Abstract:
A curling iron that winds a lock of hair about a barrel includes a body that surrounds the barrel and forms a hair-receiving space accessed through an opening in the body. The opening includes a circumferential portion extending about a distal end of the barrel, and a slot extending axially from the circumferential portion toward a proximal end of the barrel. The slot portion is disposed at a longitudinal end of the curling iron for receiving a lock of hair that is elongated parallel to the slot portion and pushed in crosswise. A resilient finger mounted to the body projects and normally closes the slot portion and holds the lock of hair in the hair-receiving space. A gating coupling connects the barrel to the body and provides relative movement between the barrel and the body, between open and closed position, for inserting and releasing a lock of hair.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to hair styling irons, particularly electrical appliances for hair curling, having a winder for winding up hair. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    One class of hand-held electric hair irons has a winder that is driven to rotate, or to rotate relative to, a barrel onto which a lock of hair is thereby wound for curling, such as described in US20130025620 and WO2013186547. These prior art motorised curling irons have two jaws connected by a hinge so as to be moveable from an open position allowing the insertion of hair to a closed position to put the hair in contact with the heater and perform the curling treatment. The principal advantages of these appliances are the speed and ease with which they allow hair to be styled, however there is an on-going need for improvements in the performance of this class of hair iron, particularly with respect to ergonomics. 
         [0003]    In the curling iron of FIG. 54 of WO2013186547 the first jaw carries the barrel, and a hair-receiving opening in a head surrounding the barrel has a slot portion parallel to the barrel is opened and closed by movement of the second jaw relative to the first jaw. Advantageously, this slot portion is too narrow to allow a user&#39;s fingers to into the heated chamber next to the barrel. However, ease of use is compromised by the second jaw blocking access to the slot portion, requiring hair to be fed along a complex path, firstly in a longitudinal direction, and then transversely into the slot portion. There is a risk that some strands of hair will not be retained in the slot portion and wound about the barrel, resulting in incomplete styling of lock of hair. The lack of symmetry or “handedness” of the appliance also means that it is not equally readily used both left- and right-handed. It would also be advantageous to have a simple and compact structure that can be manufactured for a lower cost. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages or, more generally, to provide an improved curling iron. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a curling iron comprising: 
         [0005]    a body; 
         [0006]    a barrel having a proximal end mounted within the body and an opposing distal end, the body surrounding the barrel and enclosing a hair-receiving space between the barrel and the body; 
         [0007]    an element for heating hair in the hair-receiving space, and 
         [0008]    an opening in the body, the opening comprising a circumferential portion extending about the distal end and a slot portion extending from the circumferential portion toward the proximal end, whereby opposing ends of a lock of hair passing through the hair-receiving space may extend from the circumferential portion and the slot portion. 
         [0009]    Preferably the curling iron further comprises: a gating coupling connecting the barrel to the body to provide for relative movement between the barrel and the body between a closed position, in which the circumferential portion is closed to restrict movement of the lock of hair about the circumferential portion, and an open position, in which the circumferential portion is opened to allow a curled lock of hair to be withdrawn from the hair-receiving space. 
         [0010]    Preferably the barrel substantially abuts the body in the closed position i.e. the barrel is very close to, or in abutment with, the body in the closed position. A portion proximate to the distal end of the barrel preferably substantially abuts the body in the closed position. 
         [0011]    The gating coupling may allow sliding movement of the barrel with respect to the body. The sliding movement may be substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the barrel. The gating coupling may comprise an elongate guide fixed to one of the body and the barrel and a block slidingly engaged with the guide and fixed to the other of the body and the barrel. 
         [0012]    The gating coupling may comprise a pivot allowing relative pivoting movement of the barrel with respect to the body. The pivot may have a pivot axis substantially orthogonal to a central axis of the barrel. The pivot axis may intersect the central axis. 
         [0013]    The barrel may fixed to a handle of the curling iron, so that the gating coupling provides relative movement between the handle and the body. 
         [0014]    Preferably an operating lever is fixed to the body, for sliding or pivoting the body relative to the handle. A switch may be actuated by movement of the operating lever for supplying power to a winder for winding the lock of hair about the barrel. 
         [0015]    Preferably the curling iron further comprises a temperatures sensor for providing a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the element and a controller that receives the temperature signal and controls power supply to the element to maintain the element within i) a predefined standby temperature range and ii) a predefined operating temperature range higher than the standby temperature range, and further comprising a winder for winding the lock of hair about the barrel, and feedback means connected to the controller for indicating that the winder is in operation, when power is supplied to the curling iron the controller actuates the element to maintain the element in the standby temperature range and when the feedback means indicates that the winder is in operation, the controller actuates the element to maintain the element in the operating temperature range. 
         [0016]    Optionally, the controller comprises a timer circuit and records an elapsed time from the activation of the feedback means that indicates that the winder is in operation, and after the elapsed time exceeds a predefined limit, the controller reverts to actuate the element to maintain the element in the standby temperature range. 
         [0017]    Optionally, a rotary encoder is connected to the controller to indicate the angular displacement of the winder, and after a predefined angular displacement is exceeded, the controller reverts to actuate the element to maintain the element in the standby temperature range. 
         [0018]    In another aspect, invention provides a curling iron comprising: 
         [0019]    a body; 
         [0020]    a barrel having a proximal end fixed within the body and an opposing distal end, the body surrounding the barrel and enclosing a hair-receiving space between the barrel and the body; 
         [0021]    an element for heating hair in the hair-receiving space, and 
         [0022]    an opening in the body, the opening comprising a circumferential portion extending about the distal end and a slot portion extending from the circumferential portion toward the proximal end, whereby opposing ends of a lock of hair passing through the hair-receiving space may extend from the circumferential portion and the slot portion; 
         [0023]    an outer gate that closes the circumferential portion to restrict movement of the lock of hair about the circumferential portion, and that opens to allow a curled lock of hair to be withdrawn from the hair-receiving space; 
         [0024]    inner gate means mounted to the body to hold the lock of hair in the hair-receiving space; 
         [0025]    a winder for winding the lock of hair about the barrel, and 
         [0026]    an operator pressed by a user to close the outer gate and actuate the winder. 
         [0027]    Compared to inner gate means hingedly connected to the handle, mounting inner gate means to the body, allows them to be much smaller, while also better ensuring the lock of hair actually enters through the slot portion into the hair-receiving space and strands are not clamped against an outer surface of the body. 
         [0028]    Preferably the inner gate means comprises at least one finger mounted to the body to project in a normally closed position, and which may be resiliently deflected to an open position by the user pushing the lock of hair past the at least one finger 
         [0029]    The at least one finger may be elastomeric, and in particular, made entirely from a silicon elastomer. Alternatively, for instance, the finger may comprise a rigid projection held in a resilient base, or a like flexure hinge arrangement, whereby the finger is resiliently biased to its normally closed position. 
         [0030]    Preferably the winder comprises a member mounted to rotate through the hair-receiving space substantially about an axis of the barrel for winding up the lock of hair and the at least one finger projects into a mouth of the slot portion proximate the winder member. The winder may comprise a hook, comb, or the like member for engaging the hair, that rotates (either separately from the barrel or together with the barrel) and which may also move axially during rotation so as to displace the hair axially as it is wound up. Preferably the winder comprises a member mounted to rotate relative to the barrel through the hair-receiving space substantially about an axis of the barrel, while simultaneously moving parallel to axis of the barrel. 
         [0031]    Preferably a base of the at least one finger is mounted to a wall of the slot portion. Preferably the at least one finger tapers to narrow from the base to its tip. The finger may be strip-like, having a cross section that is elongated, for instance, elongated substantially parallel to the axis of the barrel. 
         [0032]    Preferably the mouth is tapered in a transverse plane to narrow toward the barrel and toward a throat of the slot portion. Preferably the throat has cross-sectional dimensions that are substantially constant throughout its axial length, and a width of the throat in cross-section is substantially narrower than a length of the throat in cross-section. Preferably the mouth has reflective symmetry about a plane bisecting the slot portion. The mouth may have opposing convex surfaces. Preferably the at least one finger is, in its normally closed position, elongated generally perpendicular to an axis of the throat. Preferably the at least one finger does not project outside the slot portion. Preferably the slot is elongated axially, generally parallel to the axis of the barrel. 
         [0033]    Optionally, the at least one finger may comprise a plurality of fingers. The fingers may be arranged in one of more linear arrays along the slot portion. The fingers may be all mounted on the same side of the slot portion, or on opposite sides. When on opposing sides of the slot portion the fingers may be aligned with one another, or else staggered. When staggered, the fingers may overlap lengthwise or be interdigitated. 
         [0034]    Preferably the handle is elongate and an axis of the barrel lies in a longitudinal plane that bisects the slot portion and bisects the handle longitudinally. Preferably the longitudinal axis of the handle is approximately transverse to the axis of the barrel. 
         [0035]    Preferably the hair-receiving space is bounded by substantially coaxial cylindrical walls of the barrel and the body. Preferably a ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the barrel to the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the body is between 2:3 and 6:7. 
         [0036]    Preferably the element is provided in the barrel, and the barrel is made of thermal conductor, such as a metal. Preferably no heater is provided in the head. Preferably no clamp is provided for pressing the lock of hair against the barrel. 
         [0037]    Preferably the outer gate opens and closes by sliding or pivoting. Optionally, a mechanism combining sliding and pivoting movement may be provided for moving the outer gate. Preferably the outer gate opens and closes by moving substantially transverse to the axis of the barrel. Preferably the outer gate closes the circumferential portion to restrict movement of the lock of hair to an area adjacent the slot portion. 
         [0038]    Preferably the winder rotates substantially about an axis of the barrel. The winder may rotate relative to the barrel, or may rotate together with the barrel. Preferably the winder has a concave edge for abutting the lock of hair. 
         [0039]    Preferably the operator is mounted to the handle. Preferably the operator is connected to the outer gate by a mechanism. Alternatively, the operator may control a sensor or switch of a control circuit to operate an electro-mechanical actuator to open or close the outer gate. The operator may be a lever operator, a slide button operator, or a rotary knob operator. The operator may control a sensor or switch of a control circuit to start a motor for rotating the winder. 
         [0040]    Preferably the barrel is an assembly of two like half-cylindrical parts, each of which may enclose a respective heating element. 
         [0041]    The invention provides a curling iron which is effective and efficient, and can be conveniently used both left- and right-handed, while reducing the risk that some strands of hair will not be retained in the slot portion and also offering a simple design which minimises manufacturing costs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0043]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view from above of a curling iron according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 2 a    is a part-sectional view of the head of the iron of  FIG. 1 , in which an outer wall of the head is shown cut away; 
           [0045]      FIG. 2 b    is a transverse section through the barrel of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0046]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the head of the iron of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0047]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are sections AA and CC, respectively, of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0048]      FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are schematic longitudinal sections through the iron of  FIG. 1 , showing the upper gate open and closed respectively; 
           [0049]      FIG. 7  is a part-sectional view of the head of a second embodiment of a curling iron of the invention, in which an outer wall of the head is shown cut away; 
           [0050]      FIG. 8  is a part-sectional view of the head of a third embodiment of a curling iron of the invention, in which an outer wall of the head is shown cut away; 
           [0051]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are side views from opposing sides of a fourth embodiment of a curling iron of the invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 11  is an end view of a fifth embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in an open position; 
           [0053]      FIG. 12  is a schematic section along plane AA of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0054]      FIGS. 13 and 14  correspond to  FIGS. 11 and 12  respectively but show a closed position; 
           [0055]      FIGS. 15 and 16  are schematic cross sections of a sixth embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in open and closed positions respectively; 
           [0056]      FIGS. 17 and 18  are schematic cross sections of a seventh embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in open and closed positions respectively; 
           [0057]      FIGS. 19 and 20  are schematic cross sections of an eighth embodiment of a curling iron of the invention in open and closed positions respectively; 
           [0058]      FIG. 21  is a schematic cross section of the curling iron of  FIGS. 19 and 20  mounted to a handle, and 
           [0059]      FIG. 22  is a schematic of a control circuit of a curling iron of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electric appliance for hair styling, or a curling iron  1 , has a body  10 ,  11  that generally comprises a handle  10  on which a head  11  is disposed. The body  10 ,  11  may be an assembly of parts, or the head  10  and handle  11  may be integrally formed, as by moulding from polymer. The handle  10  may be elongate and hollow with a longitudinal handle axis  12  and it may be fixed at one end to the head  11 , with a mains power cable  14  extending from the opposite end. User controls  15  may be mounted to the handle  10 , and may include a lever operator  13 . A control circuit (not shown) may be mounted within the handle  10 . 
         [0061]    A barrel  16 , about which a lock of hair  20  is wound in use, may be heated by internal elements  81 . The barrel  16  is surrounded by the head  11  and has an axis  17 , which may be aligned approximately transverse to the handle axis  12 . An opening  18  in the head  11  is provided for the passage of the lock of hair, and comprises a circumferential portion  18   a  (through which the barrel  16  is visible in  FIG. 1 ) and that extends around the barrel  16 , and a slot portion  18   b  extending therefrom. A hair-receiving space  19  is provided between the head  11  and the barrel  16  and, in use, with a lock of hair  20  passing through the hair-receiving space  19  a root end  20   a  extends from the circumferential portion  18   a  and a tip  20   b  of the lock of hair  20  may extend from the slot portion  18   b  generally axially. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 a , 2 b    and  3 , a proximal end  16   a  of the barrel  16  is fixed within the head  11  and the circumferential portion  18   a  extends about an opposing distal end  16   b , so that the distal end  16   b  is recessed inside the head  11 . The cylindrical barrel  16  may be an assembly of two like half-cylindrical parts  80  fixed back-to-back as shown in  FIG. 2 b   , each half enclosing a respective one of the heating elements  81 . The head  11  is a substantially rigid part of the body assembly which may comprise double walls. The head  11  encloses the barrel  16  and other parts of the appliance, including a reversible gear motor  21  fixed near the proximal end  16   a . The gear motor  21  is part of a winder assembly for winding the lock of hair  20  about the barrel  16 , and is connected to a winder hook  22  mounted to rotate about the axis  17  through the hair-receiving space  19  for hooking and rotating the hair, while simultaneously moving parallel to axis  17  to help form a helical curl. 
         [0063]    The slot portion  18   b  intersects with the circumferential portion  18   a  to provide the only substantial opening in the head  11 , and connecting the hair-receiving space  19  to the space surrounding the head. The slot portion  18   b  may be elongated to extend generally axially from the circumferential portion  18   a  toward the proximal end  16   a . The hair-receiving space  19  is closed at the proximal end  16   a  and the circumferential portion  18   a  and slot portion  18   b  provide a passage through which the lock of hair may pass. The hair-receiving space  19  may be bounded by substantially coaxial walls, as by the cylindrical walls  24 ,  25  of the barrel  16  and the head  11  respectively, as illustrated. 
         [0064]    An outer gate  27  opens and closes the circumferential portion  18   a  of the opening  18 , as by pivoting, and serves to restrict movement of the lock of hair  20  about the circumferential portion  18   a . It is sufficient that movement of the lock of hair  20  about the circumferential portion  18   a  is restricted to prevent unwinding, and it is not necessary to clamp or grip the lock.  FIG. 2 a    shows the outer gate  27  in its open position in which it is retracted from the circumferential portion  18   a  within a hollow in the head  11  that is located between a wall  29  and the distal end  16   b . With the outer gate  27  open a curled lock of hair may freely be withdrawn from the hair-receiving space  19  through the circumferential portion  18   a . The outer gate  27  may move substantially transverse to the axis  17  from the open position shown, in which a hair-engaging surface  28  is retracted from the circumferential portion  18   a , to a closed position (best seen in  FIG. 6 b   ) in which the hair-engaging surface  28  bounds a space adjacent to the slot portion  18   b , restricting movement of the lock of hair  20  to this space adjacent the slot portion  18   b.    
         [0065]    A mechanism (described further below with respect to  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   ) connects the lever operator  13  and outer gate  27 , allowing the outer gate  27  to be closed by the user pressing the lever operator  13 , and opened by a spring  76 . After the outer gate  27  is closed, or substantially closed, the lever operator  13  may actuate a switch  70  in the control circuit to start the gear motor  21  and wind up the lock of hair  20 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 2 a    also illustrates an embodiment of fingers  30  that provide a low cost and very effective inner gate means that close the slot portion  18   b  to hold the lock of hair  20  in the hair-receiving space  19 . The fingers  30  are mounted to the head  11  to project from a wall of the slot portion  18   b  and, in their normally closed position shown, substantially occlude the slot portion  18   b . The fingers  30  are preferably made from a silicon elastomer, and are configured to be resiliently deflected inwardly to an open position (not shown) by the user pushing the lock of hair  20  past them. The fingers  30  may be of like dimensions, tapering to narrow from their bases  31  to their tips  32 . The fingers  30  may be arranged in a linear array, optionally integrally formed with a mounting strip  33  at their bases  31 , with the mounting strip  33  being secured on a channel in the head  11  so that the array may be aligned substantially axially. Compared to gate means hingedly connected to the handle, fingers  30  mounted to the head  11 , particularly in the slot portion  18   b , may be much smaller, while also better ensuring the lock of hair  20  actually enters through the slot portion  18   b  into the hair-receiving space  19  and strands are not clamped against an outer surface of the head  11 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , all of the fingers  30  may be mounted on the same side of a mouth  35  of the slot portion  18   b  that is tapered in a transverse plane to narrow toward the barrel  16 , and toward a throat  36  of the slot portion  18   b . The mouth  35  may have reflective symmetry about a plane  37  bisecting the slot portion  36  along an axis of the throat  36 . The throat  36  may be of substantially constant cross-sectional dimensions throughout its axial length, and the width  38  of the throat  36  is substantially narrower than its length  39  in a radial direction. The width  38  of the throat  36  is preferably less than 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical wall  24 , and the ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical wall  24  of the barrel  16  to the diameter of the cylindrical wall  25  of the head  11  is preferably between 2:3 and 6:7. In the normally closed position, the fingers  30  are elongated generally perpendicular to the plane  37 , and are retained within the slot portion  18   b.    
         [0068]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the hair-receiving space  19  between the cylindrical walls  24 ,  25  is generally annular and the winder hook  22  is disposed near its innermost end. The winder hook  22  has two opposing concave edges  40 ,  41 , one of which abuts and hooks the lock of hair  20 , depending on the direction of rotation of the winder hook  22 . The pitch circle swept by the winder hook  22  as it turns has a substantially larger diameter than the annular hair-receiving space  19  and extends adjacent to the fingers  30 . In this way the swept path overlaps a substantial radial extent of the slot portion  18   b , ensuring that a lock of hair  20  that has been pushed past the fingers  30  will be caught by the winder hook  22 . The displacement of the winder hook  22  parallel to axis  17  may be mechanically driven by its rotation, as by a screw thread (not shown). 
         [0069]    These  FIGS. 4 and 5  also best show the double-walled hollow construction of the head  11 , in which the cylindrical wall  25  comprises the mouth of a generally cup-shaped inner wall  46  that is open at the circumferential portion  18   a  and closed at its opposite end, and which is encompassed by an outer wall  47 . 
         [0070]      FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    illustrate the operation of the outer gate  27 , showing the outer gate  27  in its open position ( FIG. 6 a   ) and its closed position ( FIG. 6 b   ) where it projects to close the circumferential portion  18   a , with the hair-engaging surface  28  bounding the space adjacent to the slot portion  18   b . The lever operator  13  may be mounted by a transverse pivot  71  to the handle  10  for rotation between open and closed positions, with the pivot  71  disposed near one end of the lever operator  13 . The lever operator  13  may include a button portion  72  projecting through an opening in the handle for actuation by the user, and an arm portion  73  extending into the head  11  to engage the outer gate  27 . The outer gate  27  may be mounted to rotate on a transverse axle  74 , and may further include a tongue  75  integral with the gate  27 , with a roller  78  fixed at one end. One end of a spring  76  is fixed in one end of a recess  77  in the arm  73  and the opposite end of the spring  76  abuts the tongue  75 , urging the roller  78  against the opposite end of the recess  77  when the outer gate is in its open position. Pressing the button portion  72  rotates the lever operator  13 , pushing the roller  78  to move along the arm portion  73  from one end of the recess  77  to the other, thereby rotating the outer gate  27  simultaneously. Immediately before the closed position shown in  FIG. 6 b   , the arm portion  73  abuts the start switch  70 , providing a signal to the control circuit to start the winder. 
         [0071]    These drawings also clearly show that the slot portion  18   b  is disposed at a longitudinal end of the curling iron  1 , as in an endmost face  52 . This provides enhanced ergonomics, compared to having the slot portion  18   b  providing an opening on the sides of the head  11 , as the appliance can be more readily used in a like manner in the left and right hand. The slot portion  18   b  may aligned such that the axis  17  of the barrel  16  lies in the longitudinal plane  37  that bisects the slot portion and bisects the handle longitudinally. 
         [0072]      FIGS. 7 and 8 , show second and third embodiments of the invention, distinguished from the hair curler  1  by the fingers  130 ,  230 . The array of fingers need not extend along the axial length of the slot portion  18   b  and, for instance, fingers  130  (individually of like form to the fingers  30 ) may be disposed in a shorter array proximate the winder member  22  at the inner end of the slot portion  18   b . The fingers need not have rotational symmetry about their long axes and, for instance, may have a strip-like form like the fingers  230 . The fingers  230  have the form of an oblong or strip in cross section. The strip may be generally axially aligned. The fingers  230  may be fixed near the inner end of the slot portion  18   b  on opposite sides of the slot portion  18   b , staggered axially and overlapping one another longitudinally such that both would be need to be deflected by a lock of hair  20  pressed transverse to the lock into the slot portion. 
         [0073]    A fourth embodiment of the hair iron  401  is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and is of generally like construction to the first embodiment, although differing in the external form of the outer wall  447  of the head  411 . The head  411  tapers inwardly toward the longitudinal end of the hair iron  401 . The lever operator  413  is also elongated along the handle  410 . Opposing sides of the mouth  435  have convex surfaces  50 . 
         [0074]    In use, when the barrel  16  is up to temperature the appliance is located toward the root end  20   a  of a lock of hair  20 , so that the axis  17  is approximately aligned lengthwise with the lock of hair  20 , which is then inserted into the slot portion  18   b  by a generally transverse relative movement. The lock is pressed against the fingers  30 ,  130 ,  230 , bending them inwards and allowing the lock past, before the fingers are restored to their normal position, in which they retain the lock  20  in the slot portion  18   b . With the root end  20   a  extending from the circumferential portion  18   a  the user presses the operator  13 , and a first part of the displacement of the lever operator  13  moves the outer gate  27  to its closed position, restraining the root end  20   a . A second part of the movement of the lever operator  13  may actuate the start switch  70 , starting the gear motor  21  to turn the winder hook  22  in a direction selected by the user controls  15  for a predefined number of turns. As the lock  20  is wound about the barrel  16  the free tip  20   b  is drawn into the hair-receiving space  19 . The control circuit measures an elapsed time starting from actuation of the start switch  70  and operates an alarm to indicate when the curling is completed, whereupon the user releases the lever operator  13  and the spring restores the lever operator  13  to an extended position and the outer gate  27  to its open position. With the outer gate  27  retracted, the lock of hair, now curled into a generally helical form, can be readily removed through the open circumferential portion  18   a  without being deformed. 
         [0075]    Further embodiments of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 11-21 , and differ from the preceding embodiments in respect of the outer gate means provided to open and close the circumferential portion  18   a  of the opening  18 . The outer gate means may be provided, for instance, by a gating coupling  90 ,  91  connecting the barrel  16  and the body  10  for movement relative to one another, thus avoiding the need for a separate gate to perform this function. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-16 , the gating coupling  90 ,  91  may allow sliding movement of the barrel  16  with respect to the body  10 . The gating coupling may comprise a linear guide  90 , formed in the body  10  and elongated generally orthogonal to the axis  17  of the barrel  16 , the guide  90  receiving a sliding block  91  that houses the gear motor  21 . The barrel  16  is mounted to this gear motor housing or sliding block  91  to reciprocate thererewith. In preferred embodiments, the barrel  16  is fixed to the handle (not shown in  FIGS. 11-14 , see  FIG. 21 ) and, in this manner, the body  10  may be mounted to the handle so as to allow the body to slide back and forth transversely to the axis  17  between open and closed positions. The open position is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  and shows that the barrel  16  may be disposed generally coaxially with the internal cylindrical wall  25  of the body  10  that surrounds it, so as to form the annular hair-receiving space  19 . In this open position, a lock of hair can be entered through the opening  18  into the hair-receiving space  19  and, once formatted into a generally helical coil, it can slide axially out from the hair-receiving space. In the closed position (shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) the barrel  16  is disposed eccentrically, after being displaced along the guide  90 , transverse to the axis  17 . In this closed position, the distal end  16   b  may be disposed closely adjacent to, or in abutment with, the inner cylindrical surface  25  and providing contact along an axial line at a pinch point  92 . The pinch point  92  is shown located at about 90° from the slot portion  18   b , but may generally be located at any angular position around the internal wall surrounding the barrel. In this manner, the circumferential portion  18   a  is closed to restrict movement of the lock of hair in the circumferential portion past the pinch point  92 . One or more springs (not shown) may act between the barrel and body, to bias them to the open position. 
         [0077]      FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate an embodiment in which the circumferential portion  18   a  is opened and closed by transverse sliding movement of the barrel  116  inside the body  110 . In this curling iron the body  110  may be fixed to a handle (not shown). The hair-receiving space  119  may be symmetrical about the axis  17  and taper to narrow in the axial direction toward the distal end  116   b . The distal end  116  may be domed, as by a hemispherical surface  94  which may extend from the body  110 . The hemispherical surface  94  may be disposed, in the closed position (see  FIG. 16 ), closely adjacent to, or in abutment with, a complementary inner surface  95  having a like radius of curvature as the hemispherical surface  94 . In this manner, line contact may be also provided along a curved line at pinch point  92 . 
         [0078]      FIGS. 17-20  illustrate embodiments in which a pivot  97  having an axis transverse to the axis  17  of the barrel serves to provide the gating coupling that connects the barrel and body to turn relative to one another. The pivot axis may be offset to one side of the axis  17  (see  FIGS. 17 and 18 ) or may be disposed centrally to intersect the axis  17  (see  FIGS. 19 and 20 ). A torsion spring (not shown) may act between the barrel and body, to urge them to the open position, as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 21  illustrates how the barrel  116  may fixed by a pivot  97  to one end of an elongate handle  111  of the curling iron, so that the body  310  pivots relative to the handle  111 . A lever operator  113  fixed to the body  310  may extend adjacent to the handle  11  so that it can be readily operated, as by the user&#39;s thumb, for pivoting the body  310 . A start switch  170 , such as a microswitch, may be actuated by movement of the lever operator  113  for supplying power to a winder  101  for winding the lock of hair  20  about the barrel  116 . 
         [0080]    As shown in  FIG. 22 , a control circuit  105  of the curling iron controls the supply of power from a power supply  106  to a motor  107  and the heating elements  81 . The gear motor  121  turns the winder  101  to wind the lock around the barrel  116 . A temperature sensor  109  provides a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the element  81  and a controller  108  receives the temperature signal and controls power supply to the element  81 , according a value preset by the user via the temperature control  111 . Depending upon the mode of operation, the controller  108  maintains the element  81  either within i) a predefined standby temperature range or ii) within a predefined operating temperature range higher than the standby temperature range, as by 5° C. Feedback means in the form of a rotary encoder  110  is connected to the controller for indicating that the winder motor  121  is in operation, and provides an indication of the angle through which the winder  101  has been turned. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 19-22 , in use, after supplying power to the control circuit, the user may select one of a plurality of predefined standby temperature ranges as required according to the operation to be performed. Thereafter, the controller  108  supplies power to the element  81  to maintain the element  81  within the standby temperature range selected. When the barrel  116  is up to temperature the appliance is located toward the root end  20   a  of a lock of hair  20 , so that the axis  17  is approximately aligned lengthwise with the lock of hair  20 , which is then inserted into the slot portion  18   b  by a generally transverse relative movement. With the root end  20   a  extending from the circumferential portion  18   a  the user presses the operator  113 , and the displacement of the lever operator  113  moves the body  310  to its closed position, restraining the root end  20   a , as by clamping between the surfaces  94 ,  95 , although it is not important that that the hair be clamped in this way. Continued movement of the lever operator  113  may actuate the start switch  170 , starting the gear motor  121  to turn the winder hook  22  in a direction selected by the user controls 
         [0082]    When the rotary encoder  110  indicates that the winder motor  121  is turning, the controller  108  boosts power to the element  81  and maintains the element in the higher operating temperature range. The control circuit measures an elapsed time starting from actuation of the start switch  170  and after a predefined elapsed time or after a predefined angular displacement is exceeded (as determined from the rotary encoder  110 ), the controller  108  lowers the power level to the element  81  and reverts to actuate the element to maintain the element  81  in the selected standby temperature range. The controller  108  may operate an alarm to indicate when the curling is completed, whereupon the user releases the lever operator  113  and a spring restores the lever operator  113  to an extended position and the body  310  to its open position. With the barrel  116  disposed centrally in the hair-receiving space, the lock of hair, now curled into a generally helical form, can be readily removed through the open circumferential portion  18   a  without being deformed. 
         [0083]    Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.