Patent Application
20250151868
The present disclosure relates generally to hair styling devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a hair styling device configured to output an alert when a desired period of time has lapsed and methods of use thereof.
Hair styling devices, such as curling irons, have been a staple of the hair styling industry for years. Heated hair may be smoothed, manipulated, and styled more easily than non-heated hair. In general, curling irons impart a curl or pattern to hair being styled by heating a barrel or mandrel of the curling iron to a desired temperature and restraining the hair in physical contact with the barrel to thermally heat the hair. Curling irons restrain the hair in physical contact with the barrel via a clip pivotally associate with the barrel. A section of hair is typically wound around the heated barrel of the curling iron and held in contact with the heated barrel via the clip for a period of time. Heat from the heated barrel of the curling iron reforms plastic bonds in the hair. When the heated hair is removed from the heated barrel, the hair substantially retains the shape of the curling iron's barrel.
Hair styling devices also include curling wands. Curling wands may share some similarities to curling irons, such as having a barrel operable to be heated, but notably curling wands to not include a clip. A section of hair is typically wound around the heated barrel of the curling wand and held in contact with the heated barrel for a period of time. Notably, because there is no clip, a user must hold the hair in contact with the heated barrel.
A radius of the curling iron or curling wand barrel has a significant effect on the curling properties of the curling iron or curling wand. A barrel that has a relatively small radius results in a tighter and longer lasting curl whereas a barrel that has a relatively large radius forms a looser curl (i.e., a more open curl or wave pattern) in hair being styled. Curling irons and curling wands having a relatively large radius barrel may be used to iron (i.e., straighten) sections of hair.
The period of time for which the hair is in contact with the heated barrel also has significant effect on the outcome of the hair styling operation. If the hair is not in contact with the heated barrel long enough, the hair may not be heated sufficiently and therefore not retain shape. Alternatively, if the hair is in contact with the heated barrel for too long, the hair may burn. Users often wrap their hair around the heated barrel and manually count the seconds contact is made. Oftentimes, this leads to timing inconsistencies between each section of hair. Thus, some sections of hair may not retain their curled shape while other sections of hair may have various degrees of burns.
Accordingly, a need exists for improvements in hair styling devices.
This Summary of the Disclosure is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
One aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein is a hair styling device. The hair styling device may comprise an elongate body, a heating element, and a controller. Th elongate body may have a working portion and a handle portion. The heating element may be operable to selectively heat the working portion of the elongate body. The controller may be associated with the handle portion and operable to receive, via a user input, a time setting representing a period of time and output an alert when the period of time has lapsed.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the working portion of the elongate body may have a triangular cross-section.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the working portion of the elongate body may taper toward a distal end of the elongate body.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the hair styling device may include a display located on the handle portion of the elongate body. The display may be linked to the controller.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the display may be configured to display the selected time setting.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the working portion of the elongate body may be fixed relative to the handle portion of the elongate body.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the hair styling device may include a speaker associated with the controller. The speaker may be configured to generate an audible sound. The alert may include the audible sound generated by the speaker.
Another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein is a method of styling hair. The method may comprise providing a hair styling device including an elongate body having a working portion and a handle portion, a heating element operable to selectively heat the working portion of the body, and a controller; via interface tools associated with the handle portion, selecting a time setting representing a period of time; placing a portion of hair in contact with the working portion of the elongate body for the selected period of time; via the hair styling device, outputting an alert when the length of time has elapsed; and moving the portion of hair such that it does not contact the working portion of the elongate body.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the method may further comprise, via the heating element, heating the working portion of the elongate body to a desired temperature.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the method may further comprise displaying the selected time setting via a display located on the handle portion of the elongate body.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the working portion of the elongate body may have a triangular cross-section.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the working portion of the elongate body may taper toward a distal end of the elongate body.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, the working portion of the elongate body may be fixed relative to the handle portion of the elongate body.
In another aspect in accordance with the optional embodiments disclosed herein, placing a portion of hair in contact with the working portion of the elongate body may include wrapping the portion of hair around the working portion of the elongate body.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more drawings of which are set forth herein. Each drawing is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.
Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure.
The words “connected,” “attached,” “joined,” “mounted,” “fastened,” and the like should be interpreted to mean any manner of joining two objects including, but not limited to, the use of any fasteners such as screws, nuts and bolts, bolts, pin and clevis, and the like allowing for a stationary, translatable, or pivotable relationship; welding of any kind such as traditional MIG welding, TIG welding, friction welding, brazing, soldering, ultrasonic welding, torch welding, inductive welding, and the like; using any resin, glue, epoxy, and the like; being integrally formed as a single part together; any mechanical fit such as a friction fit, interference fit, slidable fit, rotatable fit, pivotable fit, and the like; any combination thereof; and the like.
To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean “on” or “onto.” Furthermore, to the extent the term “connect” is used in the specification or claims, it is intended to mean not only “directly connected to,” but also “indirectly connected to” such as connected through another component or multiple components.
Referring now to the figures, and specifically
The curling wand 100 may include an elongate body 110. The elongate body may include a handle portion 120 and a working portion 130. The handle portion 120 may be located adjacent to the working portion 130.
A power cable 140 may be coupled to the handle portion 120 of the elongate body 110. The power cable 140 may be operable to electrically couple the curling wand 100 to a power source, such as a standard 15-amp duplex receptacle outlet to name one example. Thus, in certain optional embodiments, the curling wand 100 may be electrically powered. In other optional embodiments, the curling wand 100 may be powered by a battery or other suitable sources of electrical power.
The elongate body 110 may be referred to as having a proximal end 112 and a distal end 114. The proximal end 112 of the elongate body 110 may be the end wherein the power cable 140 is coupled. Thus, the handle portion 120 may be positioned closer to the proximal end 112 of the elongate body 110 than to the distal end 114 of the elongate body 110. The working portion 130 may be positioned closer to the distal end 114 of the elongate body 110 than to the proximal end 112 of the elongate body 110.
The working portion 130 of the elongate body 110 may be configured to be selectively heated by a heating element 135. The heating element 135 may be located at least partially within the working portion 130. The heating element 135 may be a ceramic heater, or other heaters known in the art. The working portion 130 may have a triangular cross-section. Further, the working portion 130 may taper from an end located at or near the handle portion 120 toward the distal end 114 of the elongate body 110. Due to the taper of the working portion 130, a radius of the working portion 130 nearer to the proximal end 112 of the elongate body 110 is greater than the radius of the working portion 130 nearer to the distal end 114 of the elongate body. The transition in the radius may be substantially smooth and gradual. The taper may further extend into the handle portion 120, or it may only be associated with the working portion 130. In certain optional embodiments, the working portion 130 may be fixed relative to the handle portion 120. Thus, the working portion 130 may resist rotation or movement relative to the handle portion 120. In other optional embodiments, the working portion 130 may be removably coupled to the handle portion 120. Thus, a user may selectively couple different working portions 130 to the handle portion 120 based on a desired style.
The working portion 130 may include a support tip 150 located at the distal end 114 of the elongate body 110. The support tip 150 may be configured to maintain a substantially consistent temperature whether the heating element 135 is on or off. The support tip 150 may be configured to be grasped by a user when performing a styling routine. Thus, the support tip 150 may provide a safe and comfortable location for manipulating the hair styling device 100 in addition to the handle portion 120.
The handle portion 120 of the elongate body 110 may be configured to be grasped by the hand of a user. The handle portion 120 may be resistant to heat and maintain a substantially consistent temperature whether the heating element 135 is on or off. In certain optional embodiments, the handle portion 120 may be thermally insulated. The handle portion 120 may have a triangular cross-section similar to that of the working portion 130. Thus, the handle portion 120 may allow the user to determine the orientation of the working portion 130, as the orientation of the handle portion 120 may match the orientation of the working portion 130. However, in other optional embodiments, the handle portion 120 may have any other shaped cross-section. The handle portion 120 may have a soft-grip covering and/or other features located in or on the handle to facilitate comfortable and practical manipulation of the hair styling device 100. The handle portion 120 may also include a raised hand guard operable to prevent a user's fingers from touching the working portion 130.
As schematically illustrated in
The controller 200 may be configured to generate control signals for controlling the operation of various aspects of the hair styling device 100. The controller 200 for example may generate electronic control signals for controlling the operation of the heating element 135.
The controller 200 may include or may be associated with a processor 230, a computer readable medium 240, a communication unit 250, and data storage 260 such as for example a database network. It is understood that the controller 200 described herein may be a single controller having some or all of the described functionality, or it may include multiple controllers wherein some or all of the described functionality is distributed among the multiple controllers.
Various operations, steps or algorithms as described in connection with the controller 200 can be embodied directly in hardware, in a computer program product such as a software module executed by the processor 230, or in a combination of the two. The computer program product can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, or any other form of computer-readable medium 240 known in the art. An exemplary computer-readable medium 240 can be coupled to the processor 230 such that the processor 230 can read information from, and write information to, the memory/storage medium 240. In the alternative, the medium 240 can be integral to the processor 230. The processor 230 and the medium 240 can reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor 230 and the medium 240 can reside as discrete components in a user terminal.
The term “processor” 230 as used herein may refer to at least general-purpose or specific-purpose processing devices and/or logic as may be understood by one of skill in the art, including but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a state machine, and the like. A processor 230 can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
The communication unit 250 may support or provide communications between the controller 200 and external communications units, systems, or devices, and/or support or provide communication interface with respect to internal components of the hair styling device 100. The communications unit 250 may include wireless communication system components (e.g., via cellular modem, WiFi, Bluetooth or the like) and/or may include one or more wired communications terminals such as universal serial bus ports.
The data storage 260 may, unless otherwise stated, generally encompass hardware such as volatile or non-volatile storage devices, drives, electronic memory, and optical or other storage media, as well as in certain embodiments one or more databases residing thereon. In an embodiment, the data storage 260 may be configured to receive and retrievably store data sets, models, and/or algorithms, for further performing programmatic operations or the like.
In certain optional embodiments, the interface tools 225 may include a power button. The power button may be operable to selectively power the hair styling device 100 on and/or off. The power button may generate output signals to the controller 200. The controller 200 may generate control signals to display a power status as part of the user interface 210 on the display unit 220.
In certain optional embodiments, the interface tools 225 may further include a temperature button. The temperature button may be operable to receive a user input corresponding to a desired temperature of the working portion 130. The temperature button may generate output signals to the controller 200 which may control the heating element 135. The controller 200 may generate control signals to display the desired temperature as part of the user interface 210 on the display unit 220.
In certain optional embodiments, the interface tools 225 may further include a time button. The time button may be operable to receive a user input corresponding to a time setting. The time setting may represent a period of time, such as 10 second, 20 seconds, or 30 seconds to name a few examples. The time button may generate output signals to the controller 200 corresponding to the selected time setting. The controller 200 may generate control signals to display the time setting as part of the user interface 210 on the display unit 220.
The controller 200 may generate control signals to a speaker 160. The speaker 160 may be associated with the controller 200 and configured to selectively generate an audible sound. The controller 200 may wait a period of time corresponding to the time setting selected by the user and output an alert when the period of time has lapsed. The alert may include the audible sound generated by the speaker 160, such as a beeping sound to name one example.
Referring now to
The user may select a temperature setting via the temperature button located on the handle portion 120 of the elongate body 110. A visual display of the selected temperature may be displayed via the display unit 220 located on the handle portion 120 of the elongate body 110. The heating element 135 may heat the working portion 130 until it reaches the selected temperature and maintain the working portion 130 at the selected temperature.
The user may select a time setting representing a desired period of time via the time button. For example, the desired period of time may be 10 seconds, 20 seconds, or 30 seconds. A visual representation of the selected time setting may be displayed via the display unit 220 located on the handle portion 120 of the elongate body 110.
The user may place a portion of hair in contact with the working portion 130 of the elongate body 110. For example, the user may grasp a desired portion of hair and wrap the hair around the working portion 130. The amount of hair styled at one time, the temperature selected, the time setting selected, and/or how tight the hair is wrapped may be selected by the user based on desired outcome.
The portion of hair may be held in contact with the working portion 130 of the elongate body 110 for the desired period of time. Once the desired period of time has lapsed, the hair styling device 100, via the speaker 160, may output an alert. The alert may include the audible sound generated by the speaker 160, such as a beeping sound to name one example.
The user may move the portion of hair such that it does not contact the working portion 130 of the elongate body 110 in response to the alert. This may include unwrapping the hair from around the working portion 130.
As shown herein, one such advantage of the present disclosure may be that a user may style several portions of hair with a hair styling device 100 in succession while maintaining consistent results. More specifically, the hair styling device 100 may be operable to track and alert the user when a selected time related to styling has elapsed.
Thus, it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described for present purposes, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Each disclosed feature or embodiment may be combined with any of the other disclosed features or embodiments.
