Abstract:
A first jaw is fixed to the handle of the iron, with a second heated jaw and clamp connected by a pivot to the first jaw. Complementary flat surfaces on the first and second jaws allow hair to be straightened therebetween and complementary curved faces on the clamp and second jaw provide for hair held therebetween to be waved. Both jaws and the clamp have apertures in which a latch is received. The latch is moveable substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the pivot between a first position for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw and a second position, for connecting the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to heated irons having jaws between which hair can be clamped for straightening, and a clamp for holding hair wound about the closed jaws for waving, and particularly to irons having a locking mechanism for locking the jaws together in this waving configuration. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The applicant&#39;s pending application Ser. No. 11/484,665 describes a styling iron of the above type, having one jaw rigidly fixed to the handle and another jaw pivotally fixed to the handle, both jaws having unheated tips. A locking mechanism is mounted on the tips for locking the jaws together in a waving configuration. This locking mechanism is satisfactory, however there is a need for an iron having a locking mechanism mounted on or adjacent the handle. Advantageously such an iron should be economical to manufacture and have a minimum number of simple parts. 
         [0003]    In the hair styling iron of U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,462 a heated fixed jaw is fastened to the handle, with a pivoting jaw and clamp joined by a hinge to the fixed jaw. A thumb lever fixed to the clamp allows the clamp to be opened against spring pressure to clasp hair between the clamp and an outer face of the pivoting jaw. By operating a latching mechanism the clamp and pivoting jaw can be latched together, such that pressing the thumb lever pivots them simultaneously, allowing hair to be clasped between opposing inner faces of the two jaws. The latching mechanism is rather complicated and costly to manufacture, requiring a latch extending into a keyhole-shaped aperture in the clamp and connected by a linkage for remote actuation using an actuator on the handle. 
         [0004]    WO 2006/044570 describes an iron having a pair of heated jaws between which hair can be clamped for straightening, and a clamp for holding hair wound about the closed jaws for waving. A locking mechanism is provided locking the clamp to a pivoting jaw, such that the clamp and jaw pivot together in a straightening configuration and releasing the clamp from the pivoting jaw in the waving configuration. The locking mechanism however does not lock the jaws closed together in the waving configuration. It is an object of the present invention to meet the above needs and overcome the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved hair straightening and waving iron. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect the invention provides a hair styling iron comprising: 
         [0000]    a handle;
 
first and second elongate jaws having respective inner and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and facing one another, at least one of the jaws being heated;
 
a clamp having a clamp face of complementary shape to, and presented toward, the outer face of the second jaw;
 
a transversely-extending pivot connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw for independent pivoting of the second jaw and clamp relative to the first jaw and handle;
 
latch apertures in the first jaw, second jaw and clamp;
 
a latch received in the latch apertures, the latch being moveable transversely between a first position and a second position,
 
buttons on transversely opposing sides of the handle for moving the latch;
 
wherein in the first position the latch connects the second jaw and the clamp for pivoting the second jaw and the clamp together relative to the first jaw;
 
and in the second position the latch connects the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
 
         [0006]    The buttons thus allow for direct manual operation of the latch and may be formed on the ends of the latch or may abut the ends of the latch. 
         [0007]    The apertures in the first jaw and clamp are slotted, each having a narrow portion opening into a wide portion, and the latch is elongate having at least one waist which in the first and second positions may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture in the first jaw and clamp respectively. 
         [0008]    The latch has a cylindrical outer latch face and the aperture in the second jaw and the wide portion of each slotted aperture have complementary cylindrical surfaces. 
         [0009]    Preferably the inner faces of the jaws are substantially flat. In this manner, with the pivot in the first position hair can be clamped between the jaws for straightening. The outer faces of the jaws are preferably convex and the clamp face concave such that with the pivot in the second position hair wound about both jaws can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving. 
         [0010]    Preferably the first jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle, and further including a spring biasing the clamp toward the first jaw, the clamp having a lever portion on the opposite side of the pivot from the clamp surface, such that pressing the lever portion toward the handle pivots the clamp face away from the first jaw. 
         [0011]    The iron preferably further comprises a spring biasing the pivot to one of the first and second positions, the detent including a slider fixed in a slot in the handle, the slider having an outer side configured to be manually engaged and an opposing inner side for engaging the pivot, the inner side including a ramp inclined to the axis of the pivot for moving the pivot axially. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair styling iron comprising: 
         [0000]    a handle;
 
a first jaw connected to the handle and having elongate inner and outer faces and a first jaw aperture with at least one keyway portion therein;
 
a second jaw having elongate inner and outer faces and a second jaw aperture with at least one keyway portion therein, at least one of the jaws being heated;
 
a clamp having an elongate clamp face and a clamp aperture with at least one keyway portion therein;
 
a pivot received in the apertures for pivotally connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw such that the inner faces of the jaws are facing one another and the clamp face is presented toward the outer face of the second jaw, the pivot having axially spaced key portions of complementary shape to the keyway portions, the pivot being moveable substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the pivot between a first position and a second position,
 
wherein in the first position the key portions on the pivot engage the keyway portions on the second jaw and the clamp for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw;
 
and in the second position the key portions on the pivot engage the keyway portions on the first jaw and second jaw for connecting the first and second jaws together while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
 
         [0013]    It will be understood that, alternatively, the keyway portions may be provided in the pivot, with complementary key portions in the apertures. 
         [0014]    Therefore in yet another aspect the invention provides a hair styling iron comprising: 
         [0000]    a handle;
 
first and second elongate jaws connected to the handle, the jaws having respective inner and outer faces, at least one of the jaws being heated;
 
a pivot mounting the second jaw for pivoting relative to the handle such that the inner faces are facing one another, the pivot being movable substantially parallel to an axis of the pivot between a first position and a second position;
 
a clamp mounted to the handle by the pivot, the clamp having an clamp face presented toward the outer face of the second jaw, and
 
key faces on the pivot for engaging complementary key faces on the first jaw, second jaw and clamp;
 
wherein in the first position the key faces on the pivot engage the key faces on the second jaw and the clamp for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw;
 
and in the second position the key faces on the pivot engage the key faces on the first jaw and second jaw for connecting the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
 
         [0015]    Preferably the iron further includes a detent for holding the pivot in the first position and second position. 
         [0016]    Preferably the inner faces of the jaws are substantially flat. In this manner, with the pivot in the first position hair can be clamped between the jaws for straightening. The outer faces of the jaws are preferably convex and the clamp face concave such that with the pivot in the second position hair wound about both jaws can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving. 
         [0017]    Preferably the first jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle, and further including a spring biasing the clamp toward the first jaw, the clamp having a lever portion on the opposite side of the pivot from the clamp surface, such that pressing the lever portion toward the handle pivots the clamp face away from the first jaw. 
         [0018]    The iron preferably further comprises a spring biasing the pivot to one of the first and second positions, the detent including a slider fixed in a slot in the handle, the slider having an outer side configured to be manually engaged and an opposing inner side for engaging the pivot, the inner side including a ramp inclined to the axis of the pivot for moving the pivot axially. 
         [0019]    This invention provides a hair straightening and waving iron with a locking mechanism for locking the jaws together which is effective and efficient in operational use, and which has an overall simple design and a small number of parts which minimizes manufacturing costs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a hair styling iron according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the styling iron of  FIG. 1  in a straightening configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of the styling iron of  FIG. 1  in a curling configuration; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the parts connected by the pivot of the iron of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of the latch of the iron of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal section in an upright plane through the iron of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a transverse cross section AA of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a scrap section along line BB of  FIG. 6  showing a straightening configuration; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is shows the view of  FIG. 8  in a curling configuration; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a pictorial view of a hair styling iron according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a pictorial view of the styling iron of  FIG. 10  in a straightening configuration; 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a pictorial view of the styling iron of  FIG. 10  in a curling configuration; 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the parts connected by the pivot of the iron of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a pictorial view of the pivot of the iron of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a transverse cross section through the centreline of the pivot of the iron of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a longitudinal section in an upright plane through the iron of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a scrap section along line AA of  FIG. 15  showing a straightening configuration, and 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is shows the view of  FIG. 17  in a curling configuration. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , a first embodiment of an electric hair styling iron  10  comprises a handle  11  having a convex cross-section and formed from upper and lower elongate shell mouldings  11   a ,  11   b . A power cord (not shown) may extend from the end of the handle  11 . 
         [0040]    A first jaw  12  is rigidly fixed to the handle  11  and has flat inner surface  12   a  and cylindrical outer surface  12   b . A second jaw  13 , also having flat inner surface  13   a  and cylindrical outer surface  13   b , is attached by a transversely extending pivot  190  to the handle  11  such that the inner faces  12   a ,  13   a  are facing one another. Both jaws  12 ,  13  are elongate and hollow, their distal ends being closed by tips  14 ,  15  respectively, made of thermally insulating material. 
         [0041]    A hair waving clamp  16  has a clamp portion  16   a  with concave cylindrical clamp face  16   b  shaped to conform to the cylindrical face  13   b . The clamp  16  is attached by the pivot  190  to the handle  11 . A lever portion  17  extends from the clamp portion  16   a  to the opposite side of the pivot  190  such that pressing the lever portion  17  toward the handle  11  pivots the clamp face  16   b  away from the first jaw  12 , thereby either opening the jaws  12 ,  13  in a straightening configuration ( FIG. 2 ) or else opening the clamp  16  in a curling configuration ( FIG. 3 ). A torsion spring  22  is fixed to the handle  11  and located under the lever  17 , biasing the lever  17  to close both the clamp  16  and second jaw  13 . 
         [0042]    The latch  40  extends through generally transversely aligned apertures  41 ,  42 ,  43  in the first jaw  12  (which is fixed to the handle  11 ), the second jaw  13  and the clamp  16  respectively. Likewise the pivot  190  extends through pivot-receiving openings  198  in the first jaw  12 , the second jaw  13  and the clamp  16 . The apertures  41 ,  42 ,  43  are offset longitudinally from the pivot  190  on the side of the handle  11 . The apertures  41 ,  42 ,  43  receive the latch  40  in a sliding fit, the latch  40  being moveable transversely between a first position ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 ) wherein second jaw  13  and clamp assembly  16  are locked together (the straightening configuration), and a second position ( FIGS. 3 and 9 ) wherein the first and second jaws  12 ,  13  are locked together (the curling configuration). 
         [0043]    The first jaw  12 , second jaw  13  and clamp  16  include respective opposing flanges pairs  41   a / 41   b ,  42   a / 42   b ,  43   a / 43   b  through which the respective apertures  41 ,  42 ,  43  extend. The flanges on each side are adjacent one another, with the pivot  190  connecting them. 
         [0044]    The apertures  43  in the outermost flanges  43   a / 43   b  of the clamp  16  are radially slotted (in the anti-clockwise direction as seen in  FIG. 4 ) with the narrow slot portion  44   a  opening into the wide portion  45   b . The aperture  41  in the intermediate flanges  41   a / 41   b  of the first jaw  12  are radially slotted (in the clockwise direction as seen in  FIG. 4 ) with the narrow slot portion  44   b  opening into the wide portion  45   b . The wide portions  45   a ,  45   b  have part-cylindrical surfaces of the same diameter as the aperture  42  in the innermost flanges  42   a ,  42   b  of the second jaw  13  and are complementary to the cylindrical outer face  47  of the latch  40 . 
         [0045]    The latch  40 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , has an elongate bar-like form with buttons  46   a ,  46   b  abutting its opposing ends, each button having a flange  49   a ,  49   b . The cylindrical outer face  47  extends between the flanges  49  and is interrupted by longitudinally spaced waists  48   a ,  48   b  and  48   c . At one end of face  47  the waist  48   a  is separated from the flange  49   a  by a land  50   a  and at the other end waist  48   b  is separated from waist  48   c  by a land  50   b , while waist  48   c  is adjacent flange  49   b . Buttons  46   a ,  46   b  of the latch  40  protrude from opposite sides of the handle  11  in the first and second positions allowing the buttons to be pressed manually in operation of the latch  40 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates the longitudinally extending electrical heating element  140  received within the pivoting second jaw  13 . 
         [0047]    The buttons  46   a ,  46   b  are received in semi-circular recesses in the handle shells  11   a ,  11   b  such that they are retained by the shoulders  49 . Placing the latch  40  in the handle  11  allows it to be directly actuated by the user, while keeping her fingers safely clear of the jaws  12 ,  13  and clamp  16  which are hot during use. 
         [0048]    As seen in  FIG. 8 , in the straightening configuration the button  46   a  abuts flange  43   a , cylindrical face  47  is received in aperture  42  and with the lands  50   a ,  50   b  received in the apertures  43  so that the second jaw  13  and clamp  16  are latched together, whereas the flanges  41   a ,  41   b  are aligned with the waists  48   a ,  48   b  so as to allow the both the second jaw  13  and clamp  16  to pivot relative to the first jaw  12 . In pivoting the waists  48   a ,  48   b  enter the narrow slot portions  44   b , abutting the ends thereof to limit the angular movement. 
         [0049]    To move from the straightening configuration of  FIG. 8  to the curling configuration of  FIG. 9 , the button  46   b  is pressed to abut flange  43   b . In this position the aperture  41  in flanges  41   a  and  41   b  engage the cylindrical face  47  and land  50   b  respectively, while the aperture  42  in flange  42   a  engages the cylindrical face  47  to thereby latch the first and second jaws  12 ,  13  together. The flanges  43   a ,  43   b  are aligned with the waists  48   c  and  48   a  respectively so as to allow the clamp  16  to pivot relative to the first and second jaws  12 ,  13 . 
         [0050]    A second embodiment of an electric hair styling iron  100  is shown in  FIGS. 10-18 , and like numbers are used to refer to like components. Iron  100  comprises a handle  11  having a convex cross-section and formed from upper and lower elongate shell mouldings  11   a ,  11   b . A power cord (not shown) may extend from the end of the handle  11 . 
         [0051]    A first jaw  12  is rigidly fixed to the handle  11  and has flat inner surface  12   a  and cylindrical outer surface  12   b . A second jaw  13 , also having flat inner surface  13   a  and cylindrical outer surface  13   b , is attached by a transversely extending pivot  190  to the handle  11  such that the inner faces  12   a ,  13   a  are facing one another. Both jaws  12 ,  13  are elongate and hollow, their distal ends being closed by tips  14 ,  15  respectively, made of thermally insulating material. 
         [0052]    A hair waving clamp  16  has a clamp portion  16   a  with concave cylindrical clamp face  16   b  shaped to conform to the cylindrical face  13   b . The clamp  16  is attached by the pivot  19  to the handle  11 . A lever portion  17  extends from the clamp portion  16   a  to the opposite side of the pivot  19  such that pressing the lever portion  17  toward the handle  11  pivots the clamp face  16   b  away from the first jaw  12 , thereby either opening the jaws  12 ,  13  in a straightening configuration ( FIG. 11 ) or else opening the clamp  16  in a curling configuration ( FIG. 12 ). A torsion spring  22  is fixed to the handle  11  and located under the lever  17 , biasing the lever  17  to close both the clamp  16  and second jaw  13 . 
         [0053]    A locking mechanism includes a longitudinally moving slider  18  or actuating member on a side of the handle  11  adjacent its inner end. The slider  18  actuates the locking mechanism and also provides a detent, it is moveable between an outer position ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) wherein second jaw  13  and clamp assembly  16  are locked together (the straightening configuration), and an inner position ( FIG. 12 ) wherein the first and second jaws  12 ,  13  are locked together (the curling configuration). 
         [0054]    The pivot  19 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , is substantially cylindrical with projecting key portions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  formed thereon. The key portions are symmetrically arranged in pairs  30 / 31 ,  32 / 33 ,  34 / 35 ,  36 / 37  the projections of each pair being on opposing sides of a central plane  20 , the pairs being spaced apart longitudinally. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the pivot  19  extends through apertures  24 ,  25 ,  26  in the first jaw  12  (which is fixed to the handle  11 ), the second jaw  13  and the clamp  16  respectively. The apertures  24 ,  25 ,  26  are configured to receive the pivot  19  in a sliding fit and have respective cylindrical faces  24   a ,  25   a ,  26   a  and keyway portions  24   b ,  25   b ,  26   b  on opposing sides of the central plane  20  for receiving the key portions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 . Two stop pins  41  are held in an interference fit in apertures  43  in the jaw  12 , and slidably received in part-annular slots  44 ,  45  in the second jaw  13  and clamp  16  respectively, for limiting the angular displacement of the jaw  13  and clamp  16 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 15-18 , in which the iron  10  is shown in the straightening configuration, the slider  18  is received in a slot in the handle  11 . A compression spring  21  between the inner wall of the handle  11  and one end of the pivot  19  presses the opposite end of the pivot  19  to abut the slider  18 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 15  shows that the first jaw  12 , second jaw  13  and clamp  16  are generally U-shaped in transverse section, the pivot-receiving aperture  24  extending through two flanges  12   a ,  12   b  of the first jaw  12 , pivot-receiving aperture  25  extending through two flanges  13   a ,  13   b  of the second jaw  13 , pivot-receiving aperture  26  extending through two flanges  16   a ,  16   b  of the clamp  16 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 16  illustrates the longitudinally extending electrical heating element  140  received within the pivoting jaw  13 . 
         [0059]    As best seen in  FIG. 17 , in the straightening configuration the spring is extended and the pivot  19  is in a first position wherein the key portions  30 ,  31 ,  36 ,  37  are received in the apertures  26  in the clamp  17 , rotationally fixing the pivot  19  to the clamp  17 . The key portions  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  are received in the apertures  25  in the second jaw  13 , likewise rotationally fixing the pivot  19  to the second jaw  13 . Thus in this first position the key faces  30   a ,  31   a ,  36   a ,  37   a  on the pivot  19  engage the key faces  25   d ,  26   d ,  25   e ,  26   e  on the second jaw  13  and the clamp  17  for connecting the second jaw  13  and the clamp  17  together for pivoting relative to the first jaw  12 . 
         [0060]    The slider  18  has an inclined ramp face  41  which engages the end of the pivot  19  when the slider  18  is moved to its inner position, thereby displacing the pivot  19  to a second position shown in  FIG. 9 . In this manner slider  18  provides a detent for holding the pivot  19  in the first position or second position. 
         [0061]    In the curling configuration of  FIG. 18 , the spring  21  is compressed and the pivot  19  is in the second position, the key portions  34 ,  35  are received in the aperture  24  in the flange  12   b  of the first jaw  12 . The key portions  32 ,  33  are received in both apertures  24  and  25  to span between flanges  12   a ,  13   a  of first and second jaws  12 ,  13 . In this way the first and second jaws  12 ,  13  are rotationally fixed with the pivot  19 . Thus in this second position the key faces  32   a ,  33   a ,  34   a ,  35   a  on the pivot  19  engage the key faces  24   d ,  25   d ,  24   e ,  25   e  on the first jaw  12  and second jaw  13  for fixing the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp  16 . When the user&#39;s thumb is released from the lever  17 , the slider  18  is moved by the thumb for changing between the two configurations. 
         [0062]    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.