HAIR STYLING IRON ASSEMBLY HAVING ACCURATE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT AND DISPLAY

Abstract: A curling iron system (10) comprises a base (12), an oven (20) attached thereto, curling irons (19), and a temperature measuring device positioned on the base (12) such that the temperature of a curling iron (19) placed thereon can be easiliy determined. The temperature measuring device is comprised of a thermocouple (30) electrically connected to a display (36) by a thermocouple amplifier (40), and a display driver (42). The display (36) is comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes (38). In the preferred embodiment, the thermocouple (30) is mounted on a platform (32) adjacent the oven (20), and the display (36) is positioned on a vertically oriented member behind the thermocouple platform (32). In this manner the user can simply remove the curling iron (19) from the oven (20), place it on the thermocouple platform (32), and hence the thermocouple (30), while reading the display (36).

Description: HAIR STYLING IRON ASSEMBLY HAVING ACCURATE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT AND DISPLAY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to hair styling or curling iron assemblies and more specifically to a curling iron system of the type wherein a plurality of curling irons are heated in .an oven and then applied one by one to either curl or straighten the hair as a result of the effect of a high temperature surface applied to human hair. BACKGROUND ART Hair styling or curling iron assemblies of the type described herein are well known in the prior art. By way of example, U.S. Patent No. 5,054,615 to Stillwagon et al , describes an assembly of the aforementioned type wherein an oven is used to heat a plurality of curling irons to a temperature appropriate to achieve the desired curling or straightening when applied one by one to the hair. While the oven used to heat the curling irons may employ a temperature control, the actual temperature of the curling iron surface is not precisely known. If it is not sufficiently hot, the curling or straightening effect is insufficient. If the iron is too hot, hair to which the iron is applied can be burnt or otherwise damaged. Furthermore, human hair comes in different thicknesses. What may be the appropriate temperature for curling or straightening thin hair, may be insufficient to have any curling or straightening effect on thick hair. Similarly, what may be the appropriate temperature to curl or straighten thick hair, may be too hot and thus burn or otherwise damage thin hair. Thus there is a need for a curling iron system which includes a relatively accurate temperature indication for the curling iron heated surface itself to enable selection of the appropriate temperature for human hair in general and for the thickness of the specific human hair to be curled or straightened in particular. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention satisfies the foregoing need by providing a curling iron system which, in addition to conventional mechanical elements of base, curling irons, ovens, holders and the like, utilizes an accurate temperature measurement and display capability adapted for use by salon personnel without sophisticated technical know-how. The temperature measurement is implemented by means of a thermocouple and the display is implemented using a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected to the thermocouple by means of a thermocouple amplifier and a display driver. The combination of thermocouple, LED display and intermediate electronics, operates to provide an accurate indication of the actual surface temperature of the curling iron and thus assure that the iron will be precisely the appropriate temperature for curling or straightening the particular thickness hair being serviced. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the thermocouple is mounted on a platform adjacent the oven and the display is positioned on a vertically oriented member behind the thermocouple platform. In this manner, the user can simply remove the curling iron from the oven chamber and place it on the thermocouple platform while reading the LED display. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a hair styling iron system of the type having a plurality of curling irons and an oven for heating each such iron, wherein means are provided to measure the actual surface temperature of each such iron as it is removed from the oven. It is another object of the invention to provide a curling iron system having temperature measurement and display capability to accurately indicate whether the surface of a heated curling iron is at the appropriate temperature for curling or straightening a particular thickness of human hair. It is still another object of the invention to provide a temperature measurement and display capability for oven-heated hair styling irons, the display comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged to present a graph-like representation of the temperature of the iron. It is still another object of the invention to provide a salon-oriented hair styling iron system having an accurate temperature indication capability that is calibrated in hair thickness parameters to provide the user with a signal that a curling iron is heated to the appropriate temperature for a selected hair thickness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof will be more fully understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a curling iron system in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the temperature measurement and display electronics employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 it will be seen that the present invention may, in a preferred embodiment, comprise a curling iron system 10 having a base 12 providing a surface 14 from which an arcuate band 16 extends upwardly at an acute angle relative to the base. A plurality of iron holders 18 are attached along the perimeter of the band to hold a like plurality of curling irons 19. An oven 20 is positioned on the surface 14 and provides a high temperature chamber 22 for heating the hair contact surfaces 21 of each curling iron dependent on the position of a temperature control 24. Oven 20 is normally an electric-type apparatus having an AC cord 26 and an AC plug 28. The improvements provided in the curling iron system 10 of the present invention comprise a thermocouple 30 and a display 36. Thermocouple 30 is preferably mounted in a platform 32 and supported on a column 34, the latter affixed to the surface 14 at a convenience location adjacent the oven 20. The display 30, which comprises a plurality of readily observable light emitting diodes 38, is preferably vertically positioned behind the thermocouple platform where it can be vieweα while a curling iron heated surface 21 is held in contact with the thermocouple 30. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the thermocouple 30 is connected to a thermocouple amplifier 40 such as an Analog Devices model AD595 Monolithic Thermocouple Amplifier with cold junction compensation. Typically, thermocouple 30 is a type K (chromel-alumel) thermocouple, but other types of thermocouples may be combined with appropriate amplifiers to provide accurate temperature results over the desired range of temperatures. By way of example, a type J thermocouple (iron-constantan) may be useα with a model AD594 device. In the preferred embodiment, the range of temperatures for exciting an LED readout is from 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest temperature deemed suitable for a curling iron used on very thin hair is 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest temperature deemed suitable for a curling iron used on the thickest hair is 425 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermocouple amplifier 40 provides an output voltage which is proportional to the thermocouple temperature. The output of amplifier 40 is transferred to an LED display driver 42 to which the LED array 38 is connected. Display driver 42 comprises an LM 3914 circuit which is capable of activating up to ten LEDs in a bar mode or 1 of 10 LEDs in a dot mode in response to the input voltage from the thermocouple amplifier. It contains a voltage divider and ten comparators that turn on respective LEDs in sequence as the input voltage uses. Thus, the number of lighted LEDs in the bar mode or the position of the lighted LED in the dot mode, provides an indication of the thermocouple measurement of the temperature of the curling iron surface with which the thermocouple is in contact. It will be understood that there are numerous alternative ways to measure and display the temperature of the heated curling iron surface. Therefore, the disclosed embodiment is not to be considered limiting of the invention, but is preferred because the LEDs can be calibrated for different hair thicknesses or other such salon-oriented terms of the art to simplify usage for those with little or no technical know-how. Having thus described a preferred embodiment, what is claimed is:

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A hair styling iron assembly comprising: at least one curling iron; an oven for heating said curling iron; a thermocouple responsive to the temperature of said curling iron when contacted thereby; and a display for indicating the temperature of said curling iron. 2. The assembly recited in claim 1 further comprising: a base having a surface for receiving said oven, said thermocouple and said display. 3. The assembly recited in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of curling iron holders and means for securing said holders to said base. 4. The assembly reciteα in claim 1 further comprising: an amplifier connected to said thermocouple for providing a voltage proportional to temperature at said thermocouple. 5. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said display comprises a plurality of light emitting devices and driver means connected to said devices for lighting at least one of said devices depending upon the temperature at said thermocouple. 6. The assembly recited in claim 5 wherein saiα driver means comprises a voltage divider and a plurality of comparators, each such comparator connected to a respective device. 7. A curling iron assembly comprising: a base having at least one substantially flat surface ; an oven positioned on said flat surface of said base and having a chamber for selectively heating a curling iron; at least one curling iron; a temperature measuring device positioned on said base for contact by a heated curling iron and a display connected to be responsive to said measuring device for indicating an observable manifestation of the actual surface temperature of said heated curling iron. 8. The assembly recited in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of curling iron holders and means for securing said holders to said base and wherein said temperature measuring device comprises a thermocouple. 9. The assembly recited in claim 8 further compr lεing: an amplifier connected to said thermocouple for providing a voltage proportional to temperature at said thermocouple. 10. The assembly recited in claim 8 wherein said display comprises a plurality of light emitting devices and driver means connected to said devices for lighting at least one of said devices depending upon the temperature at said thermocouple. 11. The assembly recited in claim 10 wherein said driver means comprises a voltage divider and a plurality of comparators, each such comparator connected to a respective device.

Inventors: BENNETT ALLEN, FISCHBACH FERNANDO, STILLWAGON ROSS I, BENNETT, ALLEN, FISCHBACH, FERNANDO, STILLWAGON, ROSS, I.
Applicants: FISCHBACH FERNANDO, GOLDEN SUPREME INC, STILLWAGON ROSS I, FISCHBACH, FERNANDO, GOLDEN SUPREME, INC., STILLWAGON, ROSS, I.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A45D1
IPC codes: A45D1, A45D4, G01K1