Abstract:
A hair styling apparatus includes a pair of mating surfaces which engage one another and a handle which guides them into engagement at the manual control of a user. Hair to be styled is placed between the engaged surfaces. A plurality of pins extend from one of the surfaces and engage holes in the other of the surfaces. In another aspect of the invention, one or both surfaces may incorporate a source of dry heat. In yet another aspect of the invention, a source of steam is provided together with a trigger for discharging the steam through holes in at least one of the surfaces as an aid to hair styling.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior co-copending U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/364,610, filed Mar. 15, 2002 in the name of Masood Habibi and entitled “Toothed Heated Hair Styling Device and Method of Manufacture”.  
         [0002]    This application is also related to U.S. design patent application Ser. No. ______ filed on even date herewith, entitled “Toothed Heated Hair Styling Device” and submitted by the same applicant (Attorney Docket No. MSUD-012). The related applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully herein. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention relates generally to the field of hair care and styling. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair styling system which incorporates a heating system so as to provide a new tool for styling, straightening, curling and curving hair.  
           [0005]    2. The Background  
           [0006]    Many devices have been devised over the ages to aid in styling hair. Hair curlers, for example, are used to impart curls into hair. They may be used on dry hair but work best on wet hair. Steam may be applied to assist in setting the hair to the curl of the curlers. Curling irons typically incorporate an electrical heating element to heat one or both sides of a smooth but curved pair of mating surfaces between which hair is placed to be curled. The hair may preferably be pulled through the interface of the mating surfaces of the curling iron to aid in curling the hair. On the other hand, hair straighteners and smoothers operate much like curling irons, but they have flat or curved, smooth mating surfaces which act more like a clothes iron to straighten and/or smooth, or curve or curl the hair when compressed against and pulled along the hair.  
           [0007]    All known examples of such irons and straighteners comprise a pair of untextured surfaces for engaging the hair. As a result, the hair can become tangled, or require much additional brushing with another apparatus such as a brush in order to achieve the desired style. This additional brushing can undesirably disrupt the style imparted by the irons and straighteners. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to obviate this need for an additional implement because the time required to style the hair could be reduced and less heat would need to be imparted to the hair because the styling process would take less time.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide hair styling devices capable of use in curling, straightening, smoothing, curving and/or waving hair.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    A hair styling apparatus includes a pair of mating surfaces which engage one another and a handle which guides them into engagement at the manual control of a user. Hair to be styled is placed between the engaged surfaces. A plurality of pins extend from one of the surfaces and engage holes in the other of the surfaces. In another aspect of the invention, one or both surfaces may incorporate a source of dry heat. In yet another aspect of the invention, a source of steam is provided together with a trigger for discharging the steam through holes in at least one of the surfaces as an aid to hair styling. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention.  
         [0011]    In the drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a front end view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a rear end view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one flat surface having pins, of a hair styling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the surface shown in FIG. 5 taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a plan view of one flat surface having apertures, of a hair styling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the surface shown in FIG. 7 taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7.  
         [0020]    FIGS.  9 - 18  are drawings illustrating the manufacture of a hair styling apparatus in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2, taken along line  19 - 19  of FIG. 2.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, taken along line  20 - 20  of FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, taken along line  21 - 21  of FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 22 is a detailed perspective view of a heater and steam generator of a hair styling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 23 is another view of the heater shown in FIG. 22.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, taken along line  24 - 24  of FIG. 1.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 showing the water chamber removed.  
         [0028]    FIGS.  26 - 28  are detailed illustrations showing a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as it can be used with hair.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 29 is a side view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in the open position.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 30 is a side view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in the open position.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 31 is an end view of an apparatus for hair styling in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in the open position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]    Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a toothed heated hair styling device and method of manufacture thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0033]    In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.  
         [0034]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a first plate  10  is connected to a first housing  12  and second plate  14  is connected to a second housing  16 . The proximal ends of the housings  12  and  16  are connected to handle  18  which includes a first handle member  20  to which first housing  12  is attached and a second handle member  22  to which second housing  16  is attached.  
         [0035]    The first handle member  20  and second handle member  22  are connected together at their proximal ends by hinge  24  and optionally biased toward an open position as, for example, with a spring (not shown). An operator may press the handle members  20  and  22  together to engage the first plate  10  and second plate  14  together in close conformance with hair to be styled disposed between the plates.  
         [0036]    The first housing  12  includes a face member  30  and an end member  32 . Likewise the second housing  16  includes a face member  34  and an end member  36 . A plurality of fins  40  are coupled to the face member  30  and end member  32  of the first housing  12 , and a plurality of fins  40  are coupled to the face member  34  and end member  36  of the second housing  16 . Each of the fins  40  comprises in one embodiment of the present invention a substantially flat, thin ridge of constant height, having one edge coupled to a face member or end member and terminating in a rounded end spaced apart from the face member or end member. The fins on a face member are in one embodiment of the present invention all substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from each other a constant distance throughout their length. Likewise the fins on an end member are in one embodiment of the present invention all substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from each other a constant distance throughout their length. As can be seen best in FIGS. 1 and 24 the fins  40  located on a face members  30  and  34  extend from a location adjacent one edge of a plate  10  or  14  to a location adjacent the opposing edge of the same plate. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fins  40  located on an end member  32  or  36  extend from one edge the end member to the opposing edge of the same end member.  
         [0037]    During operation of the device the face members  30  and  34  and the end members  32  and  36  become hot. However, the exposed ends of the fins do not get significantly hotter than ambient temperature. All of the fins  40  are spaced apart from one another a distance less than the width of a finger so that a user of the apparatus may grasp it or inadvertently touch it without touching the face members  30  or  34  or the end members  32  or  36 . Thus the fins  40  help protect the user from being burned by the face members or end members.  
         [0038]    The handle  18  includes a proximal guide  42  and a distal guide  46  which assist in alignment of the first and second plates  10  and  12  when a user closes the device. As best shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the proximal guide  42  includes a proximal male alignment part  48  coupled to the second handle member  22  and a proximal female alignment part  50  coupled to the first handle member  20 . Similarly, the distal guide  46  includes a distal male alignment part  52  coupled to the second handle member  22  and a distal female alignment part  54  coupled to the first handle member  20 .  
         [0039]    Turning now to FIGS.  5 - 8  and  29 - 31 , the first plate  10  has a plurality of pins or tangs  60  disposed thereon. The second plate  14  has a plurality of holes  62  disposed therein. Pins  22  and holes  24  are formed and located so that pins  60  enter holes  62  when first plate  10  and second plate  14  are in close face-to-face relationship when the apparatus is in the “closed” configuration.  
         [0040]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will now realize that the diameter, especially the entry diameter, of holes  62 ; the length and thickness of pins  60 ; and the length and orientation of first plate  10  and the second plate  14  need to be coordinated so that pins  60  will engage holes  62 .  
         [0041]    While it would be possible to fabricate the first plate as a conventional casting or with a conventional injection type process, such processes may be less desirable in some circumstances than the one described hereinafter because of their relatively high cost and the difficulty in obtaining a smooth finish to prevent snagging the hair.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 9 illustrates how the first plate  10  is fabricated in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Plate  10  includes a number of slots  70  which include holes  72 . A brush-like structure  74  includes a number of pins  60  disposed along its structure. The location of the pins on the comb-like structure  74  mates with holes  72  in a corresponding slot  70  of plate  10 . By having the shape of the pins slightly larger in at least one direction than the holes into which the pins are fit, the comb-like structure  74  can be permanently press fit into corresponding slot  70 .  
         [0043]    If desired, additional alternative or supplemental attachment mechanisms may be used, such as spot welding where the components are metal, adhesives and/or melting where plastics are used. The advantage of this approach is that a smooth finish may be provided to the plate  10  using conventional techniques for preparing a flat surface with a smooth finish. The pins (which may be cast, molded, injected, machined, or otherwise prepared) are then simply inserted through the holes  72  and held in place as discussed above. The fabrication of smooth pins is a conventionally available technology, and thus, the fabrication of the plate  10  in this way yields a snag-free surface with relatively little effort and at relatively low cost.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 10 illustrates a side elevation of plate  10  showing how comb-like structures  74  are inserted therethrough. FIG. 11 illustrates the assembled plate  10 . FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein individual pin carriers  76  (each carrying one pin  78 ) are inserted into a plurality of receptacles  80  on the back of the plate  10  and may be held in place by an interference fit and/or adhesive or welding techniques.  
         [0045]    Another method of fabricating the plate and pin structure is illustrated in FIGS.  13 - 16 . In this embodiment the pins  81  have bases  82  which are substantially hollow cylinders. The plate  10  includes holes  84  which are cylindrical and have diameters slightly less than the outside diameter of the base  82  so that the base can be press-fitted into the holes  84 . A flange  86  is affixed to the pin and base to cooperate with a corresponding hole  84  in the plate.  
         [0046]    I have found that the location of the pins  60  relative to one another and similarly the relationship of the holes  62  relative to one another is an important factor in the best operation of the device. FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the preferred location of the holes  62 , and it should be understood that the location of the pins is identical to the location of the holes, so the preferred location of the pins will not be shown in another figure. As shown in FIG. 17 the holes are located in 8 rows, labeled R 1  through R 8 , which are parallel to first edge  90  and second edge  92  of the plate  14 . Also, the rows R 1  through R 8  extend between the distal end of the plate  14 , which is labeled  94 , and the proximal end, which is labeled  96 .  
         [0047]    In FIG. 18 the location of the holes are shown. The following dimensions are in millimeters and are to the centers of the holes. A=10.10, B=8.80, C=6.10, D=4.80, E=6.40, F=8.80, G=7.90, H=21.20, I=15.40, J=9.60, K=3.20, and L=3.95. Two of these dimensions should be emphasized. Distance L is the distance between the centers of each of the holes in rows R 1  and R 8 , namely 3.95 mm, and distance G is the distance between the centers of each of the holes in all other rows, i.e. rows R 2  through R 7 , namely 7.90 mm. An important point to note is that the distances between the holes in rows R 1  and R 8  are significantly less than the distances between the holes in the other rows. I have found that this spacing is important to detangling curly or wavy hair and that drawing curly or wavy hair through the device is facilitated by such spacing.  
         [0048]    It should be understood that the holes are spaced as follows:  
         [0049]    The first row of holes R 1  is spaced apart from the nearest edge of the second plate  14  by a first distance. The second row of holes R 2  is spaced apart from the first row R 1  by a second distance. The third row of holes R 3  is spaced apart from the second row R 2  by a third distance, and the fourth row of holes R 4  is spaced apart from the third row R 3  by a fourth distance. The second distance is greater than the first distance and the third distance is substantially equal to the fourth distance.  
         [0050]    The eighth row of holes R 8  is spaced apart from the nearest edge of the second plate  14  by an ninth distance. The seventh row of holes R 7  is spaced apart from the eighth row R 8  by an eighth distance. The sixth row of holes R 6  is spaced apart from the seventh row by a seventh distance, and the fifth row of holes R 5  is spaced apart from the sixth row R 6  by a sixth distance. The eighth distance is greater than the ninth distance and the seventh distance is substantially equal to the sixth distance.  
         [0051]    The fifth row of holes R 5  is spaced apart from the fourth row R 4  by a fifth distance, and the fifth distance is greater than the fourth distance.  
         [0052]    Each hole in the first row R 1  is spaced apart from the adjacent hole or holes in the first row R 1  by a first distance in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the row R 1 , i.e. a first Y distance. Each hole in the second row of holes R 2  is spaced apart from the adjacent hole or holes in the second row of holes R 2  by a second Y distance, and the first Y distance is less than the second Y distance.  
         [0053]    Like the holes, the pins are spaced as follows:  
         [0054]    The first row of pins R 1  is spaced apart from the nearest edge of the second plate  14  by a first distance. The second row of pins R 2  is spaced apart from the first row R 1  by a second distance. The third row of pins R 3  is spaced apart from the second row R 2  by a third distance, and the fourth row of pins R 4  is spaced apart from the third row R 3  by a fourth distance. The second distance is greater than the first distance and the third distance is substantially equal to the fourth distance.  
         [0055]    The eighth row of pins R 8  is spaced apart from the nearest edge of the second plate  14  by an ninth distance. The seventh row of pins R 7  is spaced apart from the eighth row R 8  by an eighth distance. The sixth row of pins R 6  is spaced apart from the seventh row by a seventh distance, and the fifth row of pins R 5  is spaced apart from the sixth row R 6  by a sixth distance. The eighth distance is greater than the ninth distance and the seventh distance is substantially equal to the sixth distance.  
         [0056]    The fifth row of pins R 5  is spaced apart from the fourth row R 4  by a fifth distance, and the fifth distance is greater than the fourth distance.  
         [0057]    Each pin in the first row R 1  is spaced apart from the adjacent pin or pins in the first row R 1  by a first distance in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the row R 1 , i.e. the first Y distance. Each pin in the second row of pins R 2  is spaced apart from the adjacent pin or pins in the second row of pins R 2  by a second Y distance, and the first Y distance is less than the second Y distance.  
         [0058]    Although a specific layout of pins and holes has been described and illustrated, it should be understood that this layout is only one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to this specific layout.  
         [0059]    It should be understood that when a user closes the handles  20  and  22  to bring the plates  10  and  14  to bear on hair, it is critical that the pins line up with corresponding holes. Due to flex in the hinge  24  it is important to provide alignment of the pins and holes to insure correct alignment. Alignment of the pins and holes is accomplished by means of two guide members  42  and  46 .  
         [0060]    Turning now to FIGS.  19 - 21 , the proximal guide member  42  includes a proximal male alignment part  48  coupled to the second handle member  22  and a proximal female alignment part  50  coupled to the first handle member  20 . The proximal male alignment part  48  has two faces  100  and  102  which are shaped substantially as truncated triangles when viewed in FIG. 19. The two faces  100  and  102  are spaced apart from one another where they are fixed to the handle  22 , and the faces are connected to one another at their ends which are spaced apart from the handle  22 . Accordingly, when viewed in FIG. 20 it can be seen that the faces  100  and  102  are nearer to one another in the horizontal direction when they are farther from the handle  22  in the vertical direction. The proximal female alignment part  50  has two faces  104  and  106 . The two faces  104  and  106  are spaced apart from one another where they are fixed to the handle  20 , and the faces are a greater distance from one another at their ends which are spaced apart from the handle  20 .  
         [0061]    The proximal male alignment part  48  and the proximal female alignment part  50  are constructed and arranged so that when the handle is in the open position the alignment parts are not engaged with one another. As the user moves the handles toward the closed position the proximal male alignment part  48  and the proximal female alignment part  50  engage one another and tend to force the handles into alignment to the extent that they are out of alignment. In other words, when a user moves the handle from a first partially closed position to second partially closed position and from the second partially closed position to the closed position the proximal alignment parts engage one another to cause initial alignment of the first plate and the second plate.  
         [0062]    The distal guide member  46  comprises a distal male alignment part  52  coupled to the second handle member  22  and a distal female alignment part  54  coupled to the first handle member  20 . The distal male alignment part  52  includes a substantially cone shaped structure  108  connected to the handle  22  and a substantially cylindrical part  110  connected to the lower end of the cone shaped structure  108 . The distal female alignment part  54  includes a conical shaped opening  112  which is sized to fit snugly around the cone shaped structure  108 .  
         [0063]    The distal male alignment part  52  and the distal female alignment part  54  are constructed and arranged so that when the handle is in the open position the alignment parts do not engage one another. As a user moves the handles toward the closed position the handles reach a first partially closed position and the proximal alignment members  48  and  50  initially contact one another to bring about partial alignment. At this time the distal alignment members  52  and  54  do not engage one another. Thereafter, as the user continues to close the handles, and when the handles reach a second partially closed position, the distal alignment parts engage one another to cause final alignment of the first plate and the second plate as the user closes the device.  
         [0064]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, dry heat may be provided to one or both of plates  10  and  14  by incorporating a conventional electrical heating coil  114  behind each respective plate. In this case it would be desirable to form the respective heated (and non-heated) surface of the temperature resistant materials, such as aluminum and high temperature plastics such as Teflon. An electrical switch  116  is located in the handle to control one or both electrical heating coils. Conventional AC power is provided by wires  118  to power the circuit, which is not shown.  
         [0065]    With reference to FIGS. 19 and 22- 25 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, steam is provided through holes in the second plate  14 .  
         [0066]    The second handle member  22  includes a water reservoir  120 , and a metered amount of water can be drawn from the reservoir  120  through tube  122  by activation of a pumping mechanism by trigger  124 . The water then flows to steam generator  125  which is heated by a heating element  126 . This heated water therein forms steam, which then exits the steam emitting holes  128  disposed along the lower surface of steam generator  125 . Heating element  126  is supplied electrical current via wires  118 . From the steam emitting holes  128  the steam travels through holes  131  in the plate  14 .  
         [0067]    As shown in FIG. 22 the steam generator  125  comprises a body  140  which is substantially C-shaped in cross section and extends substantially the length of second housing  16 . Within the body  140  there is a steam chamber  142  wherein the water is vaporized and which is substantially C-shaped in cross section and is in communication with the steam emitting holes  128 . The steam chamber  142  contains felt  132 . The purpose of the felt  132  is to reduce or eliminate the possibility of any condensation which forms in the steam chamber  142  from leaving the steam generator as water droplets.  
         [0068]    As can be seen in FIG. 23, as an alternative to a plurality of steam emitting holes  128  disposed along the bottom faces of steam generator  125 , slots  129  can be formed along the bottom of the steam generator  125 . As can be seen from FIG. 25 the water reservoir  120  is removable from the handle  22 , and the handle includes a compartment  130  to accommodate the water reservoir. The reservoir  120  can be removed to facilitate filling it with water.  
         [0069]    With reference to FIGS.  26 - 28  it can be seen that the fins  40  are aligned with certain of the pins  60 . More specifically, when the present device is used to straighten hair  134  it is important that the hair be maintained substantially straight throughout the process. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the present device one fin  40  is aligned with each pin  60  in the first row of pins R 1 . The fins are linear and extend around the housing  12 , and on the opposite side of the plate  10  are aligned with a corresponding pin  60  in the eighth row of pins R 8 , not shown. Since the pins in both rows R 1  and R 8  are aligned with a fin  40  the user can conveniently use the device effectively with either hand and on either side the head.  
         [0070]    It should be noted that while the specific layout of pins and corresponding aperture is viewed as an aspect of the present invention, it is not critical to the entire invention and other aspects of the invention may be used with or without this particular aspect of the invention.  
         [0071]    It should also be noted that fins  40  may extend beyond the plane of the upper surface of the corresponding heated plates  10 ,  14  to provide additional protection to prevent having a finger or other part of the body come in contact with the heated plates  10 ,  14 . Similarly, while round pins and apertures are shown and described herein, other shapes could also be employed and will now be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0072]    While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.