Abstract:
A cordless electric curling iron having a barrel that adjusts in diameter to achieve curls of varied tightness and bounce. The barrel adjusts by means of a dial proximate to a handle. A flexible, resilient grasping arm conforms to the curvature of the barrel so that it maintains an adjacent position hugging the barrel at all times. The present curling iron further comprises an internal ratchet mechanism that provides a means to eliminate a winding of the handle round to wrap hair around the barrel; rather, the ratcheting mechanism only requires the handle be swung in a back-and-forth motion to perform partial rotations of the barrel that combine to full rotations.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention claims a benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/874,013, filed Dec. 11, 2006. The subject matter of the &#39;013 Provisional Patent Application is incorporated by reference herein as if it is rewritten in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a curling iron and, more specifically, to a cordless electric curling iron having a barrel that adjusts in diameter to change a tightness or a bounce of curls. The curling iron further comprises a novel, ratchet style handle that provides a means to achieve a constant grip on the handle of the curling iron. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventional curling irons are used by consumers and professional stylists to create curls in one&#39;s hair that typically does not occur naturally. Current curling irons are available in a number of barrel diameters to create different sized curls. When a stylist or individual desires to create a hair style that consists of curls of different sizes, additional curling irons must be purchased and used simultaneously. This creates the need for more storage space to be used and also creates a danger of multiple cords being tangled together. The need to use multiple curling irons at the same time also creates additional expenses for the user and the need for multiple power outlets. A battery-powered curling iron is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,702 to Cafaro. The curling iron handle comprises rechargeable batteries to supply the power to the heating element. The barrel of Cafaro&#39;s curling iron is not adjustable to allow for making hair curls of different diameter. 
         [0006]    Friedman teaches a curling iron with an adjustable barrel in the U.S. Pat. 6,014,977. The barrel has two adjustable positions that are controlled by moving the clip assembly that is connected to the barrel. The hair curling iron disclosed by Friedman does not support cordless operation. Thus there is a need for a curling iron to include an adjustable barrel that increases or decreases in diameter to create curls of different sizes. 
         [0007]    When curling the hair, the hair is placed between the clamp and barrel and then the user holds the tip of the curling iron with one hand and rotates the handle with the other hand. It is necessary for the user to continuously release the grip held on the handle and readjust to continue twisting the hair around the barrel until the desired piece of hair is wrapped. Using both hands at all times on the curling iron and the large circular motions of the wrist required to rotate the barrel create user fatigue. Thus there is a need for a curling iron to include a ratchet mechanism in the handle to allow the user to rotate the handle with smaller circular motions of the wrist and to allow the user to relieve the hand that was previously used to hold the opposite end of the curling iron for support. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for a cordless electric curling iron with an adjustable diameter barrel and clip with a ratchet handle for easy curling. 
         [0009]    It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved curling iron that allows a user to change the effective diameter of the barrel in order to correspond to the desired size of the curl. The adjustable barrel is designed with a tight seal to prevent hair from catching on the adjustable barrel during use. An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a curling iron with an adjustable clip. 
         [0010]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide a curling iron with a dial to set adjustment for the barrel and also for the clip that automatically adjusts with the diameter of the barrel. 
         [0011]    Another feature of the present invention is a battery powered operation that allows the user to utilize the hair curling iron in locations that do not provide convenient access to power outlets. 
         [0012]    A further feature of the present invention is a ratcheting mechanism that allows the user to roll a lock of hair without rotating the handle of the curling iron, but rather by means of a wrist-swinging motion backwards and forwards. 
         [0013]    An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a curling iron with an adjustable clip and barrel wherein it may contain at least one heater element(s) is centrally disposed within the adjustable barrel such that the heat applied to the adjustable barrel is evenly distributed and set with temperature control. 
         [0014]    A further feature of the present invention is at least one heater element for variable heating adjustment positions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the apparatus for a cordless electric curling iron with an adjustable diameter barrel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the adjustable barrel in its largest diameter setting; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   b  is a front view of the adjustable barrel in its smallest diameter setting; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a detailed view of an internal ratcheting mechanism; and, 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of the curling iron of  FIG. 1  removable charging on a docking station. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein described and depicted within the Figures. 
       1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for curling hair with an adjustable barrel diameter is shown  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A barrel  12  is connected to a handle  14 . The handle may be ouffitted with a comfort grip  16 . The comfort grip  16  is ergonomically shaped to adjust to the contours of the user&#39;s hand to provide greater ease of operation. The handle  14  further features a diameter adjustment dial  30  disposed between the handle  14  and the barrel  12  of the apparatus  10 . Additionally, the handle  14  also features a temperature control dial  32  located on its opposite end in relation to the diameter adjustment dial  30 . It should be noted that a location of the dials  30  and  32  is not limited to the locations shown in  FIG. 1 , but it may be comprised anywhere on the curling iron where it is easy to access but not easy to obstruct. The temperature control dial  32  allows the user to activate the apparatus, to preselect a desired temperature setting as well as to turn off the apparatus  10 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the barrel  12  is a rectangular sheet of metal that is wrapped into a cylinder. The two ends  12   a  and  12   b  of the barrel  12 , respectively, overlap to form a generally cylindrical shape. The sheet is not limited to the metal; it may comprise any material that conducts heat. A sleeve may be inserted over the barrel  12  to prevent hair from catching between the exposed end  12   a  and the sheet. The sleeve is fabricated of any resilient material that is capable of expanding with the barrel. The sleeve must be heat conductive, but it cannot be fabricated from a material that possesses a risk of catching fire. 
         [0024]    The diameter of the barrel  12  is regulated by adjusting the position of ends  12   a  and  12   b  with respect to each other. The diameter adjustment dial  30  regulates the effective diameter of the barrel  12 . The user can preselect the diameter of the barrel  12  by rotating the dial  30  to the desired setting. It is envisioned that the diameter of the barrel may be changed from 1 to 3 inches; however, other diameters are not precluded.  FIG. 2   a  shows the barrel  12  in its largest diameter setting, while  FIG. 2   b  shows the barrel  12  in its smallest diameter setting. Further illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  is at least one heat coil  40  that travels along a length of the cylindrical barrel at its center. Electric circuitry (not shown) connects the heat coil to an in internal battery (not shown) and the temperature control dial  32 . 
         [0025]    Attached to the barrel  12  is a means for grasping hair, shown here as a grasping arm  18  or clip. The grasping arm  18  is preferably placed on top of the barrel  12  or substantially near the top of the barrel  12 . Preferably, the grasping arm  18  is coupled to a support arm  22 , which is pivoted off of a pin  28 . The end of the support arm  22  that is proximate to the handle  14  may have a pad  24  to enhance the ergonomic comfort. The grasping arm  18  is configured such that when the user places pressure on the pad  24 , the grasping arm  18  pivots and the distance between the barrel  12  and the grasping arm  18  is increased. This allows the user to place a lock of hair in the void between the barrel  12  and the grasping arm  18 . After the pressure on the pad  24  is released, the grasping arm is urged into its previous position by a spring mechanism (not shown). This allows the user to securely grasp a lock of hair and curl it around the barrel. 
         [0026]    The grasping arm  18  is manufactured from a resilient, flexible material that is still rigid enough such that it adopts a curvature of the barrel  12 . The material must be capable of transferring heat from the barrel  12  to an exterior of the grasping arm  18  such that the hair in contact with the arm achieves the curl. It is anticipated that as the barrel  12  is adjusted, the angle of curvature of the grasping arm  18  expands or contracts to continually maintain an adjacent relationship with the barrel at all points. 
         [0027]    The handle  14  may be configured with a charger receiver  26 . The handle  14  preferably comprises a battery removably contained within an interior portion  52  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of said handle. The battery may be a replaceable battery accessed by means of a door  54  or it may be a similar power device to allow for cordless operation. It is preferred that the battery is a rechargeable battery that receives power by means a docking station  56  shown in  FIG. 4 , which is capable of plugging into a power outlet to receive power. 
         [0028]    The curling iron  10  further contains an internal ratcheting mechanism  50  that allows the user to keep a constant grip on the handle without having to reposition their hand on it because it no longer requires a full winding around a lock of hair.  FIG. 3  illustrates the ratcheting mechanism  50  housed inside the handle  12 . The ratcheting mechanism allows the barrel  12  to partially rotate independently of the handle  14 . More specifically, the paw of the ratchet sits on a gear such that the user can rotate their wrist in a swinging back-and-forth motion to crank the gear. Each crank tightens the paw and locks it in place such that a full rotation of the curling iron  10  is not necessary. The ratcheting mechanism comprises a gearset which rotates the barrel  12  with respect to the handle  14 . A ratcheting lever only permits the barrel to rotate in one direction so that the barrel completes full rotations by means of a plurality of partial rotations, each accomplished by the wrist&#39;s back-and-forward motion., 
       2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
       [0029]    To use the present invention, the user first activates the apparatus  10  and sets the desired temperature using the temperature control dial  32 . Following this, the user then adjusts the barrel  12  to the desired diameter by using the dial  30 . The user then opens the distance between the barrel  12  and the grasping arm  18  by pressing down on the pad  24 . The user can then place the hair in the space between the barrel  12  and the grasping arm  18  and then release the pad  24 , thus decreasing the distance and securing the lock of hair between the barrel  12  and the grasping arm  18 . The ratcheting mechanism  50  allows the user to roll the hair curling iron  10  around a lock of hair without repositioning their grip on the handle  14 . The user then simply maneuvers the curling iron  10  in a manner that will create the desired curl. 
         [0030]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and to their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.