Patent Application
20050109755
The present invention relates to a hair styling device, and more particularly to a hair straightening device.
There are many conventional devices that are currently purported to straighten hair. For instance, conventional hair straightening devices, such as a flat iron, typically employ two heated elements between which hair is pressed. While this process succeeds in flattening the hair, it leaves the hair with an artificial appearance. Another problem with conventional hair straightening devices is that such an iron, comprised of two oppositely and adjacently-disposed heating elements, cannot safely or effectively reach the hair that is closest to the scalp. As a result, this process of straightening leaves the hair with an uneven quality.
The use of a flat iron on the hair may also damage the hair. The combination of tension on the hair and excessive heat pressing from two sides dries and weakens the hair, leading to breakage and split ends.
Other conventional devices used to straighten hair may employ hot air. Conventional devices such as the common blow dryer use hot air to mold the hair in a desired position hoping to obtain a more natural look. The problem with blow dryers is that the air blows many of the hairs in undesired directions. Unless each strand of hair is tightly secured with tension, which in turn is damaging to the hair, it is impossible to keep each strand lying in the desired position. While hot air successfully dries the hair it is not effective in straightening each strand.
Thus, conventional devices used to straighten hair are time consuming, complicated, and require the help of a stylist to achieve professional quality results. However, even when a stylist assists in the hair straightening process, these conventional hair straightening devices do not provide the stylist with the ability to successfully straighten all lengths of hair. Straightening hair has always been a tedious process from which even professional stylists typically achieve less than satisfactory results.
The present invention relates to a hair straightening device, such as a comb or, preferably, a brush or the like. In one embodiment, the hair straightening device includes a handle. The hair straightening device also includes a base portion having a proximal end adjacent to the handle, a distal end and a surface. In addition, the hair straightening device includes a plurality of bristles extending from the surface of the base portion, each of the plurality of bristles having a tip. Furthermore, the hair straightening device includes a heating element extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the base portion. The heating element has a heated surface that is positioned between the surface of the base portion and the tips of the bristles. The heating element may be configured to be heated between 150° F. and 600° F.
The hair straightening device may also include a power source for providing power for heating the heating element, such as an electric cord configured to be plugged into an electrical outlet, or a battery housed within the device. The heating element may be flat, curved or any other shape. In addition, the heating element may be positioned between rows of bristles, or may be positioned at or along a lateral edge of the base portion of the device. Alternatively or additionally, the heating element may have one or more openings, wherein at least one bristle is configured to extend through the opening or openings. Furthermore, the heating element may define grooves configured to guide hair.
In one embodiment, the heating element is adjustable, e.g., in a vertical direction between the surface of the base portion and the tips of the bristles. In the embodiment in which the heating element has one or more openings through which a bristle or bristles extend, the heating element may be adjustable such that the bristle or bristles are configured to extend through and move within the openings. In another embodiment, the hair straightening device includes a second heating element, which may also be positioned between rows of bristles.
The present invention, according to one embodiment thereof, is directed to a hair straightening device.
The hair straightening device 10 also includes a plurality of bristles 18. The bristles 18 extend from the surface 16 of the base portion 14. Each of the bristles 18 have a tip 18a. Advantageously, the bristles 18 are configured so as to be generally perpendicularly arranged relative to the surface 16 of the base portion. However, it should be recognized that the bristles 18 may be configured so as to be arranged at any desirable angle relative to the surface 16 of the base portion 14. In addition, it should be recognized that, while some embodiments may employ bristles 18 that are all arranged at a given angle relative to the surface 16 of the base portion 14, other embodiments may employ some bristles 18 which are arranged at a first angle relative to the surface 16 of the base portion 14 and some bristles 18 which are arranged at a second, e.g., different, angle relative to the surface 16 of the base portion 14.
The hair straightening device 10 also includes a heating element 20. The heating element 20 may extend between the proximal end 14a and the distal end 14b of the base portion 14. The heating element 20 preferably has a heated surface 20a that is positioned between the surface 16 of the base portion 14 and the tips 18a of the bristles 18.
The hair straightening device 10 may also include a power source 22 for providing power, e.g., electric power, for heating the heating element 20. In the embodiment shown, the hair straightening device 100 includes a power source 22 in the form of an electric cord 22a configured to be plugged into an electrical outlet. Alternatively or additionally, the hair straightening device 10 includes a power source 22 in the form of a battery 27 housed within the hair straightening device 10.
The hair straightening device 10 may also include an on/off switch that enables a user to selectively turn the device 10 on and off, such as on/off switch 24. In addition, the hair straightening device 10 may include a temperature control switch that enables a user to selectively control the temperature to which the heating element 20 is heated, such as temperature control switch 26.
The heating element 20 may have any number of different shapes and configurations. For instance, in one embodiment, the hair straightening device 10 has a heating element 20 that is substantially oblong, e.g, elongated, when viewed from above and that is substantially flat when viewed in cross-section.
Referring still to
While
The hair straightening device of the present invention may have two or more heating elements. For instance,
While the embodiments described hereinabove have the heating element positioned generally above the surface of the base portion, in other embodiments, the heating element may be positioned at or along a lateral edge of the base portion. For instance,
It should be recognized that the base portion as shown in some of the aforementioned embodiments, e.g., having a significant width and including multiple rows of bristles, thereby enable the device to be employed as a brush. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the hair straightening device may be configured so as to have a relatively narrow base portion and to include a single row of bristles, thereby enabling the device to be employed as a comb.
Furthermore, it should be recognized that the hair straightening device described hereinabove may be employed to straighten the hair of human, animals, or any other entity that includes hair.
The present invention provides the advantage that it enables any length of hair, including very short hair, to be straightened in a quick, safe, and simple process. As the hair is guided through the bristles of the brush, the hair comes into contact with the heating element. The heating element relaxes the hair and molds the hair into the configuration which the hair assumes as the hair is being brushed. Thus, the disadvantages of the blow dryer and the flat iron may be eliminated. Unlike a conventional blow dryer, the hair is not blown away from the brush that is positioning the hair in the desired shape. Furthermore, unlike the flat iron, the hair is not exposed and flattened between two heated elements. According to the present invention, the hair straightening device of the present invention provides for an arrangement whereby excessive tension is not needed to straighten the hair. Instead, the hair's own weight and resiliency guides it through the bristles of the brush, and the stress to the hair is no greater than the simple act of running a brush through one's hair.
Thus, unlike with conventional hair straightening devices, the heat needed to relax the hair is not being used in conjunction with excessive force, pulling, or pressing. After contacting the heating element, the hair is caused to be straightened and smoothed for a long-lasting style. The process also leaves the hair with a shine.
Another advantage of the hair straightening device of the present invention is its ability to straighten hair of any length, particularly very short hair. For instance, the hair straightening device of the present invention can safely straighten hair from its roots without burning the scalp. The brush can grasp and straighten hair that is very close to the scalp and leaves the entire length of hair evenly styled.
Thus, the several aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention are most effectively attained. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications of the exemplary embodiment described hereinabove may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although various exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been described and disclosed in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.
