact the hot heating barrel and become burned
on their arms and
hands while attempting to twirl the iron. Even if one does not burn
themselves, the process of
curling one's hair takes a valuable amount of time.
Further, curling irons exist wherein the barrel of the iron rotates. However,
that is
controlled solely either by a single switch for one direction or multiple
switches, at least one for
each direction. While more advanced than a basic curling iron, it still
requires an unnatural
sequence of actions to direct the rotation of the iron. Accordingly, there is
a need for a curling
iron that can ease the use of the iron for all users and still act in the
typical series of motions for a
user.
Summary
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Examples of the curling iron of the present invention can have a handle, a
heated barrel, a
spring loaded clamp having a spoon shaped paddle over the barrel for clamping
a lock of a user's
hair to the barrel, and an elongated lever extending towards the handle for
positioning the paddle
away from the barrel. A temperature control switch can control a temperature
of the barrel and a
display can indicate that temperature. The heated barrel can rotate relative
to the handle by way
of a motor coupled between the handle and the barrel. A motor control switch
can enable and
disable the rotation of the barrel. A rotation sensor can be coupled to the
motor control switch to
sense an initial direction of rotation of the handle after rotation of the
barrel has been enabled by
the motor control switch. Additionally, a motor control circuit can be coupled
to the motor, and
with the motor control switch, and the rotation sensor, the motor control
circuit can cause the
barrel to rotate in the initial direction after rotation of the barrel has
been enabled and rotation of
the handle has been detected, and can stop the rotation of the barrel once
rotation of the barrel
has thereafter been disabled.
In another example, the curling iron can further include a temperature control
circuit
including a temperature control switch separate from the motor control switch.
The temperature
control switch can control the temperature of the barrel. A display can also
be included that
indicates the desired and current temperatures. Further, the motor control
circuit can also be
coupled to the temperature control switch to establish a desired rotational
speed for the barrel.
A further example of the curling iron can have the temperature control switch
turning the
iron on and off, and be used to select either a fast or slow rotational speed
at the time when the
iron is turned on, and prior to the selection of a desired barrel temperature.
Another example has
the display indicating the selected rotational speed.
Other examples include an annular rest surrounding the barrel at position
adjacent the
handle. The annular rest can have a lower portion configured to support the
iron when not in use
and an upper portion for coupling the clamp to the barrel. This allows the
clamp t be maintained
at a convenient position above the barrel when the iron is resting on a work
surface.
Brief Description of the Drawings
This invention is described with particularity in the appended claims. The
above and
further aspects of this invention may be better understood by referring to the
following
description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
numerals indicate like
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structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the
invention. The drawing
figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present
teachings, by way of
example only, not by way of limitation.
Figure 1 is a front, top, left side perspective view of an example of a
curling iron of the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the curling iron of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a left-side view of the curling iron of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a front view of the curling iron of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a rear view of the curling iron of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a right-side cross-section view of the curling iron of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is an example of a component diagram of the curling iron of the
present
invention;
Figure 8 is another example of a component diagram of the curling iron of the
present
invention; and
Figure 9 is a flow diagram describing one example method of using the curling
iron of
the claimed invention.
Detailed Description
Figures 1-5 illustrate an example of a motorized hair curling iron 100. The
curling iron
100 can have a handle section 102 attached at one end to a barrel section 104.
The two sections
102, 104 can be separated, in some examples, by a guard 106. The barrel
section 104 can include
a heated barrel 108 which has a cylindrical shape and is designed to contact
and heat a user's
hair. Further, on the barrel section 104, can be a spring loaded clamp 110
having a spoon shaped
paddle 112 covering at least a portion of the barrel 108 which can clamp a
lock of a user's hair to
the heated barrel 108. An elongated lever 114 is attached at one end to the
paddle 112 and can
extend toward the handle section. The lever 114 allows the user to position
the paddle 112 away
from the barrel 108 when depressed. When the lever 114 is released, the paddle
112 can be
positioned at its closest to, or in partial contact with, the barrel 108.
In some examples, the clamp 110 can be connected at the guard 106 and uses
that
connection point 116 as its fulcrum. Further, the guard 106 can include foot
118. The foot 118
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can be a flattened section of the circular guard 106, or one more or more
protrusions which allow
the curling iron 100 to stay stationary on a generally flat surface. Given the
circular nature of the
handle section 102, the barrel section 104, and the guard 106, the foot 118
permits the user to put
the curling iron 100 down and not have it roll. The foot 118 can be positioned
approximately
opposite (or, in some examples 180 from) the connection point 116. This
allows the clamp 110
to always remain on the "top" of the curling iron 100. This can be important
since the barrel
section 104 with the clamp 110 rotates and may not be in line with the
switches 122 and display
124 (discussed below) after a rotation. In other examples, the components of
the curling iron
100, including the location of interior components and exterior features can
be as such so that
when the curling iron 100 is placed on the foot 118, the barrel section 104 is
kept at a distance
from the surface it is resting on.
Turning to the handle section 102, it can include a handle 120 for the user to
grip while
using the curling iron 100. Included on the handle 120 can be one or more
switches 122. The
switch 122, in one example, can have multiple functions, or multiple switches
122 (not
illustrated) can be included as described below. The switch 122 can act as a
power switch 122a
energizing and de-energizing the curling iron 100. The switch 122 can also act
as a temperature
control switch 122b which can control a temperature of the heated barrel 104.
The handle 120 can also include one or more displays 124. Similar to the
switch 122, the
display 124 can indicate a number of different settings, or multiple displays
124 can be provided.
The display 124a can indicate if the curling iron is powered on and/or off The
display 124b can
also indicate the temperature setting of the barrel 108. The temperature
display 124b can indicate
the barrel temperature numerous ways, including displaying a temperature (in
Fahrenheit or
Celsius) or displaying a setting indicator (for example, a number 1-5) which
can correspond to a
particular temperature of the barrel 108. The temperature display 124b can be
also be, in some
examples, a series of LED lights, the sequence of which indicates increasing
temperature
settings, or the display 124b can change colors to the same effect.
In a further example, the display 124 can be an audio-only display, with
changes in
pitches, tones, rapidity, and/or volume to denote any of the changes noted
above. The display
124 can also be vibratory, with changes in frequency and intensity to denote
any of the changes
noted above. The display 124 can also be any combination of the above, wherein
different
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display "mediums" can be used to denote different settings or the settings for
different features
as discussed herein.
The handle section 102 can also include a power cord 126 attached opposite the
barrel
section 104. This can supply power to the components described below.
Figure 6 is a cross-section of an example of the curling iron 100 and
illustrates some of
the interior components. In the barrel section 104 are heating elements 200
which heat the heated
barrel 108. In the handle section 102 there can be a motor 202 coupled between
the handle 120
and the barrel 108. Also note that the motor 202 can be mounted in the barrel
section 104. The
motor 202 can rotate the heated barrel 108 with respect to the handle 120 in
either a clockwise or
counterclockwise direction relative to a longitudinal axis 204 running through
the curling iron
100. The motor 202 can also have one or more different rotational speeds. In
one example, the
motor 202 can be a typical 3-phase motor wherein a change in phase can change
the rotation
direction of the motor 202.
A motor control switch 206 can be disposed on the handle section 102 and can
enable and
disable the operation of the motor 202. A rotation sensor 208 can be coupled
to the motor control
switch 206 and can sense an initial direction of rotation of the handle 120
after rotation of the
barrel 108 has been enabled by the motor control switch 206. The rotation
sensor 208 can be
gyroscopic or any other sensor known to those or ordinary skill to detect
rotational movement.
In an example, the rotation sensor 208 and the motor 202 interface directly.
However,
alternately, a motor control circuit 210 can be coupled to the motor 202, the
motor control switch
206, and the rotation sensor 208. The motor control circuit 210 can cause the
barrel 108 to rotate
in the initial direction after rotation of the barrel 108 has been enabled and
rotation of the handle
120 has been detected, and can stop the rotation of the barrel 108 once
rotation of the barrel 108
has thereafter been disabled. See Figure 7.
Further, the motor control circuit 210 can monitor the current delivered to
the motor 202,
at least while the motor is active. If the motor control circuit 210 detects a
high current draw, that
is a current draw either below or equal or above or equal to a preset
threshold, the motor control
circuit 210 stops the motor 202. A high current draw can be an indication that
the motor 202 is
stuck, likely in the user's hair, and the motor 202 is stopped as a safety
precaution so as to not
tear out the user's hair. If the detected current remains at a normal state,
e.g. below the preset
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threshold, then the motor 202 can be stopped only when the user releases the
motor control
switch 206.
In one example of enabling the motor 202, the motor control switch 206 does
not actually
start the motor 202, it allows the motor 202 to be activated to rotate the
barrel 108 in one of the
two directions. The user depresses the motor control switch 206 and then
rotates her wrist in a
typical motion used to curl hair. The rotation sensor 208 detects the
direction of the rotation
imparted to the curling iron 100 by the user and provides that input to the
motor control circuit
210. The motor control circuit 210 then directs the motor 202 to rotate the
barrel 108 in the same
direction. In this way, the motor 202 assists in the curling of the user's
hair without the user
having to maintain the curling action. Once the initial rotation direction is
imparted to the barrel
108, the user does not have to maintain a rotational force on the handle 120.
In one example, the
user must continue to activate the motor control switch 206 for the motor 202
to continue to
rotate the barrel 108. Once the motor control switch 206 is deactivated, the
motor 202 can stop.
Another example rotates the barrel section 104 along with the guard 106. Thus,
in
practice with the curling iron, the user depresses the switch 122 to power on
the curling iron 100,
and maybe set the temperature. The user depresses the lever 114, displacing
the paddle 112 from
the barrel 108, and places a lock of hair between the paddle 112 and the
barrel 108. Releasing the
lever 114 traps the lock in place. The user now depresses and holds the motor
control switch 206
and rotates her wrist either toward or away from her face (thus imparting a
clockwise or
counterclockwise rotation to the handle 120). The rotation sensor 208 detects
the direction of the
rotation, informs the motor control circuit 210 that then instructs the motor
202 to rotate in the
same direction as detected. When the user is done curling that particular
lock, she releases the
motor control switch 206 to stop the motor 202.
A further example of the curling iron 100 allows the user to set the speed of
rotation,
which in one example can be fast or slow. The switch 122 can be a motor speed
switch 122c or
the speed can be determined from the motor control switch 206. In addition,
the display 124 can
be a rotation speed display 124c to display at least two speed settings.
Figure 8 illustrates a
simplified schematic of the components above.
Turning next to yet another example, the curling iron 100 can have a 1.5 inch
diameter
barrel 108, five heat settings and two speed settings. Turning to the heat
settings, the barrel
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temperature can range from 127 C-210 C. Particular examples of the setting
temperatures can be
as follows:
Setting 1 = 127 C- 10 C;
Setting 2 = 149 C- 10 C;
Setting 3 = 177 C- 10 C;
Setting 4 = 199 C- 10 C; and
Setting 5 = 210 C- 10 C.
These temperatures are generated by the heating elements 200. The elements 200
need to be
heated to a slightly higher temperature to impart the specific temperatures to
the barrel 108, in
one example, these temperatures can be:
Setting 1 = 132 C- 10 C;
Setting 2 = 154 C- 10 C;
Setting 3 = 182 C- 10 C;
Setting 4 = 204 C- 10 C; and
Setting 5 = 215 C- 10 C.
The motor 202, in one example, can have two speeds, a low and high. Low speed
can
indicate a rotation of about 30 rpm and high speed can indicate a rotation of
about 60 rpm. In
addition, the clamp 110 can have a clamp force of approximately 325g at three
points (front, mid
rear) under the paddle 112.
Given the above, Figure 9 illustrates an example of a method of using the
curling iron
100 of the present invention. To begin, the user plugs the curling iron 100
into a power supply
(step 900) and then depresses switch 122 , acting as power switch 122a (step
902). A quick press
(in one example approximately 0.2 seconds) of the switch 122, now acting as
motor speed switch
122c, sets the rotation speed of the barrel 108 to a fast setting (in one
example, approximately 60
rpm)(step 904) or a long press (in one example, approximately 2.0 seconds) to
a slow setting (in
one example, approximately 30 rpm)(step 906). In this example, once the speed
is set, the barrel
108 begins to heat, using heating elements 200, to its last set temperature
(step 908). The user
now has at least two options, one of which is to change the last set
temperature, and the other is
to begin curling hair.
Taking the "curling hair" branch first, the user presses the motor control
switch 206 (step
910) and either holds it (step 912) or give it at least 2 quick presses (step
914). Holding the motor
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control switch 206 enables user rotation detection via the rotation sensor 208
(step 912) and can
set the current position to zero, i.e. the point from which all future
rotation is determined. Once
enabled, the rotation sensor 208 detects the rotation of the user's wrist vis-
à-vis the rotation of
the handle section 102 (step 916). Once detected, the motor 202 rotates in the
matching direction
to the detected rotation, either clockwise or counterclockwise (step 918).
While rotating, the
motor control circuit 210 can monitor the current draw of the motor 202 (step
920). As above, if
there is a high draw state, that is a current draw either below or equal or
above or equal to a
preset threshold, the motor control circuit 210 stops the motor (step 922). A
high current draw
can be an indication that the motor 202 is stuck, likely in the user's hair,
and the motor 202 can
be stopped as a safety precaution so as to not tear out the user's hair. If
the detected current
remains at a normal state, e.g. below the preset threshold, then the motor is
stopped only when
the user releases the motor control switch 206 (step 924).
Following the other "curling" option, the at least two quick presses disables
(or does not
enable) user rotation detection and activates the motor 202 to rotate only in
one direction (step
926). In one example it can be preset to one of the clockwise or
counterclockwise direction. In
another example, the user can set a default direction. The barrel 108 rotates
at least one 360 turn
(step 928) and then stops (step 922). From the motor stop step (step 922) the
user has the option
to reengage the motor 202 by again pressing motor control switch 206 (step
910) to trigger either
two modes.
Turning to the temperature selection branch, once the switch 122 is depressed
for the
initial speed setting (step 902) (acting as motor speed switch 122c), if the
switch is pressed again,
the switch then acts as the temperature control switch 122b (step 930). At
least two quick presses
of the switch 122b puts the device into temperature selection mode (step 932)
which allows the
user to depress the temperature control switch 122b to set the desired
temperature (step 934).
Once set, the barrel 108 heats to the selected temperature (step 936). If the
temperature control
switch 122b is depressed for a long duration, the curling iron 100 is powered
off (step 938). Note
that if the switch 122 is not pressed after the speed selection step (step
902), the device retains its
last temperature setting (step 940) and heats to that temperature (steps
908,936). The user then
has the option to reselect the temperature or engage the motor control switch
206 as described
above.
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Note, for the above method, that it is presumed that at some point in the
process, the user
separates some hair and engages that hair between the heated barrel 108 and
the paddle 112 of
the clamp 110 so that it can be heated and curled. Exactly when in the process
that happens is
arbitrary to the user, however, there is a high likelihood it happens before
step 910. These steps
are presumed but not necessary to the functioning of the curling iron as
claimed.
In addition to the above examples, another variant can be that the barrel
section 104 is
removably attached to, i.e. can be disconnected from and reattached to, the
handle section 102.
This allows different diameter barrels 108 to be interchanged onto the device.
The barrels 108
can vary in diameter from 0.75 inch to 1.75 inch and can be straight or
tapered. In the tapered
example, the barrel 108 can vary in diameter across any two points within the
above range, for
example between 0.75 inches at a point distal from the handle section 102 and
1.25 inches at a
point proximal to the handle section 102. Further, the spring loaded clamp 110
and/or the guard
106 can be sized to match the various diameters of the barrel 108. While the
foregoing has
described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is
understood that
various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter
disclosed herein may be
implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be
applied in numerous
applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by
the following
claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that
fall within the true
scope of the present teachings.
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