Abstract:
A microwavable hair curling device comprising a plurality of hair curlers for winding up human hair. Each curler contains a desiccant material which is surrounded by an elongate casing of flexible material with opposite first and second ends, and an axial length. The first and second ends of the curler are attachable to each other. The curlers are both stored and heated inside of a microweavable carrier. The microwavable carrier insulates the curlers from heat loss, when taken out of the microwave.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
         [0001]    None.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Numerous hair curling devices have been introduced over the years. Hair curling devices come in a variety of configurations, sizes and materials. It is well known that the most efficient way to curl hair is with thermal energy. Hair can be curled in the absence of heat if the hair is wrapped around the curling device when it is wet and allowed to dry into a curl. However, waiting for hair to air dry takes a long time, making it inconvenient in today&#39;s fast paced world. In addition, rollers can be uncomfortable to wear, especially for long periods of time while waiting for hair to dry.  
           [0003]    Most of the prior art hair curling devices employ an electrical heating means. A curling iron, while effective at curling hair quickly, gets extremely hot and can burn the hair and blister the skin, making it dangerous for the elderly and the young to use. In addition, a curling iron takes a long time to heat, possibly exposes the user to electric shock, and limits the user&#39;s movement to the range of the electric cord. Hot rollers, while they do not readily burn the skin or limit movement, are very hot to the touch and therefore hard to handle. In addition, hot rollers are heavy and have a tendency to fall out of the hair.  
           [0004]    Microwave energy has been used as a means for heating hair curling devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,064,051; 6,079,422; 5,988,182 and 6,352,080 provide curlers which may be heated directly in the microwave. The known curlers contain a microwave heatable material which transfers energy from the curler to the hair, causing the hair to curl. The curlers hold the hair in place with pins, clips, ties, surface protrusions or combs. In these cases, individual curlers are heated one at a time, immediately before being placed in the hair. If not placed immediately in the hair after being heated, the heat will dissipate from the curlers into the atmosphere. Also, the process of clipping, tying, or pinning the curler in place is cumbersome if being done by one person. This makes the process of heating and setting hair especially time consuming. Another problem with the prior art microwavable hair curlers is that they can be easily lost or misplaced.  
           [0005]    It is well known in the art of cosmetology that curling hair at higher temperatures results in longer lasting curls. Unfortunately, heat is also known in the art to dry hair out, eventually causing split ends and breakage. In addition, heat can be dangerous to the skin. Thus, there continues to be a need for a hair curling device whose use of heat does not dry out the hair, is warm (not hot) to the touch, is capable of withstanding high temperatures without melting or scorching and is simple to wrap hair around and hold in place. The cylindrical roller shape of most prior art curlers gives the hair rigid, symmetrical and ultimately unnatural looking curls. In addition, though hair curlers specifically designed for microwave heating are known in the prior art, they are to be heated individually in the microwave oven in a cumbersome and time-consuming process. None of the prior art microwavable hair curling devices have been satisfactory. Thus, there exists a need for a hair curling system which is effective at curling, gentle on the hair, easy, safe and time-efficient to use, and capable of producing relaxed and natural looking curls.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention includes a microwavable hair curling device comprising a plurality of hair curlers for winding up human hair. Each curler contains a heat absorbent material which is surrounded by an elongate casing of flexible material with opposite first and second ends, and an axial length. The first and second ends of the curler are attachable to each other. The curlers are both stored and heated inside a carrier which functions as thermal insulating blanket. The thermal blanket insulates the curlers from heat loss when taken out of the microwave. The present invention also includes a method of curling human hair with a microwavable hair curling device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair curling device.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier in a fully unrolled configuration exposing a set of microwavable hair curlers.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3A is a side view of one embodiment of a hair curler of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a section of the hair curler of FIG. 3A.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the carrier in a partially unrolled configuration.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a rear view of a hair curler of the present invention placed in a section of hair.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6A shows the hair curler placed near the end of a section of hair to be curled.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6B shows the section of hair being wrapped around the hair curler of FIG. 6A.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6C shows the ends of the hair curler fastened together alter the section of hair has been fully wrapped around the hair curler. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of microwavable hair curling device  10 . Microwavable hair curling device  10  consists of a carrier  12  and a set of hair curlers  14 . Carrier  12  includes a thermal insulating blanket  16  which, as shown in FIG. 1, may be rolled into a cylindrical shape. Blanket  16  has an exterior surface  18  and an interior surface  20  (shown in detail in FIG. 2) made of fire retardant fabric. Straps  22  and  24  are attached on the exterior surface  18  of blanket  16 . Free ends  22   a  and  22   b  of strap  22  are tied together, as are free ends  24   a  and  24   b  of strap  24  to hold carrier  12  in its fully rolled cylindrical shape. Devices other than straps  22  and  24 , can be used to hold carrier  14  in its cylindrical shape so long as the device is fire retardant and microwave safe. Other embodiments of carrier  12  can be used as well. For example, blanket  16  may be simply by folded in half so that it forms a flat carrier instead of a cylinder.  
         [0017]    Surfaces  18  and  20  and straps  22  and  24  of blanket  18  are made out of a microwave safe, fire-retardant fabric that is lightweight, flexible, machine washable and capable of withstanding microwave temperatures of at least about 250° F. without scorching or melting. Preferably blanket  16  is made out of fabrics with fire retardant properties such as NOMEX®, NOVEON®, MILLENIA™, KOTHMEX™ or KYNOL™ brand materials. Blanket  16  preferably is capable of withstanding microwave temperatures of at least about 600° F.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows the interior surface  20  of carrier  12  after thermal blanket  16  is fully unrolled. When blanket  16  is fully unrolled, carrier  12  reveals interior surface  20 , center strap  26  and a set of hair curlers  14 . Center strap  26  runs lengthwise down interior surface  20  of blanket  16 . Hair curlers  14  are held in place under center strap  26 . Curlers  14  will be discussed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.  
         [0019]    Interior surface  20  of blanket  16  is rectangular in shape having the following features: opposite first and second ends  28  and  30 , opposite first and second side edges  32  and  34 , length  36 , roll axis  38 , width  40  and seam  42 . To reveal interior surface  20 , blanket  16  is unrolled from first end  28  to second end  30  about roll axis  38 . When fully unrolled, interior surface  20  is about 29 inches long along length  36 . Interior surface  20  is about 8 inches wide along width  40  when measured between side edges  32  and  34 . First and second ends  28  and  30  run transverse to side edges  32  and  34 . Interior surface  20  and exterior surface  18  (see FIG. 1) are stitched together at seam  42 .  
         [0020]    Center strap  26  is attached to interior surface  20  at the following five points:  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 , however different embodiments of the present invention may differ in the number of attachment points, so long as at least one curler  14  is able to fit in between them. In FIG. 2, 15 hair curlers  14  are secured under center strap  26  in between the aforementioned attachment points. When placed under strap  26 , curlers  14  are lined up side-by-side so that they are parallel to first and second ends  28  and  30  of interior surface  20 . Center strap  26  is preferably made out of the same microwave-safe material as blanket  16 . The fabric is lightweight, flexible, machine washable and capable of withstanding temperatures of at least about 250° F. Preferably, center strap  26  is made out of fabrics with fire retardant properties such as NOMEX®, NOVEON®, MILLENIA™, KOTHMEX™ or KYNOL™ brand materials. Hair curlers  14  may be held in place by devices other than center strap  50  so long as the device is microwave-safe, flexible, machine washable, and capable of holding curlers  14  side-by-side along interior surface  20 .  
         [0021]    Attachment points  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  of center strap  26  keep curlers  14  organized so that thermal blanket  16  may be easily rolled into a cylindrical shape without curlers  14  falling out and becoming lost or misplaced. Carrier  12 , complete with interior and exterior surfaces  20  and  18  of thermal blanket  16 , center strap  26  and exterior strands  22  and  24 , is designed to be microwave-safe, lightweight and machine washable. In addition, thermal blanket  16  is easy to roll and unroll, safe to use, easy to transport and an excellent place to store curlers in between uses.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of hair curler  14 . Hair curler  14  comprises the following features: outer casing  50 , axial curler length  52 , body  54 , opposite first and second ends  56  and  58 , first and second seams  60  and  62 , first fastener  64  and second fastener  66 . Hair curler  14  is shaped like a rod and is about 7.5 inches long when measured along axial length  52  and about 1.25 inches in width. Both first end  56  and second end  58  are flat in order to accommodate the placement of first and second fasteners  64  and  66 . The flat first and second ends  56  and  58  each measure about 2.25 long and 1.25 inches wide. The body  54  of curler  14  is not flat and has a total circumference of about 2.5 inches when measured around its center. First and second seams  60  and  62  separate body  54  of curler  14  from flat ends  56  and  58 . The body portion  54  of curler  14  measures about 3.5 inches along axial curler length  52  between first and second seams  60  and  62 . Outer casing  50  of hair curler  14  is made out of microwave safe, fire-retardant fabric that is lightweight, flexible, machine washable and capable of withstanding microwave temperatures of at least about 250° F. Preferably outer casing  50  is made out of fabric with fire retardant properties such as NOMEX®, NOVEON®, MILLENIA™, KOTHMEX™ or KYNOL™ brand materials.  
         [0023]    Fasteners  64  and  66  are preferably made of hook and loop material, capable of withstanding microwave temperatures of at least about 250° F. First fastener  64  is disposed on the top of first end  56  while second fastener  66  is disposed on the bottom of second end  58 . First fastener  64  is preferably composed of tiny loops  68  while second fastener  66  is composed of tiny hooks  70 . Seams  60  and  62  protect ends  56  and  58  of curler  14  from getting too hot and damaging fasteners  64  and  66 . The hook and loop fastening device used in this embodiment may be replaced by other machine washable, microwave-safe fastening devices so long as both ends of the curler are capable of fastening together and the fastener does not melt or scorch under microwave heat.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a section of the hair curler  14  of FIG. 3A. The cross-section of hair curler  14  shows the following components: Outer casing  50 , body  54 , axial curler length  52 , first and second ends  56  and  58 , first and second seams  60  and  62 , first and second fasteners  64  and  66 , interior cavity  72  and heat absorbent material  74 . Outer casing  50  is the outermost layer of curler  14  and covers the entire curler  14 . Interior cavity  72  forms the inside of body  54 . Interior cavity  72  is filled with heat absorbent material  74 , preferably in the form of silica beads or other desiccant material.  
         [0025]    A heat absorbent material  74  fills interior cavity  72  of hair curler  14 . Heat absorbent material  74  includes but is not limited to silica beads, buckwheat, flax seed, thermal gel, and any other desiccant material capable of releasing moisture when heated in the microwave. In one embodiment, heat absorbent material  74  is in the form of silica beads, specifically SiO 2  99.5%; Na 2 O 0.021%; Fe 2 O 3  0.02%; MgO 0.01%; Ca 0.04%; A 12 O 3  0.16%, and other compounds 0.01%. The grain size of each silica bead can vary from about 0.5 to 5.0 mm in diameter.  
         [0026]    Silica beads are preferably used as heat absorbent material  74  because as a desiccant they adsorb moisture at room temperature and release moisture upon being heated in the microwave at temperatures of approximately 250° F. to 350° F. When using the preferred embodiment of the present invention, post-microwaved silica beads release moisture and heat through outer casing  50  of hair curler  14  into the hair shaft. Thus, hair curler  14 , when used according to the present invention, both moisturizes and curls hair at the same time. Once hair cools, which takes about five minutes, the curls are set and the curlers may be removed.  
         [0027]    Hygiene is important in personal care, especially if several people in a family are using the same styling tool. Styling products, such as hair spray and gel, can build up on hair curling tools. The build up of old styling product on hair curling tools is unhygienic and not good for styling performance reasons. Fire retardant fabric and silica, as used in the present invention, are machine washable and make curling hair with the present invention more sanitary than conventional methods. In addition, fabric is gentle on the hair, unlike bristles, plastic and metal styling tools. Because the outer casing  50  of curler  14  is made of soft fabric and the shape of the curler  14  is not cylindrical, each curl produced by the present invention is unique—unlike curls produced by roller cylinders of consistent form and uniform shape.  
         [0028]    To use the microwavable hair curling device  10 , carrier  12  is placed in a microwave oven in its fully rolled configuration. Once heated to a temperature capable of curling human hair, about two to three minutes on high heat, the rolled up carrier  12  is taken out of the microwave, untied and unrolled to expose one curler at a time. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of carrier  12  being used according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the following features: thermal blanket  16 , strap  22  and its free ends  22   a  and  22   b , strap  24  and its free ends  24   a  and  24   b , exterior surface  18 , interior surface  20 , center strap  26 , first end  28 , length  36 , roll axis  38 , and curlers  14 . Once carrier  12  is taken out of the microwave, free strands  22   a  and  22   b  and  24   a  and  24   b  are untied. Carrier  12  is then opened by unrolling thermal blanket  16  from first end  28  to second end  30  down its length  36 . Carrier  12  is preferably unrolled slowly so that only one curler is exposed at a time. FIG. 4 is an example of how carrier  12  is unrolled to reveal just one curler  14  at a time. FIG. 4 shows one curler  14  held in place against interior surface  20  under center strap  26 . The remaining curlers  14 , remain wrapped inside the rolled portion of carrier  12  where they stay warm while awaiting use.  
         [0029]    To use the present invention, human hair is first divided into sections that the user wishes to curl. Immediately after exposing a warm curler  14  as shown in FIG. 4, said curler is removed from carrier  12  and placed in the section of hair the user wishes to curl, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6A through FIG. 6C show the steps involved in using the present invention after a warm curler  14  has been removed from carrier  12 . FIG. 6A shows curler  14  placed at the end of a section of hair that a user wishes to curl. FIG. 6B shows wrapping a section of hair around the outer casing  50  of curler  14 . Hair may be wrapped in either direction, over or under curler  14 , depending on the desired curl. Once a section of hair is fully wrapped around curler  14 , the curler is fastened together to hold the curl in place. FIG. 6C shows a rear view of a user securing curler  14  in place by bending curler  14  along its axial length  36  and attaching fastener  64  to fastener  66 . Because hair is wound multiple times around hair curler  14  (see FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C), curler  14  will not fall out. Curler  14  is lightweight and easy to fasten in place. For each additional section of hair a user wishes to curl, another warm curler is removed from carrier  12  while the remaining curlers stay warm inside carrier  12 . Steps in FIG. 6A through FIG. 6C are repeated for each additional hair section. Once the wrapped hair cools (approximately 5 minutes), curlers  14  are removed, leaving a natural wavy curl that is easy to style.  
         [0030]    The present invention provides a fast, safe, clean and easy way to curl hair. Whereas previous hair curling devices were effective at curling hair, their intense heat dried out the user&#39;s hair and posed a risk of burning the user&#39;s skin. In addition, devices heated with electrical heat put the user at risk of electrical shock and limited the user&#39;s movement to the range of the electric cord. The present invention solves these problems by providing a hair curling device whose use of heat does not dry out the hair, is warm (not hot) to the touch and is simple to wrap hair around and hold in place. In addition, the carrier of the present invention solves the cumbersome and time-consuming process of having to heat individual curlers in the microwave one at a time. The carrier allows all curlers to be heated together in the microwave in one easy step, and prevents the curlers from losing heat when they are taken out of the microwave. The carrier also provides a place to store curlers between uses so that the curlers are not lost or misplaced.  
         [0031]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.