Abstract:
An associated set of hair styling appliances is electrically powered by a single power cord, reducing cord clutter in salon workstations. When not in use the appliances are stored in an electrically powered appliance rack that preheats hair irons and other heated appliances. A method of styling hair features connecting the single power cord to one of the appliances to style hair in a first sense, then disconnecting the power cord from the appliance and connecting the cord to another of the appliances to style hair in a second sense.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to powering hairstyling appliances, and more particularly to organizing and electrically connecting electrical hairstyling appliances.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Modem hairstyling in professional salons involves the use of many electrically powered, hand-held styling implements or appliances, such as hair clippers and edgers, irons of various shapes, such as curling and flat irons, and blow-dryers, for example. As the styling of an individual customer&#39;s hair may require the use of several such appliances during a single appointment, and a professional stylist is apt to have several customers through the course of a day, it is desirable to keep all such appliances handy and ready for use. For irons in particular, readiness necessitates that the iron be pre-heated to a useful temperature for pressing hair.  
           [0003]    Although cordless appliances have been available for some time (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,532 to Hafey et al.), the intensive duty cycles of appliances in high-volume salons are such that many hair stylists prefer the reliable power of corded appliances running on 110 volt AC power, plugged into standard wall receptacles.  
           [0004]    Unfortunately, having several appliances constantly plugged in and preheated at a single hairstyling workstation can result in a cluttered, unprofessional workstation appearance. Furthermore, sequential use of several appliances over the course of a day can result in frustrating and potentially hazardous cord entanglement. Such frustrations have been known to barbers and hairstylists for a long time.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    According to one aspect of the invention, a method of styling hair, such as human hair, is provided. The method includes connecting an electrical power cord to a first styling appliance, styling the hair in a first sense with the first styling appliance (with the power cord connected to, and electrically powering, the first styling appliance), disconnecting the power cord from the first styling appliance, connecting the disconnected power cord to a second styling appliance, and then styling the hair in a second sense with the second styling appliance (with the power cord connected to, and electrically powering, the second styling appliance).  
           [0006]    In some cases, the method also includes, after disconnecting the power cord from the first styling appliance, placing the first styling appliance in one of multiple receptacles of a hair styling appliance holder.  
           [0007]    In some situations, the receptacle in which the first styling appliance is placed includes electrical contacts for electrically powering the first styling appliance while in the receptacle. Only some of the receptacles of the appliance holder include electrical contacts for powering appliances, in some embodiments. Preferably, the electrical contacts of the receptacle are arranged to engage electrical contacts of the first styling appliance exposed by the disconnecting of the power cord from the first styling appliance.  
           [0008]    In some embodiments the first styling appliance is an iron, with the method including heating the iron in the appliance holder receptacle. In some cases, the second styling appliance is an iron of a different shape than that of the first appliance iron, with the method including, prior to connecting the power cord to the second styling appliance, removing the second styling appliance from another of the multiple receptacles of the appliance holder.  
           [0009]    The ‘first sense’ in which the hair is styled may include blow-drying the hair, with the ‘second sense’ involving ironing the hair, in one example. In another example, the ‘first sense’ involves ironing the hair with an iron of a first shape, and the ‘second sense’ includes ironing the hair with an iron of a second shape.  
           [0010]    Disconnecting the power cord from the first appliance preferably requires moving the cord in a first direction with respect to the appliance, and then moving the cord in a second direction with respect to the appliance.  
           [0011]    In some constructions, the power cord is connected to the first and second appliances with a twist-lock connector.  
           [0012]    In some embodiments, the appliances each have a main housing carrying a corresponding power switch. The power cord directly engages electrical contacts within the housings of the appliances when connected. For example, the electrical contacts of the appliance housings may be male contacts extending into cavities defined within the housings.  
           [0013]    In some applications in which the second styling appliance is a hair iron, the method includes, while styling the hair with the first styling appliance, preheating the hair iron in one of multiple receptacles of a hair styling appliance holder.  
           [0014]    According to another aspect of the invention, a hair styling appliance rack includes a housing defining multiple receptacles configured to receive hair styling appliances between uses, with at least one of the receptacles featuring electrical contacts for engaging and electrically powering a hair styling appliance placed in the receptacle.  
           [0015]    In some embodiments, two of the receptacles include electrical contacts, for simultaneously powering two corresponding appliances placed in the receptacles.  
           [0016]    In some configurations, the housing includes a base defining a first set of the receptacles, and an iron-warming tray removably attached to the base and defining a second set of the receptacles, such as those with electrical contacts. The iron-warming tray has multiple receptacles with associated contacts, in some embodiments, for simultaneously preheating two hair irons.  
           [0017]    In some instances, the electrical contacts are exposed in holes defined in an exterior rack surface within their associated receptacle and arranged to receive male contacts of a hair styling appliance housing. Preferably, the receptacle with electrical contacts further includes a latch for securely retaining a styling appliance upon the rack during electrical powering. The latch may include twist-lock features configured to engage mating twist-lock features on a styling appliance, for example.  
           [0018]    According to a third aspect of the invention, an associated set of hair styling appliances is provided. The set includes at least a blow-dryer and a hair iron. Each of the appliances has a graspable housing defining a corresponding electrical connector configured so as to releasably connect to a common power cord for selectively powering any one of the appliances, and sequentially powering any two of the appliances, with the common power cord.  
           [0019]    The terms “appliances” and “implements” are used interchangeably throughout this document.  
           [0020]    Various aspects of the invention can provide significant advantages to the hair stylist or salon owner. Workstation safety and appearance can be greatly improved by a reduction in cord clutter and entanglement, and by providing a powered preheating rack for heated appliances specifically fashioned for hair styling.  
           [0021]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 shows a stylist using a set of related appliances to cut and style a customer&#39;s hair.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hair appliance rack with related appliances.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the appliance rack of FIG. 2, with appliances removed.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a side view of a blow-drying appliance, partially cut away to illustrate the integral connector.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a partial cut-away view of a handle end of a hair iron, showing male connector construction.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a related power cord, with one end defining a female connector adapted to releasably connect to the connectors illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     
    
       [0028]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 illustrates a hair styling workstation  10  in which a stylist  12  is sequentially employing several of a set of related, hand-held electrical styling implements to cut and style the hair of a customer  14 . An appliance rack  16  is installed upon a counter  18  in easy reach of the stylist. Conveniently stored in the rack and ready for immediate use are a pair of irons and a hair clipper. Rack  16  is plugged into a standard wall receptacle  20 , as is a single power cord  22  configured to power each of the appliances, as described below. Advantageously, only power cord  22  extends over the edge of counter  18  at any given time, as the appliances stored in rack  16  do not have connected cords when not in use. Thus, there is no multiplicity of cords to become tangled as the stylist moves around the customer in the course of styling.  
         [0030]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, rack  16  is configured to simultaneously hold multiple appliances. In this particular illustration, a curling iron  24 , a flat iron  26  and a blow-dryer  28  are shown, with two additional non-powered appliance receptacles  30  unoccupied. The number and arrangement of non-powered receptacles  30 , and powered receptacles  32  for preheated appliances such as irons, varies among embodiments. In this case the powered receptacles  32  are defined within an electric plate  34  that is connectable to a standard power receptacle by cord  36 . Receptacles  30  and  32  are shown as round cavities configured to hold stored appliances in an upright position, but their shape and orientation may be varied to suit particular appliances or preference. In particular, non-powered receptacles  30  may be alternatively configured as slots or hooks, for example, in or on which appliances are hung or placed when not in use. Powered receptacles  32  are preferably arranged to keep the heated portions of stored irons from contacting heat-sensitive or thermally conductive surfaces, and to present the irons exposed for easy grasping by the stylist.  
         [0031]    Referring next to FIG. 3, optional warming plate  34  is releasably secured within a cavity in the upper surface of rack base  38 , and held in place by protrusions  40  engaging associated detents  42 . Within each powered receptacle  32  is a raised platform  44  defining slots  46  in which female electrical contacts (not shown) are exposed for engaging related male contacts of an appliance. Preferably, platform  44  is configured as one-half of a twist-lock electrical connector, such that a related appliance is both mechanically secured to plate  34  and electrically connected for preheating by inserting the handle end of the appliance into the receptacle in a vertical motion, then rotating the appliance with respect to plate  34  to firmly seat the appliance and secure against unintended disconnection. It is preferred that the exposed upper surface of plate  34  be disposed sufficiently high above any working countertop, as mounted on rack base  38 , to avoid the risk of spilled liquids entering receptacles  32 . A fused power switch  39  controls power to receptacles  32 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 shows a representative construction of one of the associated set of appliances. Blow-dryer  28  has a clamshell, injection-molded plastic housing  48  that defines, in the handle end  50 , a cavity  52  for receiving an associated power cord. Male contacts  54  extend into cavity  52  and are exposed to engage female contacts (not shown) of the cord. Preferably, the distal rim of the handle end of housing  48  extends to beyond the extent of contacts  54  to protect the contacts from accidental damage. Appliance housing  48  also carries a switch  56  for selectively connecting power supplied through contacts  54  to an enclosed load such as fan motor and/or heating element (not shown).  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 illustrates a similar male connector arrangement in the handle end of a hair iron. Contacts  54  are each electrically connected to associated conductors  58 . An insulating contact carrier plate  60  is retained within the assembled clamshell housing  62  of the appliance by appropriately located and integrally molded housing features (not shown). In hair irons and other appliances with extended preheat times, it is preferred that the configuration of the connector portion of the appliance housing be selected to electrically connect both to the associated power cord and to the powered receptacles of the warming plate of the appliance rack, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 3.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 illustrates the power cord  22  configured to be selectively connected to any of the hair styling appliances of the above-described system. A wall end  64  of the cord is in the form of a standard 3-prong AC plug  66  for use with standard wall receptacles. As configured for other countries with different styles of standard receptacles, the wall end  64  of cord  22  will have an appropriate arrangement of contacts. The appliance end  68  of cord  22  forms a female socket plug  70  defining slots  72  in which female electrical contacts (not shown) are exposed for engagement by associated male contacts of the above-described appliances. Slots  72  are defined in a planar distal face of plug  70 .  
         [0035]    Preferred styles of electrical connectors for the appliance end of cord  22 , and for integration into housings of the associated set of appliances include twist-lock  2  pole,  3  wire grounding locking connectors, such as flanged inlet  2315  (male) and connector  2313  (female) from Leviton Mfg. Company Inc., of Little Neck, N.Y. These particular connectors are rated for 20 amps at 125 volts. Several other styles are available from the same source.  
         [0036]    Other means of electrically and mechanically connecting the cord and appliances include, for example, button-release, squeeze-lock, snap-on and other known types of latching connectors. Non-latching electrical connectors may also be employed, if sufficient care is taken that the connector not be inadvertently disconnected while in use.  
         [0037]    Referring back to FIG. 1, in use a stylist will be able to connect power cord  22  to a first styling appliance, such as a hair clipper, style a customer&#39;s hair in a first sense (e.g., cutting) with the first styling appliance, with the power cord connected to, and electrically powering, the first styling appliance. The stylist will then be able to disconnect the power cord from the first styling appliance and connect the disconnected power cord to a second styling appliance, such as a hair iron, and then style the hair in a second sense (e.g., ironing) with the second styling appliance, with the power cord connected to, and electrically powering, the second styling appliance. By using the same cord  22  to power both appliances in sequence, cord entanglement is eliminated. Furthermore, appliance organization is simplified and workstation  10  provided with a more professional appearance as stored appliances have no associated cords draping across counter space and about rack  16 .  
         [0038]    A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the methods and devices described herein are readily suitable for pet grooming, and for personal, in-home use. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.