Patent Application
20080257373
The present invention relates to hair rollers, and more particularly to securing hair rollers.
Hair curling devices are used for curling lengths or tresses of hair. A typical hair curling device uses a cylindrical roller body which has a curling surface. The lengths or tresses of hair to be curled are tightly wrapped around the curling surface. The application of heat to the curling surface which conducts the heat to the wrapped tresses held under tension causes the tresses to assume the curvature of the curling surface on release from the roller body.
In one type of hair curling device, the roller body may be heated prior to the hair tresses being wrapped around the roller body. In another type of hair curling device, the roller body may be heated after the tresses are wrapped around the roller body. In this case, heat may be supplied by insertion of a heated rod into an axial aperture formed in the roller body. Upon wrapping of hair to the curling devices, the device is typically secured by insertion of pin therethrough to prevent uncoiling.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair roller that overcomes or at least substantially ameliorates at least some of the deficiencies of those of the prior art.
In a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair roller for curling the hair of a user, the hair roller comprising:
Advantageously, the said first securing member is moveable in a radially inward direction relative to the body member.
Preferably, the outer surface extends longitudinally between opposed first and second end portions. Advantageously, said first securing member extends in a direction of from the first end portion in a direction of towards the second end portion.
Optionally, the first securing member extends from the first end portion to the second end portion.
Preferably the first securing member is engageable with the second end portion. Advantageously the distal end of first securing member includes an end region engageable with the second end portion of the body.
Optionally, the distal end region of the first securing member is resiliently flexible for engagement with the second end portion of the body.
Preferably the distal end region of the first securing member is engageable with a circumferentially extending rib formed on the second end portion. Advantageously, the first securing member extends from an annulus rotatable about the first end portion.
Optionally, the first securing member is hingedly attached to the body so as to be moveable towards the outer surface of the body member for securing hair spooled about the body member. Advantageously, the first securing member is hingedly attached to the annulus so as to be moveable towards the outer surface of the body member for securing hair spooled about the body member.
Preferably the body member is formed from a thermally conductive material.
Advantageously, the outer surface of the roller body is transversely curved.
Preferably the roller includes a second securing member extending from the second end portion in a direction of towards the first end portion for securing hair spooled about the body member. Advantageously, the second securing member is fixedly engaged with the body such that rotation of the body causes same rotation of second securing member. Optionally, the second securing member includes a biasing means for resiliently biasing the second securing member against the body.
Preferably, the biasing means is a spring type device.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair roller for curling the hair of a user, the hair roller comprising:
In still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair roller for curling the hair of a user, the hair roller comprising:
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in further detail below by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
As shown in
Referring to
The first end portion 112 shown includes an end cap 118. The end cap 118 includes recesses 119 which are sized and located so as to receive tabs 142 located on the end of the shaft 140. The end cap 118 also has a circumferential rib 120 and locking tab 122. The second end portion 114 may include an end cap 124. The end cap 124 may be integrally formed with the shaft 140 or alternatively, may be formed and attached in the same way as the first end portion. The end caps 124,118 may be manufactured from plastic or other non heat conductive materials.
The curling cylinder 130 has an outer surface 131 about which the hair of a user is spooled. In the embodiment shown the curling cylinder 130 includes three radial ribs 132 which extend longitudinally so as to support the outer surface 131. The ribs 132 of the curling cylinder are configured so as to abut the ribs 144 of the shaft 140 upon assembly of the body member. In the embodiment shown the ribs are oriented at 120 degrees to each other. The above configuration of the curling cylinder and shaft fixes the curling cylinder to the shaft 140 and prevents rotation of the curling cylinder 130 relative to the shaft 140. Of course the shaft may be fixed to the curling cylinder in other ways so that the shaft, curling cylinder and end portions rotate together in a unitary manner as the body member 110. Other or alternate manners which to provide the rotation will be understood by those skilled in the art to fall within the scope of the present invention.
Advantageously, the outer surface 131 of the curling cylinder 130 is formed of a thermally conductive material. This may be a metal such as steel, copper aluminium or other alloys. Alternatively, the conductive surface may be formed from other heat conductive materials suitable for imparting required heat tot he hair of a user. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that further outer layers suitable for formation of hair curls may be provided, such as foam like materials.
The securing member 160 shown is formed by an annulus 162 which is rotatable about the axis 105 of the body member 110. The annulus 162 includes a locating rim 164 which is held in sliding rotational engagement with the body member 110. The locating rim 164 is held captive between the circumferential rib 120 and the locking tab 122 of the end cap 118. This arrangement allows the first securing member to rotate about the body member whilst not being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the body during rotation.
The annulus 162 includes a pair of opposed flanges 166 to which a first end of the arm 168 of the first securing member 160 is attached. All or part of the first securing member 160 may be formed of a material such as plastic or metal. The first securing member may be resiliently flexible so as to allow ease of assembly or manufacture of the device.
The first end 167 of the arm 168 is hingedly attached to the annulus 162. A pivot pin 170 extends between the flanges 166 and through a hole formed in the first end 167 of the arm 168. The arm 168 extends from the pivot pin towards a second end 169, terminating in a distal end region 172.
The distal end region 172 of the arm 168 is engageable with a lip 174 formed on the second end portion 114 upon movement of the securing member 160 in a radial inward direction and hinged motion in the present embodiment, relative to the body member. The distal end region 172 is shaped in the form of a hook-like portion to facilitate engagement. A tab 176 formed on the end region 172 assists location of the securing member on the lip 174 by a user.
Alternatively the arm 168 may extend in the direction of the second end portion and stop short of abutting the lip 174, although not shown. The arm may terminate in a blunt end, also not shown in the present figures.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present embodiment provides a preferred manner in which to provide the first securing member with rotation freedom about the axis of the hair roller. Other or alternate manners which allow such rotation about the axis independent of rotation of the roller will be understood to be equally applicable and not depart from the scope of the invention as claimed.
Referring to
As the hair roller 100 is rotated the tresses of hair are wrapped about the outer surface 131. In the arrangement shown the annulus 162 is freely rotatable about the body member 110 during the spooling of hair onto the body member. This allows the first securing member to remain in the same position relative to the head of the user during the spooling operation or thereabouts, so as not to impinge on or prevent coiling of the hair of the user.
Advantageously, the orientation chosen by the user may be similar to that depicted, that is so that the first securing member does not impinge on the head the user during the spooling operation. It would be appreciated that because the first securing member in the embodiment shown is hingedly attached to the annulus that the first securing member can be opened up to 180 degrees, which may be advantageous during spooling of the hair and during release of the device from user's hair.
As shown in
Heat may be applied to the roller subsequently, for example by inserting one or more heating rods in the axial aperture formed in the hair roller. Alternatively, the rollers may be heated prior to the hair being spooled onto the rollers. The securing member may then be disengaged from the lip and moved in a direction away from the outer surface of the body to remove the roller from the hair after a curl has been formed. In other or alternate embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, an integrally provide heating element or member may be formed with the roller, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.
Referring to
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other arrangements of the second securing member may be possible, including manufacturing the second securing member 280 from a resiliently flexible material. Alternatively, the second securing member 280 may not necessarily be biased toward the curved surface 131 at all. In the arrangement shown the second securing member does not extend the full length of the curved surface 231, although in alternate embodiments it may do so.
As shown in
Referring to
Similarly as depicted in
The present invention provides advantages over those of the prior art and overcomes shortcomings and deficiencies as exhibited those of the prior art including ease of self application through ease of operation due to the integrally formed securing member or members, obviating necessity of provision of separate hair pins, efficiency of rolling of hair and maintaining desired degree of tress length during securement of the roller to the user, simplification of formation and manufacture and necessity of independent components obviated by the provision of an integrally formed device.
While the present invention has been explained by reference to the examples or preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that the examples and embodiments are provided to assist understanding of the present invention and are not restrictive. Variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made thereon, should be considered as equivalents of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07104199.4 | Apr 2007 | HK | national |
