Abstract:
A device for treating hair comprising a first arm and a second arm connected together at one end thereof, wherein each of said arms comprises a utility portion and a base portion, and wherein at least one of said utility portions is releasebly engageable with its respective base portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is concerned with a device for treating hair, and in particular but not limited to a device which may be used to straighten and/or brush hair.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There are a variety of hair treating devices including hairbrushes, hair combs, crimping irons, curling tongs and hair strengtheners. A user of more than one of these devices thus often possesses multiple devices. Storage of these multiple devices can be troublesome. The present invention seeks to provide a hair treating device which addresses this problem. The present invention also seeks to provide a hair treating device that has multiple uses, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENION  
       [0003]     According to the present invention, there is provided a device for treating hair comprising a first arm and a second arm connected together at one end thereof, wherein each of the arms comprises a utility portion and a base portion, and wherein at least one of the utility portions is releasebly engageable with its respective base portion. The device may include a housing made of plastics although other suitable material such as a metallic material may be used.  
         [0004]     Preferably, the device may be disposable in a first configuration in which the arms are spread apart such that hair may be positioned therebetween, and a second configuration in which the arms may be brought together such that hair may be treated by the device. Advantageously, the device may also be disposable in a third configuration in which the utility portion of the second arm may be separated from the device such that either one of the arms may be used for treating hair. In particular, after separated from the device, the utility portion of the second arm may be securable back to its base by clipping thereto. The utility portion of the second arm and the base may be adapted such that the utility portion can only be secured to the base in a certain orientation in relation to the device, or alternatively the device may be adapted such that the utility portion of the second arm can be secured to the base in more than one orientation in relation to the device.  
         [0005]     Suitably, the base portion of the second arm may be in the form of a glove within which its utility portion is fittable or receivable. Alternatively, the utility portion may be connected to the base portion in any suitable manner such as by snap fitting.  
         [0006]     Preferably, at least one of the arms may be in the form of a hairbrush. In particular, the utility portion may be provided with a plurality of bristles. Alternatively, at least one of the arms may be in the form of a comb. The bristles may be grouped in tufts and are adapted for brushing or straightening hair.  
         [0007]     Advantageously, the device may comprise means for generating and/or emitting ionized air. In particular, the ionized air generating and/or emitting means may be provided in the first arm, and in particular in the utility portion of the first arm. Ionized air emitted from the device during use thereof may facilitate hair treatment. For example, when the device is used as a hair straightener, ionized air may facilitate the straightening of hair. Ionized air may also be used as a deodorizing agent. Ionized hair may also facilitate for smoothening hair.  
         [0008]     Preferably, the first arm and the second arm may be pivotably connected together at the end. Alternatively, the arms may be connected by a metal spring. A locking mechanism may be provided to secure the device in its first or second configuration. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     An embodiment of the invention is described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a device for treating hair according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  but in a different configuration;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are alternative perspective views of the device shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an alternative perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 6  but with a part thereof being detached therefrom;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is an alternative perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  but with a part thereof detached therefrom;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is an alternative perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  but with a part thereof removed therefrom;  
         [0020]     FIGS.  12  to  15  are top, bottom, side and front views (respectively) of the device shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0021]     FIGS.  16  to  20  are perspective, top, bottom, side and front views of the detached part shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 21  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 22  shows a bottom view and a partial cross section view of the device shown in  FIG. 21  taken at Y-Y;  
         [0024]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  but a pair of buttons thereof is depressed; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 24  shows a bottom view and a partial cross section view of the device shown in  FIG. 23  taken at Y-Y. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     Turning to the Figures, the invention is illustrated with a device for treating hair and in particular a device mainly for but not limited to straightening hair. The device may also be used for brushing hair.  
         [0027]     The device is generally designated as  1 . Turning to FIGS.  1  to  7 , the device is generally in the form of a tong and comprises an upper arm  2  and a lower arm  4  pivotably connected together at an end  6  thereof. Each of the arms  2 ,  4  comprises a front portion (or utility portion)  8 ,  10  and a handle portion (or base portion)  12 ,  14  respectively. The handle portions  12 ,  14  together form a handle for the device  1 . The utility portion  8  of the upper arm  2  is provided with a plurality of tufts of bristles  16  vertically depending therefrom and facing the lower arm  4 . Similarly, the utility portion  10  of the lower arm  4  is provided with a plurality of tufts of bristles  18  vertically extending therefrom and facing the upper arm  2 .  
         [0028]     The utility portion  8  of the upper arm  2  has an enlarged housing  20  within which an ion generating and emitting means is provided (not shown). The housing  20  is provided with a plurality openings  22  on its top side through which air may be drawn inside the housing  20 , and an opening  24  (see  FIG. 13 ) through which ionized air may exist from the housing  20 . The ionized air may be used for treating hair.  
         [0029]     The lower arm  14  of the device  1  comprises the utility portion  10  removable from its handle (or base) portion  14 . In this embodiment, the utility portion  10  includes a narrower end  26  (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) which is fittable within the base portion  14 . A clipping means  28  (see  FIG. 22 ) is provided in the utility portion  10  for securing itself to the base portion  14 .  
         [0030]     The device  1  is adaptable to a closed configuration (see  FIG. 7 ) in which the two arms  2 ,  4  are brought together with the bristles  16 ,  18  from opposite sides therefore brought in close proximity (if not in contact) of each other and an open configuration (see  FIGS. 1 and 4  to  5 ) in which the arms  2 ,  4  are spread apart. The device  1  is provided with a lock (not shown) at an end thereof for maintaining the closed configuration of the device  1 . The lock is actuable by an end button  30  between a locked and unlocked position.  
         [0031]     In use, a user may position hair to be treated between the arms  2 ,  4  while the device  1  is in its open configuration. The user can then bring the arms  2 ,  4  together in the closed configuration such that the hair can be sandwiched and pressed with the bristles. Together with a gentle coordinated pulling motion hair may be straightened with the device  1 .  
         [0032]     In addition to straightening hair, the device  1  may also be used for brushing or grooming hair. To convert the device  1  from a hair straightener to a hair brush for example (see FIGS.  7  to  24 ), the utility portion  10  of the lower arm  4  is detached from its base  14  by depressing the clipping means  28  and removing the utility portion  10  from the lower arm  4 . After separation from the lower arm  4 , both the removed utility portion  10  and the utility portion  8  of the upper arm  2  may be used separately for brushing hair but not straightening hair. However, since the upper arm  2  is also provided with the ion generating and emitting means the device  1  after having removed therefrom may be used as a hairbrush with an ionized air emitter. Hair brushed and treated with ionized air tends to be smoother and gentler. On the other hand, the removed utility portion  10  in itself may be used as a regular hairbrush. The present invention thus provides a combined hair straightening and hairbrushing device. The advantages of the device include its multiple functions, ease of storage and versatility.  
         [0033]     It is envisaged that other suitable utility portions such as a portion in the form of a comb may be adapted to fit to the base portion  14  such that the device  1  or the utility portions thereof can be adapted to treat or groom hair in a different manner.  
         [0034]     Specific language is used to describe the preferred embodiment. Nevertheless, no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0035]     The invention as described is deemed to incorporate equivalents to the integers recited where such equivalents would be apparent to those skilled in the art. The description is provided by way of example only.