The present application claims priority to Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2013-002498 (now Japanese Utility Model Registration U 130507), filed May 7, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present application generally relates to hair styling tools. In particular, several embodiments are directed to a hair iron brush that provides three hair treatment functions: a brush function for brushing of hair with brush bristles, an ironing function for heating hair by heating plates while brushing, and an ironing function for heating and/or straightening hair enclosed between heated plates.
Typical hair iron brushes include brush bristle rows that are arranged longitudinally along the brush and fine heating surfaces defined by arc-shaped heating plates. The brush bristle rows and the heating plates are arranged alternately across the width of the brush. Such hair iron brushes are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. U 3180622. Other types of hair styling tools can include flat heating plates that are positioned opposite each other on two arm members that are hinged together and open and close with respect to each other. Each heating plate can have a heating means associated with it such that hair placed between the heating plates can be clasped and heated from both sides of the device. Such hair irons are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2010-233830. A person must therefore own several different devices depending upon how he or she would like to style his or her hair.
The present technology is directed toward hair iron brushes that provide a brushing function, an ironing function with arc-shaped heating panels, and an ironing function with plate-shaped heating panels. Specific details of several embodiments of the technology are described below with reference to
Many of the details, dimensions, functions and other features shown and described in conjunction with the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, functions and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without several of the details described below.
As used herein, a multi-element mineral refers to a mineral having a well-balanced content of a large number of elements that includes silicon as a primary component and is known to produce negative ions. For example, a multi-element mineral can include perlite, pitchstone, and/or tourmaline. Multi-element mineral powders can be formed by grinding multi-element minerals into a powder using a ball mill and/or other suitable mineral grinding tools. In certain embodiments, the minerals can be ground into a powder having particles of about 1-3 microns, but in other embodiments the powder can have smaller or larger particles. Multi-element mineral powders may be used alone or in combination with other powders. For example, two or more types of multi-element mineral powders can be blended together. Multi-element mineral powders may be used as-is (e.g., in powder form). In other embodiments, multi-element mineral powders can be mixed with water, heated and/or pressurized, and then the eluent can be vacuum freeze dried and/or spray dried to form a powder. Table 1 below illustrates the composition of one such multi-element mineral powder, perlite.
Multi-element mineral powders can emit electromagnetic waves (subtle energy) with wavelengths of 4-14 μm, which can cause electrical changes in the vicinity of the nuclei of atoms so that the substance thereof enters an excited state. The electrical changes can cause breakage or reduction of water clusters and diminished water volume in the cells, increased specific gravity, and/or water (i.e. free water) adhering on the outer membranes of animal and plant cells, and therefore promotes permeation of water and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca2+) ions into cells and stimulates cell functions. Directing such electromagnetic waves (subtle energy) onto the hair or scalp can stimulate the mineralization of moisture in the hair and/or scalp, activate proteins in the hair and/or scalp, and/or promote healthy and shiny hair.
As used herein, far infrared radiating powder can refer to far infrared radiating materials, such as alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2), ferrite (Fe2O3), chromium oxide (Cr2O3), silica (SiO2), yttria (Y2O3), magnesia (MgO), etc. in a powder form. Far infrared radiating powders can be used as a blend so as to radiate far infrared rays at wavelengths suited to absorption by hair and scalp.
Multi-element mineral powders and/or far infrared radiating powders can be incorporated into synthetic resin brush bristles and/or heating panels of the devices disclosed herein. For example, multi-element mineral powders and/or far infrared radiating powders can be formed into a desired shape, such as the shape of a heating plate. Multi-element mineral powders and/or far infrared radiating powders can also be mixed into coating materials that are applied to surfaces of hair iron brushes to form a coating layer. For example, multi-element mineral powders and/or far infrared radiating powders can be used in ceramic coating layers, plating layers, fluoride coating layers, nylon layers, synthetic resin layers, silicon rubber layers, fluoride rubber layers, and/or other coatings incorporated into hair iron brushes.
The hair iron brush disclosed herein can provide a user with three hair treatment functions: (a) a brushing function provided by means of synthetic resin brush bristles that can be used to order the flow of hair; (b) an ironing function provided by arc-shaped heating panels that can be used to add curls or waves to hair and/or straighten hair while brushing the hair; and (c) an ironing function provided by a pair of flat-shaped heating panels that can add curls or waves to hair and/or straighten hair. In various embodiments, the hair iron brush can provide care to hair during styling by promoting blood circulation in the scalp by means of subtle energy emitted from multi-element mineral powder and/or far infrared rays emitted from far infrared radiating powder.
In certain embodiments, the hair iron brush can include opening and closing arm bodies or parts with flat- or plate-shaped heating panels, each including heating means. The plate-shaped heating panels face each other such that they approach and separate each other when the arm bodies close and open. The outer side of the end of one arm body can include a curve or arc shaped heating panel provided with a heating means. The curve shaped heating panel in conjunction with the corresponding plate-shaped heating panel can define a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape. The outer side of the other arm body can include a curve shaped panel that defines a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape with the corresponding plate-shaped heating panel. When the arm bodies are in a closed position, the plate-shaped heating panels can come in close proximity to each other and the outer circumference of the ends of both arm bodies can together define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The outer surface of curve shaped heating panel of the first arm body can include a plurality of rows of linear grooves extending in a longitudinal direction along the arm body and a plurality of linear heating surfaces arranged in an alternating pattern with the linear grooves in the circumferential direction. The linear grooves can retain a series of brush bristle bodies. The brush bristle bodies and the linear heating surfaces can be arranged in an alternating fashion in the circumferential direction across the arm body. In various embodiments, the hair iron brush can further include a ribbed comb part having curved recessed parts and curved raised parts arranged in an alternating fashion in the longitudinal direction on the surface of the curved plate of the second arm body.
In further embodiments, the brush bristle bodies, the plate-shaped heating panels, and/or the arc shaped heating panel can include multi-element mineral powder formed by crushing multi-element minerals. In certain embodiments, the brush bristle bodies, the plate-shaped heating panels, and/or the arc shaped heating panel can include, in addition to multi-element mineral powder, far infrared radiating powder formed of crushed far infrared radiating material.
As described above, the brush bristle row bodies of synthetic resin brush bristles and the linear heating surfaces formed by the arc shaped heating panel are arranged in an alternating pattern in the circumferential direction of the outer side of one arm part. This configuration allows a user to order the flow of hair by brushing the hair (i.e. a brushing function) by means of the brush bristle bodies. In addition, the hair iron brush allows the user to add curls or waves to hair, or to straighten hair (i.e. an ironing function) by applying heat to the hair with the arc-shaped heating panels while brushing the hair. The plate-shaped heating panels can provide an iron function as well. For example, the plate-shaped heating panels can be used to add curls or waves to hair, or to straighten hair by enclosing hair by between the plate-shaped heating panels.
As discussed above, when the arm parts are in the closed position, they form a circular cross-sectional shape. This allows users to smoothly wrap hair around the end parts of the arm parts forming said approximately round shape without producing kinks or bends in the hair. This configuration also brings hair into contact with the heating surfaces of the arc shaped heating panel, and therefore allows the user to easily and effectively form curls or waves in hair. When the surface of the arc shaped panel on the other arm part includes a ribbed comb part, it is possible to prevent hair wound around the arm part from slipping longitudinally on the arm part, and therefore prevents the flow of hair from becoming disordered.
Moreover, the brush bristle bodies enclosed in the linear grooves on the surface of the arc shaped heating panel simplifies manufacture of the hair iron brush. In addition, because the brush bristle bodies come into direct contact with the arc shaped heating panel, heat transfers from the arc shaped heating panels to the brush bristle bodies, thereby enhancing the ironing function by allowing hair to be heated from the brush bristle bodies as well as the heat provided by the arc shaped heating panel. The arrangement of the brush bristle bodies also allows the user (e.g., a hairdresser) to run his or her hand along or grip the brush bristle bodies because the brush bristles are made of synthetic resin, the heat transfer from the arc shaped heating panel is lessened to reduce the likelihood of burns. In addition, the hair iron brush prevents direct skin contact with the arc shaped heating panel because the panel is covered by the synthetic resin brush bristles.
When portions of the hair iron brush (e.g., the brush bristle bodies, the flat shaped heating panels, and/or the arc shaped heating panel) include multi-element mineral powder, the hair iron brush can emit subtle energy while styling the hair, and therefore promote hair growth and/or scalp care by increasing blood circulation in the scalp. In addition, the energy emissions of the multi-element mineral powder can reduce the static electricity generated during brushing. Therefore, the hair iron brush can facilitate curling by brushing and/or heating without being subject to static electricity. In addition, the negative ions generated from the multi-element mineral powder can improve hair and scalp circulation by brushing alone. A clustering phenomenon (e.g., a force reducing clusters of water molecules) can also occur in moisture on the hair due to the negative ions, which can enhance the shine and luster of the hair and facilitate styling. The negative ions can also act on hair cuticles (class-shaped fibers) to maintain a lustrous look in the hair, which can help tame damaged or unruly hair. In embodiments including far infrared radiating powder, the far infrared rays are emitted by the far infrared radiating powder can warm the hair and scalp from inside. By this means, it is possible to more effectively achieve hair care and to improve blood circulation in the scalp.
The plate-shaped heating panels 10, 20 can be made from an aluminum material, a steel material, a stainless steel material, a ceramic material, and/or other suitable materials for heating and/or styling hair. In certain embodiments, the plate-shaped heating panels 10, 20 can include a coating layer made from, for example, an aluminum material. The coating layer may be formed as a plating layer, a ceramic layer, a fluoride layer, and/or other suitable type of layer.
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In various embodiments of the hair iron brush 100, mixed powder including multi-element mineral powder and/or far infrared radiating powder may be contained in the brush bristle bodies 3, the plate-shaped heating panels 10, 20, the arc-shaped heating panel 11, and/or the flexible rib materials 70, 71. For example, the mixed powder can be mixed or otherwise incorporated into the materials for forming the brush bristle bodies 3 and/or the flexible rib materials 70, 71, or the mixed powder can itself be formed into the brush bristle bodies 3 and/or flexible rib materials 70, 71. The mixed powder can also be included in a coating applied to the plate-shaped heating panels 10, 20 and/or the arc-shaped heating panel 11. The coating layer can be formed by adding the mixed powder to a heat-resistant coating material (e.g., Formica available from the Formica Group of New Zealand) to make a paint-like substance that can cover the heating panels 10, 20, 11. The coated heating panels 10, 20, 11 can then be passed through a heating kiln to cure (bake on) the coating material. The proportion of the mixed powder to heat resistant Formica can be about 3-15% of the overall mixture, but in other embodiments the coating may include more or less mixed powder. In other embodiments, the hair iron brush 100 does not include the multi-element mineral powder and/or the far infrared radiating powder need not necessarily be included.
In operation, the hair iron brush 100 can heat the arc-shaped heating panel 11 and the plate-shaped heating panels 10, 20 by setting the switch 5 to an “ON” position, which causes electricity to flow to the heaters 51, 60 in each arm part 1, 2. This provides an ironing function that allows a user to form curls or waves in hair and/or straighten hair using the arc-shaped heating panel 11 while brushing the hair with the brush bristles 31 (via a brushing function). In addition, the flat-shaped heating panels 10, 20 can be used in an ironing function to apply curls or waves and/or straightening hair when the hair is held between the flat-shaped heating panels 10, 20. At the same time the user is styling the hair (e.g., by curling or straightening the hair), the hair iron brush 100 can also enhance the health the hair. For example, subtle energy can be radiated from multi-element mineral powder and/or far infrared rays can be radiated from far infrared radiating powder contained in flat-shaped heating panels 10, 20 and/or the flexible rib materials 70, 71, and thereby increase blood circulation to the scalp.
When the switch 5 is turned to an “OFF” position, the heaters 51, 60 do not heat the panels 10, 20, 11, and therefore the hair iron brush 100 can be used solely for a brushing function using the brush bristles 31. In various embodiments, brushing can allow for subtle energy to be radiated from multi-element mineral powder and/or far infrared rays to be radiated from far infrared radiating powder, and thereby increase blood circulation to the scalp and/or other hair care provided by the multi-element mineral powder and the far infrared radiating powder.
In certain embodiments, the user can hold a portion of hair between the flat-shaped heating panels 10, 20 when the arm bodies 1, 2 are in the closed position, and the user can twist his or her wrist approximately 45° to 180° in a forward direction (e.g., similar to opening the accelerator an a motorcycle) while sliding the flat-shaped heating panels 10, 20 along the length of the hair. This styling motion stretches unruly hair while curling the hair ends, and applies springy curls to the entire section of hair. When creating a curl shape, the user can twist his or her wrist in a forward direction from the place where the curl is to be created, and the shape of the curl can be adjusted to a wave shape or a spring shape according to the manner in which the wrist is twisted. It is also possible to increase volume of the hair by twisting the wrist in a forward direction while holding the hair with the flat-shaped heating panels 10, 20 such that the hair stands up from the roots. The hair iron brush 100 can prevent the flow of hair from being disordered (e.g., via the brushing function), and can also organize sections of hair using the ribbed comb part 4. In various embodiments, the hair iron brush 100 can be used in conjunction with a hair dryer to apply heat to the hair from the hair dryer while brushing of the hair with the brush 100, curling the hair, and/or straightening the hair. For example, the hair dryer can be configured to blow out negative ions together with warm air or cold air.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and no embodiment need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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130507 U | May 2013 | JP | national |