A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a hair waving/straightening iron 10. Iron 10 comprises a handle 11 from the base of which a power cord 12 extends to a wall socket. Formed together with a and extending from the handle 11 is a first elongate heating element 13a in the form of a hemi-cylindrical barrel. A second elongate heating element 13b, also in the form of a hemi-cylindrical barrel, is attached pivotally at its proximal end to the handle. Both the first and second heating elements have flat hair-straightening ironing surfaces 15 that face one another in close proximity when the second heating member is closed down toward the first heating member.
A hair waving clamp 14 is attached pivotally to the second elongate heating member. A clamp trigger 17 is formed integrally with the clamp 15 and extends rearward from the pivot point toward the handle end of the iron. A torsion spring 22 is located under the trigger 17 to maintain a clamping force between the clamp 14 and the second heating barrel. A power switch 21 is located upon the handle 11 for applying electric current from the cord 12 to the heating elements.
At the distal end of the first heating element 13a, there is a fixed non-heated tip 23. A recess 19 is provided in the upper surface of the fixed tip. The recess has a lip as best depicted in
At the distal end of the second heating element 13b, there is provided a locking barrel 16 that is supported upon the heating element so as to be able to slide therealong as indicated by the arrow in
By having the locking mechanism provided at the distal ends of the heating members, simple light weight locking engagement components can be employed as little resistance to opening of the two heating members need be provided as compared to the prior art devices in which strong locking parts must be provided nearby the pivot point to counteract high moments that might be exerted thereon in use.
It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the particular sliding arrangement of the locking components can be changed and indeed non-sliding arrangements such twisting, or turning locking arrangements can be provided instead.