Patent Application
20140353301
This application claims priority to application No. 2,817,232, filed in Canada on May 29, 2013.
The present invention is related to appliances and devices used for styling or shaping fibers. More specifically the present invention relates to hair/fabric treating appliances such as straighteners, crimpers, curlers, clothes irons and the like.
Hair styling appliances are currently used (e.g. for straightening, crimping or curling hair) in both the professional and domestic domain. Further, fabric treating appliances (e.g. clothes-irons) are also used in both the professional and domestic domain to remove wrinkles from fabric. These appliances rely on the principle of simultaneously heating the fiber (hair/fabric) and pressing it into a determined shape or condition. As used hereinafter, the word fiber(s) denotes one or more hairs, fabric, strands, threads or any other filamentary material that can be treated including, but not limited to, being shaped, styled, pressed, straightened or conditioned using heat. For descriptive and exemplary purposes only, the fiber described and referred to below will predominantly be hair. References to hair however should not be read to exclude other fiber(s) as described above.
Conventional hair styling appliances are characterized by a pair of opposed heating elements located on the appliance's pivotally hinged arms or clamping members. A typical hair straightener for example has a heating element placed on each arm. Each heating element of conventional hair styling appliances tends to be heated as a single unit. Conventional clothes irons (or other fabric-shaping appliances) are typically characterized by a single heating surface that is heated as a single unit. The fibers passing in contact with the heating element(s) are therefore subject to being heated across the entire width of the heating element(s). This is not necessarily the best way to shape or treat the fibers. Better results may be obtained if the fibers passing in contact with the heating element(s) are subjected to alternate heating and cooling.
What is proposed therefore is a tool in the nature for example of a hair appliance or a fabric treating appliance with an improved function to expose the fiber being heated to temperature differentials.
To achieve this goal, the present invention is directed towards a fiber treating device consisting of a heating area comprising at least two heatable plates, a longitudinally extending gap separating adjacent heatable plates and a power supply, wherein the heatable plates are heated to treat the fiber.
The fiber treating device may be a hair styling apparatus further comprising two longitudinally extending arms connected to each other via a hinge at one of their ends, the arms capable of moving between open and closed positions, a heating area near the end of the arms opposite of the hinge, the heating area comprising at least two heatable plates, a longitudinally extending gap separating adjacent heatable plates and a power supply, wherein the heatable plates are heated to style or shape hair.
The longitudinally extending gap between the heatable plates of the appliance may extend through the arm allowing airflow through the gap. Alternatively the longitudinally extending gap may be comprised of an insulating material.
The heatable plates of the appliance may be connected to a control for controlling the temperature of the heatable plates. Preferably all the heatable plates are connected to a single control to ensure the temperature is the same for all of the heatable plates. In other embodiments the heatable plates of the first arm may be controlled by a first control and the heatable plates of the second arm may be controlled by a second control.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
A hair styling appliance including the invention could be implemented in various ways depending on its purpose. Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention may be a hair straightener 1, as shown in
In one embodiment, hair appliance 1 may include two longitudinally extending arms, a first arm 2a and a second opposed arm 2b. Arms 2a, 2b each have a first end 4a, 4b and a second end 6a, 6b. Longitudinally extending arms 2a, 2b may be connected at their first ends 4a, 4b by a hinge or pivot joint 8 in any manner known in the art. Accordingly arms 2a, 2b may pivot and move between an open position as shown in
Alternatively, arms 2a, 2b may be pivotally attached to each other nearer the middle, thus dividing arms 2a, 2b between a styling part and a gripping part (not shown).
Hair styling appliance 1 may include a hair shaping area 10, which in the present embodiment is comprised of heating areas 12a and 12b on arms 2a, 2b respectively. Heating areas 12a, 12b are preferably located proximate to ends 6a, 6b of arms 2a, 2b.
Heating areas 12a, 12b face each other and extend only partly along the length of arms 2a, 2b to create the hair shaping area 10, which may style or shape the hair when the arms are closed to press the hair therebetween.
In the example shown most clearly in
At least one longitudinally extending thermal gap 18a, 18b exists between each set of plates 14a, 16a and 14b, 16b respectively. Gap 18a, 18b may allow hair to cool slightly by not being in constant contact with the plates 14a, 16a, 14b, 16b when the appliance 1 is used. Each gap 18a 18b may extend through each respective arm 2a, 2b allowing increased airflow into the hair shaping mechanism. Alternatively, gap 18a, 18b may contain or be occupied by an insulating material of any suitable type known to those skilled in the art. The insulating material may enhance the effect of gap 18a, 18b. In its simplest form, gaps 18a and b can simply be an air space.
Plates 14a, 16a, 14b, 16b may be made of any suitable heatable thermal material with a surface designed to be placed in contact with hair without risking damage to it. Accordingly, each plate 14a, 16a could, for example, be polished smooth or coated with enamel, ceramic, polymer, or even a layer of glass or a mineral (e.g. with a low coefficient of friction). Preferably each plate 14a, 16a is ceramic but numerous materials are known and used in the art and any can be used.
Plates 14a, 16a, 14b, 16b may be operatively associated with a heating mechanism (not shown) provided inside arms 2a, 2b. The heating mechanism may be implemented in any appropriate manner known in the art. The heating mechanism may be connected to a power supply such as by a cord 20 connected to an electrical outlet. Alternatively the power could be supplied to hair styling appliance 1 by batteries located within one or both of arms 2a, 2b.
Hair appliance 1 may include a conventional control mechanism between the heating mechanism and the power supply. The control mechanism allows a user to select an appropriate operating temperature. Similarly, the heating mechanism could also be designed to automatically maintain a predetermined temperature. The implementation of the heating mechanisms and the control mechanism(s) are well known in the art. Preferably plates 14a, 16a, 14b, 16b are all on the same control and the temperature of each plate 14a, 16a, 14b, 16b is the same. Alternatively heating plates 14a, 16a , 14b, 16b may each have individual temperature controls. A second alternative is to have heatable plates 14a, 16a of first arm 2a controlled by a first control and heatable elements 14b, 16b of second arm 2b controlled by a second control.
To use the appliance 1, the hair to be treated is introduced into the hair shaping area 10 between arms 2a and b. The arms 2a, 2b are then closed to press the hair between the heatable plates as the appliance is moved along the length of the hair to be treated by the application of heat from the plates. As the appliance is pulled along the hair, the first pair of plates heat the hair, then the hair cools in the gaps and then the second pair of plates again heats the hair. Alternatively the hair may be held in hair shaping area 10 for a period of time sufficient to apply the desired treatment.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the heatable plates 14a, 16a, 14b, 16b may be used for treating a fabric, such as clothes. In this embodiment, which can be for example a clothes iron, the plates 14a, 16a may be connected to a handle. At least one gap 18a may extend between adjacent plates 14a, 16a. Thus, when the appliance is moved over the fabric, the fabric is first heated by at least one plate, the fabric then cools in the adjacent gap and then another plate again heats the fabric. This is repeated for as many gaps and plates as are built into the iron.
In alternative embodiments, heating areas 12a, 12b may have more than one gap 18 between multiple heatable plates (not shown).
Although one embodiment has been described above and illustrated in the Figures, those skilled in the art would appreciate that various changes, alterations and substitutions can be made without departing form the essence of the invention. All such changes, alterations and substitutions are believed to fall within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2817232 | May 2013 | CA | national |
