Abstract:
A dual gas and AC electric hair styler comprises: a heater, a housing, and a control member movably disposed in the housing. One end of the control member is exposed out of the housing and another end of the control member is inserted in the housing to connect a linkage device of the heater. The linkage device includes a guiding member. A gas supply and an electric power supply are selectively inserted in the housing to the heater and each have a valve which is pressed to achieve connection. The axial movement of the control member causes axial movements of the linkage device and the guiding member to affect connection of the gas and the electric power supply to the heater. The hair styler can be powered by gas or electric power, and the switching of gas and electric power supplies can be done by the control member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electric hair styler, and more particularly to a dual gas and AC electric hair styler. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Conventional stylers generally include electric powered and gas powered. Electric powered stylers can be used in house with power supply while the gas powered stylers can be used anywhere, such as wild field where there is no power supply. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a dual gas and AC electric hair styler, which can be powered by gas or electric power, and the switching of gas and electric power supplies can easily be done by a linearly movable control member. 
     To achieve the above object, a dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention comprises: a heater disposed in a housing, an extending direction of the housing is defined as axial direction. A control member is movably disposed in the housing in such a manner at that one end of the control member is exposed out of the housing and another end of the control member is inserted in the housing to connect a linkage device of the heater. The linkage device includes a guiding member. A gas supply and an electric power supply are selectively inserted in the housing to the heater. The gas supply and the electric power supply each have a valve which is pressed to achieve connection. The axial movement of the control member causes axial movements of the linkage device and the guiding member to affect connection of the gas supply and the electric power supply to the heater. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view showing part of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view showing a non-connected state of the heater of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the heater of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view showing part of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view showing the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative view showing the assembly of the heater, the control member and the middle connecting member of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows that the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention with an electric power supply; and 
         FIG. 10  shows that the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention with a gas supply. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , a dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing A in which being disposed a heater B. An extending direction of the housing A is defined as axial direction X, and the heater B is moved and controlled by a control member  40  which is movable along the X direction to connect gas supply C 1  or electric power supply C 2 . 
     The heater B comprises a base  10  and a linkage device  20 , as shown  FIG. 2 . 
     The base  10  comprises a first connecting member  11 , a middle connecting member  12  and a second connecting member  13 . 
     The first connecting member  11  comprises a gas connecting portion  112  and two electric connecting portions  113  connected at both ends of the gas connecting portion  112  to define an assembling hole  111 . At two opposite sides of the inner periphery of the gas connecting portion  112  are formed two positioning portions  114 . 
     The middle connecting member  12  is abutted against the first connecting member  11  and formed with a connecting groove  121  in communication with the assembling hole  111  of the first connecting member  11 . In the connecting groove  121  is further formed a hole  122  located corresponding to the gas connecting portion  112 , and an electric connecting terminal  123  for each of the electric connecting portions  113 . 
     The second connecting member  13  is formed at one end thereof with a connecting portion  131  which is hollow cylindrical and formed with a through hole  132 . The second connecting member  13  is mounted on the middle connecting member  12  in such a manner that the connecting portion  131  is inserted through the hole  122  of the connecting groove  121  of the middle connecting member  12  into the assembling hole  111  of the first connecting member  11 . 
     The linkage device  20  comprises a fixing member  21 , an elastic pressing member  22 , a guiding member  23 , a spring  24 , a restriction member  25  and a linking member  26 . 
     The fixing member  21  has one end fixed to the second connecting member  13  of the base  10 , and another end of the fixing member  21  is a hollow cylindrical abutting end  211  which extends in the X direction. Between the two ends of the fixing member  21  is defined an assembling space  212 . An engaging groove  213  is formed at one side of the fixing member  21 , and the abutting end  211  is formed with a connecting hole  214  connected to the second connecting member  13 , and an ignition device D is to be disposed in the connecting hole  214 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The elastic pressing member  22  includes a body portion  222 , an actuating end  223  and an elastic pressing end  221  which are located at both ends of the body portion  222  and protrude in the X direction. The body portion  222  is received in the assembling space  212  of the fixing member  21  in such a manner that the elastic pressing end  221  of the elastic pressing member  22  extends out of the abutting end  211  of the fixing member  21 , while the actuating end  223  is connected to the guiding member  23  which has a protruding guiding portion  231  inserted through the through hole  132  of the second connecting member  13  of the base  10 . The spring  24  is biased between the elastic pressing end  221  of the elastic pressing member  22  and the housing A. By such arrangements, the linkage device  20  is elastically movable with respect to the housing A. Both sides of the elastic pressing member  22  are provided with a protruding portion  224  extending in a radial direction Y (which is vertical to the X direction). 
     The restriction member  25  is fixed at another side of the fixing member  21  opposite the engaging groove  213  and formed with a guiding hole  251  at each of two sides thereof. Each guiding hole  251  includes an X-directional extending portion  252  and a Y-directional extending portion  253  which is located at a far end of the guiding hole  251  with respect to the base  10 . 
     The linking member  26  is a U-shaped elastic structure consisting of two opposite extending portions  261  and a middle portion  262  connected between the extending portions  261 . The linking member  26  mounted on the fixing member  21  in such a manner that the middle portion  262  is received in the engaging groove  213  of the fixing member  21 , while extending portions  261  extend above the assembling space  212  of the fixing member  21  and are abutted against one side of the protruding portions  224  facing the base  10  and are inserted in the guiding holes  251  of the restriction member  25 . 
     The housing A comprises a middle member  30 , a control member  40 , a working-end shell  50  and an assembling-end shell  60 . 
     The middle member  30  is mounted on and covers the fixing member  21  of the linkage device  20  and is provided at one end thereof close to the fixing member  21  with a hollow stopping portion  31  for accommodation of the elastic pressing member  22 , moreover, the spring  24  which is mounted on the elastic pressing end  221  of the elastic pressing member  22  has one end pressed against the stopping portion  31 . The middle member  30  is provided at another end thereof with a plurality of assembling portions  32  positioned against the middle connecting member  12  and the second connecting member  13 , respectively. 
     The control member  40  is movably disposed in the housing A and connected to the linkage device  20  to control the electrical connection between the heater B and the gas supply C 1  or electric power supply C 2 . The control member  40  includes a control portion  41  at one end and a linking portion  42  at another end thereof. The linking portion  42  is formed with two opposite linking grooves  421 . The control portion  41  is exposed out of the middle member  30  of the housing A, the linking portion  42  is inserted in the middle member  30 , and the linking member  26  is inserted through the guiding holes  251  of the restriction member  25  and into the linking grooves  421  of the control member  40 , so that pushing the control member  40  can make the linking member  26  and the elastic pressing member  22  move. 
     The assembling-end shell  60  is connected to one end of the middle member  30  and covers the base  10  and the linkage device  20 . A gas supply C 1  or an electric power supply C 2  is inserted in the assembling-end shell  60  toward the guiding member  23  or the electric connecting terminal  123 . 
     The working-end shell  50  is connected to another end of the middle member  30 . A hair-clasping device  70  is pivoted to the outer surface of the housing A and comprises a clasping piece  71  formed to fit the outer periphery of the housing A. pressing the hair-clasping device  70  can make the clasping piece  71  open and close with respect to the housing A. 
     The structural relationships of the respective parts of the dual gas and AC electric hair styler in accordance with the present invention are as mentioned above. In the use of the hair styler, hair is clasped between the clasping piece  71  and the housing A to be subjected to heating process. It is to be noted that the gas supply C 1  and the electric power supply C 2  each have a connecting end C 11 , C 21 . The connecting end C 11  of the gas supply C 1  is formed to fit the inner shape of the first connecting member  11 , while the connecting end C 21  of the electric power supply C 2  is formed to fit the connecting groove  121  of the middle connecting member  12 . The connecting end C 11 , C 21  of the gas supply C 1  and the electric power supply C 2  each has a valve C 12 , C 22  which can be pressed to affect electric connection by the guiding portion  231  inserted into the connecting portion  131 . 
     The valve C 12  of the gas supply C 1  is provided at an end of the connecting end C 11  and is to be inserted in the connecting portion  131 , while the valve C 22  of the electric power supply C 2  is disposed in an engaging hole C 23  of the connecting end C 21 . The engaging hole C 23  has an inner diameter similar to the outer diameter of the connecting portion  131 , so that the connecting portion  131  can fit right into the engaging hole C 23  of the electric power supply C 2 . In the connecting end C 21  of the electric power supply C 2  are further defined two connecting ports C 24 . 
     To use a gas supply C 1 , the gas supply C 1  should firstly be inserted in the housing A through the assembling-end shell  60 , and the connecting end C 11  of the gas supply C 1  is inserted in the first connecting member  11  of the base  10  in such a manner that the valve C 12  is inserted in the second connecting member  13  and located in front of the guiding portion  231  of the guiding member  23  without touching the guiding portion  231 . At this moment, the heater B is not turned on yet. 
     Similarly, when the electric power supply C 2  is to be used, the electric power supply C 2  should firstly be inserted in the housing A through the assembling-end shell  60 , and the connecting end C 21  is inserted in the connecting groove  121  of the middle connecting member  12 , while the connecting portion  131  of the second connecting member  13  is inserted in the engaging hole C 23  of the electric power supply C 2  in such a manner that the valve C 22  is located in front of the guiding portion  231  of the guiding member  23  without touching the guiding portion  231 , and the connecting ports C 24  of the electric power supply C 2  are aligned with the electric connecting terminals  123  of the middle connecting member  12 . At this moment, the heater B is not turned on yet. 
     The positional relation between the linkage device  20  and the control member  40  is as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The extending portions  261  of the linking member  26  of the linkage device  20  is approximately horizontal, and the linking grooves  421  of the linking portion  42  of the control member  40  is located at the same level as the extending portions  261  which are received in extending portion  253  of the guiding holes  251  of the restriction member  25 . Since the extending portion  253  extends in the radial direction Y, it can prevent the linking member  26  from moving in the axial direction X, meanwhile, the extending portions  261  push the protruding portion  224  to make the elastic pressing end  221  of the elastic pressing member  22  compress the spring  24 . 
     To turn on the heater B, the user only needs to pull the control portion  41  of the control member  40  toward the gas supply C 1 , meanwhile, the linking grooves  421  of the control member  40  also move toward the gas supply C 1 , at this moment, the linking member  26  stops pressing the elastic pressing member  22 , and the spring  24  one the elastic pressing end  221  of the elastic pressing member  22  will be decompressed to push the elastic pressing member  22  toward the gas supply C 1 . Then, the guiding portion  231  of the guiding member  23  will be pushed by the elastic pressing member  22  into the valve C 12  at the connecting end C 11  of the gas supply C 1  to enable the gas supply C 1  to be connected to the heater B, and thus gas is supplied from the gas supply C 1  to the heater B, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     On the other hand, when the elastic pressing member  22  moves toward the gas supply C 1 , the protruding portions  224  of the elastic pressing member  22  will push the extending portions  261  of the linking member  26  out of the extending portion  253  of the guiding holes  251  of the restriction member  25  and into the X-directional extending portion  252 , and thus, the heater B is turned on. 
     It is to be noted that the guiding member  23  works with the respective heater B and the control member  40 , simply moving the control member  40  in the axial direction X can easily control the connection and disconnection between the guiding member  23  and the gas supply C 1  and the electric power supply C 2 . 
     The operation of the electric power supply C 2  is similar to that of the gas supply C 1  except that the guiding portion  231  of the guiding member  23  correspondingly presses open the valve C 22  of the electric power supply C 2 , while the electric connecting terminals  123  of the middle connecting member  12  are engaged in the connecting ports C 24  of the electric power supply C 2  to effect electric connection between the electric power supply C 2  and the heater B, and thus turning on the heater B. 
     While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.