Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2023/006849
PCT/EP2022/071138
A HAIR STYLING APPARATUS
The present invention relates to a housing of a hair styling apparatus for
housing
component parts of the hair styling apparatus and in particular to a housing
to which arms of
a hair styling apparatus may be pivotally coupled.
Hair styling apparatuses, such as hair straighteners or hair curlers are well
known.
Typical hair straighteners that have become widely used in recent decades
involve two arms
pivoted together at one end. A spring biases the arms apart and each arm
houses a plate that
is electrically heated, with the plates arranged to oppose one another. The
user operates the
straightener by placing it such that the hair is located between the two
opposing plates and
then forces the arms together against the biasing force of the spring to clamp
the hair between
the plates. After holding for a desired amount of time, the user releases the
force on the
straightener and the spring urges the arms apart, thereby releasing the now-
straightened hair.
Hair curlers typically have a barrel-shaped styling part around which the
user's hair can be
wrapped. The barrel-shaped styling part is electrically heated. The user coils
their hair around
the styling part and holds for a short time, and then unravels their now-
curled hair from the
styling part. Some hair styling apparatuses involves two arms which may be
used in a
straightening function as described above, but when the arms come together,
they form a
barrel-shaped styling part that can also be used for curling hair.
Typically, a power cable is fitted to an end of one of the arms of the hair
styling
apparatus, and the interior wiring extends along each arm to the heatable
plates located at the
styling part. The arms are typically pivoted together by a pivot pin, with the
pivot point being
located forward of where the power cable connects to one of the arms. As one
arm is adapted
to accommodate the power cable the arms are not symmetrical and the
distribution of weight
on the straightener is uneven.
When the arms are opened, the arms at one side of the pivot point move apart,
but at
the other side of the pivot point the arms move together. As the power cable
is typically present
at the rear of the device, the arms must be adapted in such a way to
accommodate the arms
moving together, but without interfering with the location of the power cable.
This is usually
done by creating a gap between the arms behind the pivot to allow the arms to
open. In known
hair straighteners, the structure is therefore typically, in a direction
starting from the rear of the
straightener towards the front: power cable socket/housing, adaptation to
accommodate the
opening of the arms, pivot pin, then arms and heatable plates. Therefore, a
part of the length
of the straightener is reserved solely for accommodating the power cable.
It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate the problems outlined
above in
relation to hair straighteners and other hair styling apparatuses. In
particular, it is an object to
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obviate or mitigate the problems associated with opening and closing of the
arms and the
space used to accommodate the power cable, and it is a further object of the
invention to
obviate or mitigate the problems associated with symmetry and weight
distribution in hair
styling apparatuses.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a housing of a hair
styling
apparatus, the housing being adapted to house component parts of a hair
styling apparatus,
the housing comprising a first pivot to which an arm of a hair styling
apparatus may be pivotally
coupled, and a second pivot to which a second arm of a hair styling apparatus
may be pivotally
coupled.
Preferably, each arm has a styling part and a handle.
Ideally, the styling part has a heatable plate and/or surface that can be
heated directly
by a power source. When we say directly, we mean that it is the power source
which generates
the heat in the styling part as opposed to indirect heating through conduction
from another part
which is heated directly by the power source.
Ideally, the first pivot is a separate pivot than that of the second pivot.
Ideally, the axis of the first pivot is spaced apart from the axis of the
second pivot.
Preferably, the axis of the first pivot is parallel with the axis of the
second pivot.
Preferably, the first pivot is located at or about one side of the housing and
the second
pivot is located at or about an opposing side of the housing.
Ideally, when assembled, the first and/or second pivot enable the arms to move
relative
to the housing, without bending any part of the hair styling apparatus.
Preferably, the pivot axis of the first and/or second pivot is perpendicular
or
approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each arm when the hair
styling
apparatus is assembled.
Ideally, the housing is adapted to accommodate a power source. Ideally, the
power
source is a power cable but in another embodiment the housing may be adapted
to
accommodate a power source such as a battery and it may further accommodate a
part of a
cable to charge the battery.
Ideally, the electrical wiring of the hair styling apparatus extends between
the first and
second pivots. Advantageously, unlike prior art hair styling apparatuses,
there is no pivot point
between the arms that is located in a position that interferes with the wiring
of the hair styling
apparatus as it travels from the power source along the arms.
Ideally, the housing is adapted to receive and retain a connector of a power
cable.
Preferably, the first and second pivot are symmetrically or approximately
symmetrically
arranged with respect to one another in the housing.
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Ideally, the axis of symmetry between the first and second pivot and the
housing is
aligned with or approximately aligned with the longitudinal axis of the
housing.
Ideally, the housing comprises a stop to prevent the power cable from being
inserted
past the stop in the housing.
Preferably, the first and/or second pivot is located at or about the location
of the stop
in the housing.
Ideally, the first and/or second pivot are in alignment with the stop of the
housing.
Preferably, the stop extends inwardly into the housing from the first and/or
second pivot.
Advantageously, the location of the pivots relative to the power cable is
optimal as there
is almost no distance between where the power cable ends, and the pivots
begin. The size of
the hair styling apparatus is therefore minimalised, reducing the materials
required to
manufacture and making it more convenient to store and transport.
Ideally, the first and/or second pivot comprise a pivot pin.
Ideally, the pivot pin is arranged to couple an arm to the housing.
Preferably, the pivot pin extends through a pin enclosure on the housing.
Ideally, the housing comprises a biasing means for biasing the arms apart when
assembled.
Preferably, the biasing means is disposed within the housing.
Ideally, the biasing means extends through the housing.
In one embodiment, the biasing means is a single spring, most preferably, a
compression spring. Other suitable types of springs such as a torsion spring
or leaf spring may
feasibly be implemented as the biasing means.
Preferably, the housing comprises an enclosure for the biasing means.
Advantageously, this prevents the wiring of the hair styling apparatus
interfering with the
operation of the biasing means.
In another embodiment, the biasing means is located extending between an outer
surface or surfaces of the housing and an inner surface of the arms when
assembled. Ideally
in this embodiment, the biasing means comprises two springs, ideally
compression springs or
leaf springs, one located between the housing and one arm, and another located
between the
housing and the other arm. The spring is therefore captured between the arm
and the housing.
The springs may be fixed or adhesively attached to the arm and/or housing. The
housing
and/or arms may also be adapted to have a seat or enclosure to accommodate the
end of the
spring.
Ideally, the biasing means is located at about an end of the housing opposing
the end
that receives the power cable.
Ideally, the housing has an opening to accommodate a lock for releasably
locking the
arms together.
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Preferably, the opening to accommodate the lock is located at opposing
surfaces of the
housing.
The housing may have a generally oval-shaped longitudinal cross-section,
although
any suitable and desirable cross-sectional shape may be used.
According to further aspect of the invention there is provided a hair styling
apparatus,
the hair styling apparatus comprising a housing for housing component parts of
the hair styling
apparatus, the hair styling apparatus further comprising two arms, wherein one
arm is pivoted
to the housing by a first pivot and the other arm is pivoted to the housing by
a second pivot.
Preferably, each arm has a styling part and a handle.
Ideally, the styling part has a heatable plate and/or surface that can be
heated directly
by a power source. When we say directly, we mean that it is the power source
which generates
the heat in the styling part as opposed to indirect heating through conduction
from another part
which is heated directly by the power source.
Preferably, the hair styling apparatus comprises a power cable.
Ideally, the power cable has a connector, the housing being adapted to receive
the
connector.
Preferably, the housing receives and retains the connector of the power cable.
Ideally, the power cable connector has a central longitudinal axis, and the
first and
second pivots are located at either side of the central longitudinal axis.
In one embodiment, when assembled, at least part, or all of, the power cable
or power
source is located between the first and second pivots.
Preferably, the first and/or second pivots couple the arms to the housing.
Ideally, when assembled, one or both arms are free or can be freed to pivot
relative to
the housing.
Ideally, the pivot pin extends through a pin enclosure on the housing and is
fixed to the
arm.
Ideally, the hair styling apparatus comprises a biasing means for biasing the
arms
apart.
Ideally, the hair styling apparatus comprises a lock to releasably lock the
arms together.
Preferably, at least part of the lock extends through the housing.
Ideally, the lock comprises a first component that is fixed to one arm and a
second
component fixed to the other arm, wherein the first and second components
interact to
releasably lock the arms together.
Ideally, the lock comprises a first component that is movably fixed to one arm
and a
second component movably fixed to the other arm, wherein the first and second
components
interact to releasably lock the arms together.
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Ideally, the first and/or second components are adapted to extend into the
housing.
Preferably, the position of the first and/or second component relative to the
arm to
which it is movably fixed is movable between a locked position where the arms
are locked
5 together and an unlocked position wherein the arms are released.
Preferably, the hair styling apparatus comprises a lock actuator to move the
first and/or
second component relative to the arm to which it is movably fixed. Operating
the lock actuator
causes the first and second components to be released from one another,
thereby freeing the
arms.
In one embodiment, the lock actuator is a slide mechanism to slidably move the
first
and/or second component relative to the arm to which it is movably fixed.
Preferably, the lock actuator is accessible by a user acting on the actuator
from the
surface of the arm.
Ideally, the first and second components of the lock are adapted to form an
interlock
when in the locked position.
Preferably, the first and/or second components are L-shaped or approximately L-
shaped. Advantageously, the L-shaped form of the first and second components
enable the
components to hook together.
Ideally, the first component has a different shape to the second component.
Preferably, the first component extends over halfway through the height of the
housing
whereas the second component only extends through less than halfway of the
height of the
housing. Alternatively, the first component may extend through less than
halfway of the height
of the housing, and the second component may extend over halfway through the
height of the
housing.
Ideally, at least part or all of the lock is located between the biasing means
or biasing
means enclosure and the first and second pivots and/or the part of the housing
that receives
the power cable.
Ideally, at least one arm comprises a heatable plate and/or a heatable
surface.
Preferably, the heatable plate and/or surface may be heated by the power
source.
Ideally, both arms comprises a heatable plate and/or a heatable surface.
Preferably,
the heatable plate and/or surface may be heated by the power source.
Ideally, one arm comprises a clamp for clamping hair.
Preferably, the clamp is hingedly connected to the arm.
Ideally, the clamp is biased closed against the surface of the arm.
Preferably, the hair styling apparatus comprises a clamp biasing means for
biasing the
clamp closed against the surface of the arm.
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Ideally, the clamp biasing means is a spring, most preferably, a torsion
spring, but in
other embodiments could be any suitable spring such as a compression spring.
Preferably, the clamp comprises a lever for opening the clamp.
Ideally, the operation of the lever acts against the biasing force of the
clamp biasing
means.
Preferably, the clamp is heated indirectly by conduction from the arm which
arm is
heated directly by the power source.
Preferably, the arms each comprise a styling part and a handle.
Ideally, the styling part is tapered, most preferably along the entirety of
its length.
Preferably, the styling part forms a generally frustoconical shape when the
arms are
closed. Advantageously, this enables the user to produce diametrically
increasing or
decreasing curls.
Preferably, the styling part of the arms have a hemi frustoconical shape.
Ideally, the heatable plate and/or heatable surface are located at the styling
part.
Preferably, the heatable plate and/or surface taper along their length.
The hair styling apparatus may be a hair straightener and/or curler.
Ideally, the hair styling apparatus comprises a barrier to prevent the user's
hand from
slipping from the handle to the styling part. Preferably, the barrier is
located on one or both
arms. In the embodiment wherein the hair styling apparatus has a clamp, the
location of the
clamp prevents the user's hand from slipping from the handle onto the styling
part. The other
arm may therefore have a barrier.
Ideally, the clamp is shaped to correspond to the shape of the outer surface
of the arm
to which it is attached.
Ideally, the arms are adapted to accommodate the housing and move about the
housing as they are pivoted open or closed.
Ideally, the arms are configured to provide a gap therebetween even when
closed, the
gap being located between the handles.
Ideally, the arms have an inner surface and an outer surface. Ideally, a
heatable plate
is located on the inner surface to provide a straightening function but,
ideally, the outer surface
is also heatable and may comprise a heating element such as a heatable plate,
heatable
surface or barrel heater. Heating the outer surface enables the hair styling
apparatus to be
used more effectively as a hair curler.
Preferably, part of the outer surface of one or both arms extends over the
outer surface
of the housing.
Ideally, the housing is located between the arms.
Preferably, the hair styling apparatus comprises operational controls and/or
status
indicators located on one or both arms. Most preferably, the operational
controls and/or status
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indicators are located on the handle of one or both arms, and ideally on the
inner surface of
the handle, facing the opposing inner surface of the opposing handle.
Ideally, the operational controls comprise a power switch.
Ideally, the status indicators may comprise indicators to visually show how
hot the
heatable plate and/or surface is, for example, by LEDs that light at a certain
temperature.
Ideally, when the hair styling apparatus is on, the outer surface of the arm
may also be
heated. This provides a greater curling effect when the apparatus is used as a
curler.
Preferably, the operational controls, status indicators, power source, lock,
and/or
heatable plates and/or surfaces are directly or indirectly electrically
connected. Ideally, the
operational controls function to prevent the power source from powering the
heatable plates
and/or surfaces, either on the inner surface or outer surface of the arms, or
both, when it is
switched off, but permit the power source to power the heatable plates and/or
surfaces when
it is switched on.
Ideally, when the arms are in the locked position, the heatable plates and/or
surfaces
on the inner surface of the arms are powered off. Ideally, when in the locked
position, the
heatable plates and/or surfaces on the outer surface of the arms are powered
on. Preferably,
when in the unlocked position, the heatable plates and/or surfaces on the
inner surface are
powered on. Ideally, when in the unlocked position, the heatable plates and/or
surfaces on the
outer surface are powered off.
In one embodiment, the lock is operably connected to the power source and the
heatable plates and/or surfaces, such that when the lock is in the locked
position it powers off
the heatable plates and/or surfaces on the inner surface of the arms and/or
powers on the
heatable plates and/or surfaces on the outer surface of the arms. Further,
ideally, when the
lock is in the unlocked position it powers on the heatable plates and/or
surfaces on the inner
surface of the arms and powers off the heatable plates and surfaces on the
outer surface of
the arms.
Ideally, the inner surface of one or both arms is not uniformly planar, but is
instead
arranged with a curved portion that curves towards the outer surface of the
arm. This curved
portion therefore defines the gap between the arms even when the arms are
closed.
Ideally, the curved portion is located at the handle of one or both arms.
The gap could alternatively or additionally be formed by a step in the inner
surface of
the arm so that part of the arm is at a different level.
Ideally, the operational controls and/or status indicators are located at the
gap and most
preferably at the curved portion of the arm or arms.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to
the
accompanying drawings in which: -
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Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a hair styling apparatus according to the
invention,
wherein the hair styling apparatus is in the closed position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the hair styling apparatus of Figure 1 in
the open
position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hair styling apparatus of Figure 1 in
the closed
position.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hair styling apparatus of Figure 1 in
the open
position.
Figure 5 is a cross-section, side elevation view of the hair styling apparatus
of Figure
1, in the open position.
Figure 6 is a cross-section, side elevation view of the hair styling apparatus
of Figure
1, in the closed position.
Figure 7 is a cross-section, perspective view of the hair styling apparatus of
Figure 1,
in the closed position.
Figure 8 is a cross-section, perspective view of the hair styling apparatus of
Figure 1,
in the open position.
Figure 9 is a cross-section, side elevation view of a further embodiment of a
hair styling
apparatus according to the invention, in the closed position.
In Figures 1 to 8 there is shown a hair styling apparatus indicated generally
by
reference numeral 2. The illustrated hair styling apparatus is both a
straightener and curler.
The hair styling apparatus has a housing 4 for housing component parts of the
hair styling
apparatus 2. The hair styling apparatus 2 further has two arms 6, 8 (a first
arm 6 and second
arm 8), wherein one arm 6 is pivoted to the housing 4 by a first pivot 10 and
the other arm 8 is
pivoted to the housing 4 by a second pivot 12. The first pivot 10 is a
separate pivot than that
of the second pivot 12. In more detail, the axis of the first pivot 10 is
spaced apart from the axis
of the second pivot 12. Yet in further detail, the axis of the first pivot 10
is parallel with the axis
of the second pivot 12. The first pivot 10 is located at one side of the
housing 4, and the second
pivot 12 is located at an opposing side of the housing 4. The axis of the
first and/or second
pivot 10, 12 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each arm 6, 8. The
housing 4 is formed
of two halves that are screwed together and therefore it has screw holes 24
for accommodating
screws to connect the two halves. Of course, the housing 4 could be formed as
a unitary piece
or formed from more than two parts, and the connection between the parts need
not be screws,
but any suitable connection, being either mechanical and/or adhesive. Each
half of the housing
4 has five screw holes 24 that align with the screw holes 24 in the other half
when the halves
are brought together. More or less screw holes may be used as required in
other embodiments.
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The housing 4 has a generally oval-shaped longitudinal cross section in the
illustrated
embodiment.
The housing 4 is adapted to accommodate a power source 14. In the illustrated
embodiment, the power source 14 is a power cable 18 but in another embodiment
the housing
may be adapted to accommodate a power source such as a battery and it may
further
accommodate a part of a cable to charge the battery. The hair styling
apparatus 4 has electrical
wiring 16 that extends from the power source 14 and along the arms 6, 8. The
electrical wiring
16 extends between the first and second pivots 10, 12.
The power cable 18 has a connector 20 and the housing 4 is adapted to receive
the
connector 20. In particular, the housing 4 can receive and retain the
connector 20 of the power
cable 18. The housing 4 is adapted to rotatably retain the connector 20, so
that after the
connector 20 is retained in the housing 4, the connector can rotate relative
to the housing 4.
The power cable connector 20 has a central longitudinal axis, and the first
and second pivots
10, 12 are located at either side of the central longitudinal axis of the
connector 20. The first
and second pivots 10, 12 are symmetrically arranged with respect to one
another in the
housing 4. The axis of symmetry between the first and second pivot 10, 12 and
the housing 4
is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 4.
The housing 4 comprises a stop 22 to prevent the power cable 18 from being
inserted
past the stop 22 in the housing 4. The first and second pivots 10, 12 are
located at or about
the location of the stop 22 in the housing 4. In particular, the first and
second pivots 10, 12 are
in alignment with the stop 22 of the housing 4. The stop 22 extends inwardly
into the housing
4 from the first and second pivots 10, 12. There is almost no distance between
where the
power cable 14 ends, and the pivots 10, 12 begin. The size of the hair styling
apparatus 2 is
therefore minimalised, reducing the materials required to manufacture and
making it more
convenient to store and transport.
The first and second pivots 10, 12 couple the arms 6, 8 to the housing 4 and
each pivot
10, 12 has a pivot pin. The pin is arranged to couple the arms 6, 8 to the
housing 4. The
housing 4 has two enclosures 26, 28, one for each pivot pin. The pivot pin
extends through the
enclosure 26, 28 of the housing and is then fixed to the arm 6, 8. The pivot
pin can rotate freely
in the enclosure 26, 28 thereby enabling pivoting movement of the arms 6, 8
relative to the
housing 4. The arms 6, 8 have a seat for receiving the pivot pin. In
particular, there is a bore
in the arm 6, 8 that aligns with the enclosure 26, 28 in the housing 4 for
receiving the pin.
The hair styling apparatus 2 has a biasing means 30 for biasing the arms 6, 8
apart.
The biasing means 30 in the illustrated embodiment is disposed within the
housing 4, and in
particular, it extends through the housing 4. In this embodiment, the biasing
means 30 is a
single compression spring 32. The housing 4 has an enclosure 34 for the
biasing means 30.
This prevents the wiring of the apparatus 2 interfering with the operation of
the biasing means
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30. The biasing means 30 is located at or about an end of the housing 4
opposing the end that
receives the power cable 18.
In Figure 9 there is shown a further embodiment of a hair styling apparatus
indicated
by reference numeral 102. In this embodiment, the biasing means 130 is located
extending
5 between an outer surface of the housing 104 and an inner surface of the
arms 106, 108. In this
embodiment, the biasing means 130 involves two leaf springs 131a, 131b. One
part of the leaf
spring 131a, 131b is captured in an enclosure 133a, 133b on the outer surface
of the housing
104, and another part bears against the inner surface of the arms 106, 108,
urging the arm
106, 108 away from the housing 104. The leaf springs 131a, 131b each have an
approximately
10 180 bend between the part of the spring 131a, 131b in the enclosure
133a, 133b and the part
that bears against the arm. The bend generates the spring force to urge the
arms 106, 108
away from the housing 104. Alternatively, compression springs could be used,
located
between the outer surface of the housing 104 and the inner surface of the arms
106, 108.
Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, the hair
styling apparatus
2 has a lock 36 to releasably lock the arms 6, 8 together. The lock 36 is
located between the
first and second pivots 10, 12 and the biasing means 30 and biasing means
enclosure 34. Part
of the lock 36 is arranged extending through the housing 4. The housing 4 has
an opening to
accommodate the lock 36. In particular, the housing 4 has two openings, the
openings being
mutually opposing and being at either side of the housing 4. One opening is
located at the
upper side of the housing 4 and a further opening is located at a lower side
of the housing 4.
The lock 36 comprises a first component 38 that is fixed to one arm 6. The
first component 38
in the illustrated embodiment is located on the upper arm 6. Part of the first
component 38
extends between the outer surface of the housing 4 and an inner surface of the
arm 6. The
first component 38 is thereby captured between the housing 4 and the arm 6. A
further part of
the first component 38 then extends approximately perpendicular to the part
that is located
between the housing 4 and the arm 6, into the housing 4. The hair styling
apparatus 2 further
has a fixing element 40 that fixes the first component 38 to the arm 6.
The lock 36 further involves a second component 42 that is fixed to the lower
arm 8
and is present on the underside surface of the lower arm 8. The first
component 38 and second
component 42 interact to releasably lock the arms 6, 8 together. Both the
first and second
components 38, 42 extend into the housing 4 and can engage with one another
when the arms
6, 8 are closed together. The position of the second component 42 relative to
the arm 8 is
movable between a locked position (see Figure 6) where the arms 6, 8 are
locked together
and an unlocked position (see Figure 5) wherein the arms 6, 8 are released.
The lock 36 has
a lock actuator 44 for moving the second component 42 relative to the arm 8.
The second
component 42 extends through an opening of the arm 8 and is configured such
that it is
captured in the opening of the arm 8 and can be moved within the opening. The
lock actuator
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44 is accessible by a user from a surface of the arm 8 and in particular from
the lower surface
of the arm 8. In further detail, the second component involves a first part 72
located on the
inner side of the opening, and a second part 74 located on the outer side of
the opening in the
arm 8, and wherein the first and second parts 72, 74 are integrally formed or
are two separate
but connected parts. The first and second parts 72, 74 and the opening of the
arm 8 are each
configured so that the second component 42 is movably captured in the opening
of the arm 8.
The lock actuator 44 can be operated by a user to move the second component 42
through
the opening in the arm 8 and in doing so can lock the arms 6, 8 together or
can release the
arms 6, 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the first part 72 is connected to
the second part by a
screw 76. The second component 42 further has a cover 78 that covers the first
component
72. This functions to conceal the screw 76 and is therefore aesthetically
advantageous, but
also, in this embodiment, the cover is formed from a flexible polymeric
material that can be
easily gripped by the user's thumb. The cover 78 may be formed from other
suitable materials
in other embodiments, and could have ridges or indentations to enhance grip if
desired.
The first component 38 has an approximately L-shaped part that extends into
the
housing 4. The L-shaped part extends almost entirely through the housing 4
when the arms 6,
8 are closed together. The second component 42 then also has an approximately
L-shaped
part that extends part way into the housing 4 when the arms 6, 8 are closed
together. The short
leg of the L-shape in each component 38, 42 face one another when the arms are
closed and
operation of the lock actuator 44 moves the short leg of the L-shape of the
second component
42 over the short leg of the L-shape of the first component 38. If the arms 6,
8 are then forced
apart (for example, by action of the biasing means 30), the overlap between
the short leg of
the first and second components 38, 42 counters the force and prevents the
arms 6, 8 from
moving apart. The arms 6, 8 may be released by operating the lock actuator 44
to move the
second component 42 relative to the arm 8, which moves the first and second
components 38,
42 apart. Variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For
example, the first component
38 may be on the second arm 8, and the second component 42 may be on the first
arm 6. The
lock actuator 44 may also be present on the first arm 6 rather than the second
arm 8. The
shapes of the first and second components 38, 42 may be altered to any
desirable shape,
provided a releasable lock is formed to prevent separation of the arms 6, 8.
The skilled person
will also understand that that the shape and/or function of the first
component 40 is entirely
interchangeable with the shape and/or function of the second component 42 as
herein
described. For example, the lock actuator could be arranged to actuate the
first component as
opposed to the second component, and the first component could move to
lock/unlock the
arms.
The arms 6, 8 each have a heatable plate 46. Furthermore, one arm 6 has a
clamp 48
for clamping hair between the surface of the arm 6 and the clamp 48. The clamp
48 is hingedly
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connected to the arm 6 and it is biased closed against the surface of the arm
6. The hair styling
apparatus 2 further has a clamp biasing means 50 for biasing the clamp 48
closed against the
surface of the arm 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamp biasing means
50 is a torsion
spring. The clamp 48 further has a lever 52 for opening the clamp, wherein the
operation of
the lever 52 acts against the biasing force of the clamp biasing means 50. The
clamp 48 is
shaped to correspond to the shape of the outer surface of the arm 6 to which
it is attached.
Each arm 6, 8 involves a styling part 54a, 54b and a handle 56a, 56b. The
styling part
54a, 54b is tapered along the entirety of its length and in particular, the
styling part 54a, 54b
of the arms 6, 8 have a hemi frustoconical shape and it forms a generally
frustoconical shape
when the arms 6, 8 are closed. This enables to user to produce diametrically
increasing or
decreasing curls. The heatable plates 46 are located at the styling part 54a,
54b and they taper
width-wise along their length.
The hair styling apparatus 2 has a barrier 58 to prevent the user's hand from
slipping
from the handle 56a, 56b to the styling part 54a, 54b. The barrier 58 is
located on the second
arm 8. The clamp 48 also functions as a barrier to prevent the user's hand
from slipping from
the handle 56a, 56b onto the styling part 54a, 54b. The barrier 58 is a raised
part of the outer
surface of the arm 8.
The arms 6, 8 are adapted to accommodate the housing 4 and move about the
housing
4 as they are pivoted open or closed. Part of the outer surface of each arm 6,
8 extends over
the outer surface of the housing 4, and the housing 4 is located between the
arms. The arms
6, 8 are configured to provide a gap 60 therebetween even when closed, the gap
60 being
located between the handles 56a, 56b.
The arms 6, 8 have an inner surface 62a, 62b and an outer surface 64a, 64b and
there
are heatable plates 46 on the inner surface 62a, 62b that are heated by the
power source 14.
The hair styling apparatus 2 has operational controls 66 and status indicators
68 which, in the
illustrated embodiment, are located on the inner surface 62b of the second arm
8, on the
handle 56b. The operational controls 66 have a power switch, and the status
indicators 68
have lights to indicate visually the temperature of the heatable plates 46
and/or the outer
surfaces 64a, 64b of the styling part 54a, 54b. When the hair styling
apparatus 2 is on, the
outer surface 64a, 64b of the styling part 54a, 54b of the arms 6, 8 may also
be heated. This
provides a greater curling effect when the hair styling apparatus 2 is used as
a curler. In the
illustrated embodiment, the outer surface 64a, 64b of the styling part 54a,
54b is a barrel heater
and may be heated by power from the power source 14.
The operational controls 66, status indicators 68, power source 14, lock 36,
and
heatable plates or surfaces 46 and the outer surfaces 64a, 64b of the styling
part 54a, 54b are
electrically connected. The operational controls 66 function to prevent the
power source 14
from powering the heatable plates or surfaces 46 or the outer surfaces 64a,
64b of the styling
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part 54a, 54b when it is switched off, but permit the power source 14 to power
the heatable
plates or surfaces 46 or the outer surfaces 64a, 64b of the styling part 54a,
54b when it is
switched on. When the arms 6, 8 are in the locked position, the heatable
plates/surfaces 46
on the inner surface 62a, 62b of the arms 6, 8 are powered off and the outer
surfaces 64a, 64b
of the styling part 54a, 54b of the arms 6, 8 are powered on. In the unlocked
position the
heatable plates/surfaces 46 on the inner surface 62a, 62b of the arms 6, 8 are
powered on the
outer surfaces 64a, 64b of the styling part 54a, 54b of the arms 6, 8 are
powered off.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lock 36 is operably connected to the power
source
14 and the heatable plates/surfaces 46 and the outer surfaces 64a, 64b of the
styling part 54a,
54b of the arms 6, 8, such that when the lock 36 is in the locked position
(see Figure 6) it
powers off the heatable plates/surfaces 46 on the inner surface 62a, 62b of
the arms 6, 8 and
powers on the outer surfaces 64a, 64b of the styling part 54a, 54b. Further,
when the lock 36
is in the unlocked position (see Figure 5) it powers on the heatable
plates/surfaces 46 on the
inner surface 62a, 62b of the arms 6, 8 and powers off the outer surfaces 64a,
64b of the
styling part 54a, 54b.
The inner surface 62a, 62b of each arm 6, 8 is not uniformly planar, but is
instead
arranged with a curved portion 70a, 70b that curves towards the outer surface
64a, 64b of the
arm 6, 8. This curved portion 70a, 70b therefore forms the gap 60 between the
arms 6, 8 even
when the arms 6, 8 are closed. The curved portion 70a, 70b is located at the
handle 56a, 56b
of the arms 6, 8. Alternatively or additionally, the gap 60 could be formed by
a step in the inner
surface 62a, 62b of the arms 6, 8 so that part of the arm 6, 8 is at a
different level. The
operational controls 66 and status indicator 68 are located at the gap 60, and
in particular at
the curved portion 70a, 70b of the arms 6, 8.
In use, the user plugs in the hair styling apparatus 2 via the power cable 18
to an electric
plug socket. The hair styling apparatus 2 is switched on using the operational
controls 66. To
straighten their hair, the user unlocks the arms 6, 8 via the lock 36 and by
operating the lock
actuator 44. The heatable plates 46 on the inner surface 62a, 62b of the arms
6, 8 are then
heated by power from the power source 14 and specifically the power cable 18,
and the
temperature is indicated by the status indicators 68. The biasing means 30
forces the arms 6,
8 apart. The user can insert their hair between the arms 6, 8 and between the
heatable plates
46, and then force the arms 6, 8 together so that their hair is clamped
between the heatable
plates 46. The user can then run the hair styling apparatus 2 along their hair
to straighten their
hair. To curl their hair, the user can move the arms 6, 8 together and lock
the arms 6, 8 together
by operating the lock 36 via the lock actuator 42. The heatable plates 46 on
the inner surface
62a, 62b of the arms 6, 8 are no longer heated, and instead the outer surface
64a, 64b of the
styling parts 54a, 54b are heated by power from the power source 14. The user
can operate
the clamp lever 52 to move the clamp 48 away from the outer surface of the arm
6. The user
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can then place their hair between the clamp 48 and the arm 6 and release the
lever 52. The
clamp biasing means 50 forces the clamp 48 towards the arm 6 and the hair is
clamped. The
user can then rotate the hair styling apparatus 2 to wrap their hair around
the arms 6, 8. After
a desired length of time the user can unwrap and release their now-curled
hair.
Variations to the hair styling apparatus 2 will be apparent to those skilled
in the art. For
example, the power cable or power source could be located between the first
and second
pivots.
The skilled person will appreciate that all preferred or optional features of
the invention
described with reference to only some aspects or embodiments of the invention
may be applied
to all aspects of the invention.
It will be appreciated that optional features applicable to one aspect of the
invention
can be used in any combination, and in any number. Moreover, they can also be
used with
any of the other aspects of the invention in any combination and in any
number. This includes,
but is not limited to, the dependent claims from any claim being used as
dependent claims for
any other claim in the claims of this application.
In relation to the detailed description of the different embodiments of the
invention, it
will be understood that one or more technical features of one embodiment can
be used in
combination with one or more technical features of any other embodiment where
the
transferred use of the one or more technical features would be immediately
apparent to a
person of ordinary skill in the art to carry out a similar function in a
similar way on the other
embodiment.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings,
expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a
disclosed function, or
a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may
separately, or in
any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in
diverse forms thereof
as defined in the appended claims.
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