Hair curler with integrated hair clamps

A hair curler is provided having first and second hollow end tips. Each end tip has upper and lower clamping surfaces and has an open inner end. First and second spring clamps are within the first and second end tips, respectively. The first and second end tips are connected at their open inner ends. The first end tip is configured to hold one end of a lock of hair close to a user's scalp and the second end tip is configured to hold another end of the lock of hair after the lock of hair has been wound around the curler between the first and second end tips.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application is related to commonly-assigned and U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/560,988, entitled HAIR CURLER WITH INTEGRATED HAIR CLAMPS, filed on Nov. 17, 2011, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to hair curlers and, in particular, to a hair curler with integrated hair clamps.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently hair curlers typically have separate components that are used to attach the curlers to hair such as hair clips, plastic covers that clip on, clasps attached to the curler and are secured by snapping onto fabric encased foam with wire ends that get folded over the hair before and after curling, or wire incorporated into a thin, pliable cylinder that folds over onto itself to hold curled hair. It may be difficult having various parts to keep track of and to handle. Integrated clasps may get in the way while winding hair, thereby getting tangled. Wire may not provide enough constant tension to keep hair from unraveling from the curler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hair curler is provided, comprising a curler body and a first clamp at a first end of the curler body. The first clamp comprises a first pair of clamping surfaces and a first bifurcating member, tension loaded to maintain the first clamping surfaces in a closed position. The curler also comprises a second clamp at a second end of the curler body, the second clamp comprising a second pair of clamping surfaces and a second bifurcating member, tension loaded to maintain the second clamping surfaces in a closed position. The curler also comprises a first indicator on the body above the first bifurcating member where a user presses against the tension release foci to open the first clamp to insert hair to be wound around the curler body and a second indicator on the body above the second bifurcating member where a user presses against the tension release foci to open the second clamp to clamp a free end of the wound hair.

In another embodiment, a hair curler is provided, comprising first and second hollow end tips, each comprising upper and lower clamping surfaces and having an open inner end. First and second spring clamps are within the first and second end tips, respectively. The first and second end tips are connected at their open inner ends. The first end tip is configured to hold one end of a lock of hair close to a user's scalp and the second end tip is configured to hold another end of the lock of hair after the lock of hair has been wound around the curler between the first and second end tips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a hair curler with an integrated hair clamping attachment.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hair curler10of the present invention. The hair curler10may include an outward-facing hair clamp12on opposite ends of a body18. Each clamp12may include a pair of bifurcating clamping surfaces14and a tension loaded member, such as a spring16or other material with tension load to maintain the clamping surfaces14in a closed position (FIGS. 1,2, and4). At the tension release foci, an indicator20, such as a tactile member, may protrude from the body18above the spring16to indicate to the user where to press to open the clamps12. Alternatively, the tension release foci indicators20may be marks printed onto or etched into the surface of the body18to provide a visual indicator of where to press to open the clamps12. The body18may have a surface22which provides friction for holding hair that is wound around the curler10.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a hair curler10of the present invention in which the clamps12are inward-facing and the springs16and tension release foci indicators20are proximate to the ends of the body18.

The curler10may be manufactured in different lengths and diameters and with different sized and positioned clamps12to accommodate hair of different lengths and curls of different sizes.

To use, a person wishing to get a curl in their hair may select a lock of damp, dry, or conditioned hair. The user may select a curler of appropriate length for the length of hair and size of curl desired. The tension release foci indicator20at one end of the body18may be located and the clamp12at that end of the body18may be opened by pressing the body18against the tension of the spring16with the user's fingers to open bifurcating clamping surfaces14(FIGS. 3,4, and6). An upper end of the selected lock of hair may be placed between the bifurcating clamping surfaces14and the clamp12closed by releasing the fingers, thereby applying tension by the bifurcating clamping surfaces14against the hair. With the upper end of the selected lock firmly secured in the first clamp12on one end of the body18of the curler10, the remaining hair of the selected lock may be wrapped around the body18multiple times, leaving enough hair at the lower, free end of the lock to secure in the second clamp12at the opposite end of the body18.

While holding the hair-wrapped curler10in place with one hand, the second clamp12at the opposite end of the body18may be opened with the other hand and the end of the free end of the lock may be inserted between the opened bifurcating clamping surfaces14; the second clamp12may then be released. The hair is securely wound in the curler10and held in place until it is removed from both clamps12of the curler10. To remove the curler from the hair, the user may open either clamp12and unwind the curled lock, then open the other clamp12to free the curler from the hair.

FIG. 7is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a hair curler700of the present invention. The hair curler700may include two end tips702A,702B. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the end tips702A,702B may be hollow with open inner ends710and formed from any appropriate water-proof and chemical-proof material, such as pliable rubber, silicon rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or other pliable polymeric material. Each end tip may have upper and lower clamping surfaces706A,706B opposite the opening710and have tactile members708on the top and bottom.

The two end tips702A,702B may directly connected together, such as with a foam plug secured within the openings710. The end tips702A,702B may also be connected with a middle extension section704, which may be solid or have a hollow core712extending through the extension section704between the openings710of the end tips702A,702B, as illustrated inFIG. 9C. The extension section704may be straight or, as illustrated in the FIGs., may have grooves formed around its surface to facilitate air flow when drying hair in the curler700. As further illustrated inFIG. 9C, a spring clip714A,714B may be inserted into the openings710of the end tips702A,702B.

If desired, shallow slits may be made in the clamping surfaces706A,706B to improve the ability of the clamping surfaces706A,706B to retain hair without it slipping out. The slits may be parallel to the length of the curler700, or perpendicular to the length of the curler700, or may be in a cross-hatch pattern. Alternatively, the clamping surfaces706A,706B may have ridges to help hold the hair.

The surface of the curler700may be any color, including colors that may blend into various hair colors, such as blonde, brunette, red, gray, so that the curler700is relatively inconspicuous. The surface of the curler700may also be a bright color to match clothing or as a fashion statement.

To assemble the hair curler700, the two end tips702A,702B and the two spring clips714A,714B are provided. The spring clips714A,714B may be inserted into the openings710of the end tips702A,702B. The inner ends of the end tips702A,702B may then be secured to each other, either directly or with the middle extension section704between them.

To use, the user may press on the tactile members708on one of the end tips, such as the end tip702A, to open the spring clip714A. The user may insert a lock of hair between the clamping surfaces706A,706B, slide the end tip702A close to the scalp, and release the spring clip714A to hold the hair in place. The lock of hair may then be wound at least once around the curler700between the two end tops702A,702B and clamped using the spring clip714B in the other end tip702B. After the hair has dried or the user is otherwise satisfied with the curl, the hair may be released from both end tips702A,702B. It will be appreciated that the materials used to form the end tips702A,702B and the extension section704may be selected to be comfortable when the curler700is in place, including while sleeping.

Using the integrated clamps, the user of the curler of the present invention does not need other clips, covers, clasps, or wires to hold the curled hair, parts that may be difficult to keep track of or to handle while trying to curl hair.