SKIN PROTECTION FROM HOT EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A protective cover for a hand-held heated instrument such as a curling iron or wand comprises a thin elastomeric sleeve of high-temperature polymer, for example silicon rubber. The sleeve may include features such as ridges, bumps, or through holes, and may be sized to fit snugly over the barrel of the heated instrument. The sleeve reduces heat conduction from hot surfaces of the instrument enough to prevent or reduce burns from momentary contact with bare skin, without noticeably altering the characteristics of the instrument for its intended purpose, such as curling or shaping hair.

Description

FIELD

The present application relates to protecting skin from hot equipment, and more particularly from burns from personal care equipment such as curling irons.

BACKGROUND

Various types of equipment operate using surfaces hot enough to burn human skin, causing pain, disfigurement, risk of infection and other ill effects. Some such equipment must be operated close to human skin to accomplish its purpose. For example, equipment for curling hair using application of heat, known as curling irons or curling wands, must be hot and must be used near the face and hands when curling hair. Curling irons and wands typically have a form factor that includes a thermally conductive, electrically heated curling rod (the “barrel”) attached to a thermally insulated handle. The barrels are often made of metal or ceramic material and come in various form factors and sizes. To work properly for curling hair, the barrel must be heated to a temperature in a range of about 250° F. to 450° F., which includes temperatures hot enough to burn sensitive skin from momentary contact. People using curling irons are therefore prone to unintentionally burning themselves from momentary contact of their skin with hot surfaces of curling iron, wands, and similarly handheld hot equipment.

It would be desirable, therefore, to develop new apparatus and methods for skin protection from hot equipment, that overcomes these and other limitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY

This summary and the following detailed description should be interpreted as complementary parts of an integrated disclosure, which parts may include redundant subject matter and/or supplemental subject matter. An omission in either section does not indicate priority or relative importance of any element described in the integrated application. Differences between the sections may include supplemental disclosures of alternative embodiments, additional details, or alternative descriptions of identical embodiments using different terminology, as should be apparent from the respective disclosures.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a handheld electrically heated instrument that includes a thermally conductive exterior surface heated within a range of about 250° F. to about 450° F., is provided with a thin, thermally insulating protective cover. The cover may include an elastomeric sleeve sized to cover and conform to the thermally conductive exterior surface of the handheld heated instrument. The sleeve may have a base uniform thickness in a range of 0.5 to 3 mm exclusive of holes or surface features. It may be made of a high-temperature polymer having a softening point above 450° F. and a thermal conductivity less than about 3 W/m K. An assembly may include the protective cover installed on the barrel of a curling iron, curling wand, or similar equipment.

In an aspect, the high-temperature polymer may be made of a silicone rubber material, in part or in whole. In another aspect, the elastomeric sleeve may be generally cylindrical and sized to cover and conform to a barrel of a curling iron or curling wand. In some embodiments, the elastomeric sleeve may be smooth and include no surface features. In other embodiments, the sleeve may include various surface features, for example through holes, divots, continuous ridges or discontinuous ridges (bumps). In addition, or in an alternative, the elastomeric sleeve may include a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges around a circumference of the sleeve.

A method of using the protective cover may include installing the protective cover on the barrel of a subject curling iron, curling wand, or similar equipment; activating the subject equipment until the barrel is heated to a desired operating temperature, and using the subject equipment to style hair. The protective cover reduces chance of burns from momentary contact. Due to the materials and geometry of the protective cover, sufficient heat flows during normal exposure to the hair under treatment to achieve the same styling effect as an unprotected iron without appreciably increasing the time required.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, one or more examples comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects and are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the examples may be employed. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings and the disclosed examples, which encompass all such aspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify like elements correspondingly throughout the specification and drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing illustrating a prior art curling iron.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a protective cover configured with a ridge-free zone for use with a curling iron.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating details of a protective cover.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a protective cover with ridges and slotted through-holes.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a protective cover with ridges and without through holes.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a smooth protective cover without surface features.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for using a protective cover in styling hair with a hot curling iron or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that the various aspects may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing these aspects.

Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art curling iron 100 typically includes a heated conductive barrel 102 of metallic or ceramic material, a transition section 106 attaching the barrel 102 to a thermally insulated handle 108, and a spring-loaded pivoting tong 104 for holding hair close to the barrel during styling. Electrical components (not shown) in an interior of the curling iron 100 heat the curling iron with power supplied by an electrical cord 110. Curling wands are similar to the curling iron 100 but lack a tong or equivalent feature. Instead, the user wraps hair around the barrel of the hand while keeping the strands of hair under tension. Whether using a curling iron or wand, the user must work with the iron close to her head and hands. Thus, many users experience painful and disfiguring burns on their hands, scalps, ears, and face. The present protective cover can be used to reduce or eliminate these burns, by placing the cover over the barrel of a curling iron or wand during use.

A protective cover may be configured to fit under a tong of a curling iron. FIG. 2 shows a protective cover 200 includes an elastomeric sleeve 208 configured with a ridge-free zone 202 for use with a curling iron. Circumferential ridges are provided in the ridged zone 204 to increase thermal insulation for contact with skin. The ridges create a longer thermal path and air gap when touching skin, decreasing heat transfer and increasing the amount of time the user has to react to the heat before being burned. Strands of hair can easily fit between the ridges for exposure to a higher heat flux. Discontinuous ridges (i.e., elongated or non-elongated bumps) may provide a similar effect. In addition, the ridge-free zone 202 may be thinner than the ridged zone 204 to allow the tong to lie flat when closed and for better heat transfer under the tong, where incidental skin contact is less likely. For example, the ridge free zone may have a thickness that is 50% or less that of the ridged zone including height of the ridges. Slotted through-holes 206 may increase heat transfer from the barrel to hair without increasing the risk of burns, because the slots are too narrow to admit skin. FIG. 3 shows details of the protective cover 200, including slotted through-holes 206, the wall of the elastomeric sleeve 210 and ridges of the ridged zone 208.

The elastomeric sleeve 210 may be sized to cover and conform to the thermally conductive exterior surface of the handheld heated instrument (e.g., curling iron or wand), wherein the sleeve has a base uniform thickness in a range of 0.5 to 3 mm exclusive of holes or surface features. The base thickness is shown enlarged at the top and bottom of FIG. 3. The elastomeric sleeve may be made of, or may include, a high-temperature polymer having a softening point above 450° F. and a thermal conductivity less than about 3 W/m K. For example, the high-temperature polymer may be made of a silicone rubber material, in part or in whole. The silicone rubber may be a polysiloxane material, and may have a hardness in a range of about 10 to 90 Shore A.

The elastomeric sleeve 210 may be generally cylindrical and sized to cover and conform to a barrel of a curling iron or curling wand. For example, the elastomeric sleeve 210 may have an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the barrel, for example, less than the outer diameter of the barrel by an amount in a range of about 0.01 mm to 1 mm. For non-circular barrels, the inner perimeter of the elastomeric sleeve may similarly be slightly less than the outer perimeter of the barrel. The elastomeric sleeve may be closed on one end to cover the tip of the barrel, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4-6. In an alternative, the sleeve may be open on both ends.

In some embodiments, the elastomeric sleeve 210 may be smooth and include no surface features. In other embodiments, the sleeve may include various surface features, for example through holes, divots, continuous ridges or discontinuous ridges for example bumps. In an aspect, the elastomeric sleeve includes a plurality of uniformly spaced through holes. Each of the through holes may have a perimeter shape selected from circular, slotted or polygonal, and each may be sized to expose an area not greater than about 0.5 cm² of any underlying hot barrel, in a shape that does not admit skin into contact with the hot barrel.

In addition, or in an alternative, the elastomeric sleeve may include a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges around a circumference of the sleeve. Each of the uniformly spaced ridges may have a uniform height in a range of 1 to 4 mm, and a uniform width in a range of 1 to 4 mm. Each of the uniformly spaced ridges may have a cross-section selected from semi-circular, rectangular or triangular. In a variation of a ridged design, a portion of the elastomeric sleeve may be left free of ridges in an area corresponding to a tong of a curling iron. In an aspect, the ridges may be non-continuous around the circumference of the elastomeric sleeve, forming elongated or non-elongated bumps. The ridged zone 204 may be limited to a portion of the cover 200 or may cover its entirety.

In an aspect, the elastomeric sleeve 210 has a uniform internal diameter in a range of 2 to 10 cm, for example, a uniform internal diameter in a range of 3.5 to 6 cm. The elastomeric sleeve 210 may be sized in length and internal diameter to fit a specific size or model of curling iron or curling wand. In an aspect, the high-temperature polymer has a thermal conductivity less than about 1 W/m K, or a thermal conductivity less than about 0.5 W/m K. Both values can be achieved using a grade of silicone rubber.

FIG. 4 shows a protective cover 300 including an elastomeric sleeve 304 as already described, including ridges 308 and slotted through-holes 306. The cover 300 may be useful for curling wands with equal potential for skin contact in all directions. In addition, the cover 300 may be placed over the tong and barrel components of a curling iron, converting it into a curling wand of a sort.

Protective covers may lack some or all of the described surface features. For example, FIG. 5 shows a protective cover 400 with ridges 408 and without through holes in the elastomeric sleeve 404. For further example, FIG. 6 shows a smooth protective cover 500 without surface features in the elastomeric sleeve 504. Users may prefer different configurations based on personal preferences, heat transfer characteristics, and qualities of the hair under treatment.

FIG. 7 shows a method 600 of using the protective cover to style hair using a curling iron, wand, or similar equipment. At 610, the method may include installing a protective cover on the barrel of a subject curling iron, curling wand, or similar equipment. To achieve a snug fit, the elastomeric cover may be inverted and then rolled onto the barrel from the tip backwards, in a manner similar to a sock or condom. The rolling action stretches the elastomeric material of the sleeve and ensures a snug fit for barrels of varying diameter or cross-sectional shape. At 620, the method 600 may include activating the subject equipment until the barrel is heated to a desired operating temperature. At 630, the method may include using the subject equipment to style hair in a conventional manner. The protective cover reduces chance of burns from momentary contact without special training, once installed. Due to the materials and geometry of the protective cover, sufficient heat flows during normal exposure to the hair under treatment to achieve the same styling effect as an unprotected iron without appreciably increasing the time required.

Thus, the protective cover may prevent millions of minor burns, and tens of thousands of major burns due to the use of curling irons. The protective cover may be made as a one size fits all or made to fit different sizes and any shape whatsoever, like cylinder, oval, cone, rectangle (prism), cube, sphere, and more.

The previous description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be clear to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, although a silicone rubber material is described, other high temperature elastomers may also be suitable. Likewise, although ridges and slotted through-holes are illustrated, other surface features such as circular holes or bumps may also be useful. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A protective cover for a handheld electrically heated instrument that includes a thermally conductive exterior surface heated within a range of about 250° F. to about 450° F., the cover comprising: an elastomeric sleeve sized to cover and conform to the thermally conductive exterior surface of the handheld heated instrument, wherein the sleeve has a base uniform thickness in a range of 0.5 to 3 mm exclusive of holes or surface features, wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises a high-temperature polymer having a softening point above 450° F. and a thermal conductivity less than about 3 W/m K.

2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the high-temperature polymer comprises a silicone rubber.

3. The protective cover of claim 2, wherein the silicone rubber is a polysiloxane material.

4. The protective cover of claim 3, wherein the polysiloxane has a hardness in a range of 10 to 90 Shore A.

5. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric sleeve is generally cylindrical and sized to cover and conform to a barrel of a curling iron or curling wand.

6. The protective cover of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric sleeve is closed on one end.

7. The protective cover of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises a plurality of uniformly spaced through holes.

8. The protective cover of claim 7, wherein each of the through holes is selected from circular or polygonal, and each exposes an area of the barrel not greater than 0.5 cm2.

9. The protective cover of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges around a circumference of the sleeve.

10. The protective cover of claim 9, wherein each of the uniformly spaced ridges has a uniform height in a range of 1 to 4 mm, and a uniform width in a range of 1 to 4 mm.

11. The protective cover of claim 9, wherein each of the uniformly spaced ridges has a cross-section selected from semi-circular, rectangular or triangular.

12. The protective cover of claim 9, wherein a portion of the elastomeric sleeve is free of ridges in an area corresponding to a tong of a curling iron.

13. The protective cover of claim 9, wherein the ridges are non-continuous around the circumference of the elastomeric sleeve.

14. The protective cover of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric sleeve has a uniform internal diameter in a range of 2 to 10 cm.

15. The protective cover of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric sleeve has a uniform internal diameter in a range of 3.5 to 6 cm.

16. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the high-temperature polymer has a thermal conductivity less than about 1 W/m K.

17. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the high-temperature polymer has a thermal conductivity less than about 0.5 W/m K.

18. A method of using a protective cover to prevent burns from heated subject equipment, the method comprising: installing a protective cover on the barrel of a subject curling iron, curling wand, or similar equipment, wherein the protective cover comprises an elastomeric sleeve sized to cover and conform to the thermally conductive exterior surface of the subject equipment, wherein the sleeve has a base uniform thickness in a range of 0.5 to 3 mm exclusive of holes or surface features, and wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises a high-temperature polymer having a softening point above 450° F. and a thermal conductivity less than about 3 W/m K;activating the subject equipment until the barrel is heated to a desired operating temperature; andusing the subject equipment to style hair.

19. A handheld electrically heated instrument for curling hair, comprising: a thermally conductive exterior surface configured for electrical heating to a temperature within a range of about 250° F. to about 450° F.; andan elastomeric sleeve sized to cover and conform to the thermally conductive exterior surface of the handheld heated instrument, wherein the sleeve has a base uniform thickness in a range of 0.5 to 3 mm exclusive of holes or surface features, wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises a high-temperature polymer having a softening point above 450° F. and a thermal conductivity less than about 3 W/m K.

20. The instrument of claim 19, wherein the high-temperature polymer comprises a silicone rubber.