Abstract:
This invention relates to an improved hair styling device, and provides a hair styling device for imparting a wave to a tress of hair. The device comprises a tube ( 110 ) having a longitudinal axis, the tube being open at at least one of its longitudinal ends whereby the tress of hair can be introduced into the tube. The tube is longitudinally extendable between a non-extended condition and an extended condition. The inside of the tube has at least one barrier ( 120 ) which can engage the tress of hair as the tube moves towards its non-extended condition, the barrier controlling the deformation of the tress of hair and thereby controlling the form of the wave produced in the tress of hair.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national phase under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/GB12/50999 filed May. 8, 2012, which in turn claims the priority of Great Britain Patent Application No. 1107671.8filed May. 9, 2011. The disclosures of such international patent application and Great Britain priority patent application are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties, for all purposes. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved hair styling device. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     A hair styling device is described in WO95/22920, by the present inventor. WO95/22920 discloses a method of styling a tress of hair by inserting the tress of hair into a resilient tube of latex or the like, the tube being stretched lengthwise and the ends of the tube being secured to respective parts of the tress of hair. The resilient tube is allowed to contract whereupon the contained tress of hair is forced into a wavy form. The hair can be treated before or after insertion into the tube so that the wavy form is maintained after the tress has been removed from the tube. 
     WO95/22920 also describes a device for use in the method. Improved devices for use in similar hair styling methods are described in the inventor&#39;s later applications WO97/46132, WO00/57744 and WO00/08967. 
     All of these prior art documents are incorporated herein by reference so as to avoid unnecessary repetition of the method of hair styling and the basic structure of devices for use in the method, which method and basic structure are shared by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has conceived a further improvement to the devices which are used in the method of hair styling, and the present invention is directed to the further improved device. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a hair styling device for imparting a wave to a tress of hair, the device comprising a tube having a longitudinal axis, the tube being open at at least one of its longitudinal ends whereby the tress of hair can be introduced into the tube, the tube being longitudinally extendable between a non-extended condition and an extended condition, characterised in that the inside of the tube has at least one barrier which can engage the tress of hair as the tube moves towards its non-extended condition. 
     With the present invention therefore, the deformation of the tress of hair is controlled (at least partially) by the engagement between the barrier(s) and the tress of hair, the form of the wave produced in the tress being controlled by the barrier(s). 
     With the previously-described devices the wave which was produced in the tress of hair was largely uncontrolled, so that the wavelength and amplitude of the wave could vary along the length of a tress, and from one tress to another for a particular user. The inventor has appreciated the benefits of better controlling the form of the wave within the tube, and therefore the form of the wave when removed from the tube, and the resulting ability to produce a more uniform wave in each tress, and more uniform waves in all of the tresses of a user&#39;s hair. 
     Preferably, the tube is open at both ends allowing the tress of hair to be passed therethrough. Preferably also the tube is formed of resilient material. 
     Desirably, the device includes means to grip the tress of hair. The means to grip the tress of hair will help to retain the tress of hair within the device as the tube moves from its extended condition to its non-extended condition. 
     Preferably, there is a plurality of barriers at predetermined positions along the length of the tube. 
     Ideally, there are two lines of barriers, the lines of barriers being spaced apart to permit the tress of hair to be passed along the tube between the lines of barriers. Ideally also the barriers in one line are offset from the barriers in the other line, so that the respective barriers provide a stepped or staggered arrangement, the tress of hair being able to deform into the spaces between the staggered barriers, the positioning of the barriers thereby determining the form of the wave in the tress of hair. 
     Preferably, the barriers completely span the tube, whereby it is not possible for any of the tress of hair to pass over or around the end of a barrier. It will be understood that if any of the tress of hair passes over or around the end of a barrier the styling of the tress will be less uniform than desired, and also it may be more difficult to remove the tress of hair from the tube at the end of the styling process. 
     Desirably, the tube is not circular, but is of “flattened” cross-section, for example having two substantially planar sides joined by short, rounded, edges. The barriers preferably span the distance between the substantially planar sides, and can be connected to both of the sides whereby to help maintained the flattened form of the tube. 
     Preferably, the device includes a housing for the tube. The devices of WO97/46132, WO00/08967 and WO00/57744 include housings for their respective tubes, and the present invention preferably includes a (similar) housing. As described in the earlier documents, the housing facilitates easier manipulation of the tube in use, and also reduces the contact necessary with the tube, which is particularly preferable when the tube is heated. 
     In embodiments including housings, the housings can carry the means to grip the tress of hair, suitably in the form of a clip or the like which can clamp a part of the tress of hair. 
     Desirably, the tube is made of silicone. Silicone is a very suitable material because it has the desired resilience and is also able to withstand temperatures up to around 250° C., i.e. in excess of those required to set hair. When using a silicone tube it is possible to set the wave by using heat instead of (or as well as) using chemical treatments. In some embodiments the tube material can be coated or impregnated with metallic particles such as glitter; not only does this increase the visual appeal of the tube it enhances its thermal characteristics, for example allowing the tube to retain a greater amount of heat. The coating or impregnating material can be chosen to make the tube more susceptible to induction heating if that form of heating is utilised. 
     Alternatively, the tube can contain a single barrier shaped to form the desired wave in the tress of hair. In one embodiment the barrier can be in the form of a helix mounted to the inside of the tube. In such embodiments the tube can be of substantially circular cross-section, the helical barrier spanning only part of the diameter of the tube so that the tube has a central open channel along which the tress of hair can be passed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of tube for a device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side sectional view of the tube of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows an end view of the tube of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side sectional view of a second embodiment of tube; 
         FIG. 5  shows an end view of the tube of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows an end view of a third embodiment of tube; 
         FIG. 7  shows a side sectional view of a fourth embodiment of tube; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of tube; 
         FIG. 9  shows a side sectional view of the tube of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows a side sectional view of a sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  shows a holder and tube of a seventh embodiment of device according to the present invention, with the tube in its non-extended condition; 
         FIG. 12  shows the holder and tube of  FIG. 11  with the tube in its extended condition; 
         FIG. 13  shows an end view of a holder and tube of an eighth embodiment, with a clip for securing the tress of hair, the clip being in its open condition; 
         FIG. 14  shows a view similar to  FIG. 14  with the clip in its closed condition; and 
         FIG. 15  shows a side sectional view of a combined heating and hooking tool for use with certain embodiments of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-9  of the accompanying drawings show various embodiments of tube of the improved hair styling device. It will be understood from the following description that the tube can be used alone, i.e. with the user or stylist gripping and manipulating the tube and the tress of hair as required. In such cases the tube can comprise the whole of the hair styling device. 
     It will also be understood that the device can incorporate a housing for the tube, such as one of the housings shown in  FIGS. 10-15 . The provision of a housing can make the manipulation of the device easier for the user, and can also make use of the device more comfortable, particularly if the tube is heated. In such embodiments the hair styling device will comprise the tube and housing. 
     The first embodiment comprises tube  110  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The tube is of flattened form, having two substantially planar sides  112  connected by rounded edges  114 . The planar sides  112  are also interconnected by barriers  120  (the barriers are not visible in  FIG. 1 ), the respective ends of each barrier  120  being secured (suitably by welding or adhesive) to the inside of each of the sides  112  whereby the barriers  120  span the interior of the tube as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As better seen in  FIG. 2 , the barriers are arranged in two substantially straight lines  122 ,  124 . The lines  122 ,  124  in this embodiment are not parallel, but converge towards one end of the tube (which end will typically hold the “free” end of the tress of hair, as opposed to the “scalp” end). 
     It will be understood that the convergence of the lines  122 ,  124  is not essential to the invention (and is not shared by all of the embodiments shown), and neither is it essential that the lines be substantially straight. However, since it is a feature of the present invention that the form of the wave produced in the tress of hair is more uniform than that available with the prior devices of this type, it is desired that the arrangement of the barriers  120  be in a regular rather than a random pattern. 
     As also better seen in  FIG. 2 , the barriers  120  in the line  122  are offset or staggered relative to the barriers  120  in the line  124 . 
     In use, a tress of hair (not shown) is passed along the tube  110 , from the first end  126  of the tube  110  to the second end  128  (the first end  126  being located adjacent to the user&#39;s scalp). The first end  126  is necessarily open to receive the tress of hair, and the second end  128  is ideally also open so that a suitable hooked tool can be passed through the tube  110  from the second end  128  to the first end  126  in order to capture the tress of hair and pull it through the tube (see the hooked tool  40  of  FIG. 15  for example). It will be understood that it is not necessary for the tress of hair to pass through the second end  128 , and the tress of hair may be shorter than the tube  10  for example. 
     The tress of hair is passed along the central area  130  of the tube  110 , and specifically between the lines  122  and  124 . The first end  126  of the tube  110  is held or temporarily secured to the scalp end of the tress of hair. When the tube  110  is subsequently extended (stretched) longitudinally, the central area  130  becomes compressed laterally, and in certain cases may compress the tress of hair within the central area. The free end of the tress of hair is then held or temporarily secured adjacent to the second end  128  of the tube  110 , ensuring that the tress of hair which is within the extended tube  110  will remain within the tube  10  as the tube is gradually released to move back towards its non-extended state. 
     As described in W095/22920, as the tube  110  contracts back towards its non-extended state, the tress of hair is caused to deform into a wavy form within the tube  110 . During this deformation, parts of the tress of hair engage the barriers  120 , and the relative locations of the barriers, and in particular their staggered arrangement, controls the tress of hair to deform into a wave having a predetermined wavelength and amplitude. In the preferred embodiments the arrangement of the barriers  120  is uniform along the length of the tube  110 , so that the resulting wavy form is similarly uniform. 
     The wall of the tube  110  of  FIGS. 1-3  is formed from silicone having a thickness (in the relaxed state) of 1 mm. The barriers  120  are formed of the same material and are therefore substantially planar. The ends of the barriers  120  are welded to the sides  112  of the tube  110 . 
     In the second embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the barriers  220  of the tube  210  are substantially circular in cross-section, having a diameter of approximately 5 mm. It will be seen from  FIG. 4  that the two lines  222  and  224  are substantially parallel in this embodiment, but they could alternatively converge if desired as in the first embodiment, or diverge. 
     It will be seen from  FIG. 5  that the barriers  220  are formed in two halves (with each half preferably being integral with its respective side  212 . During manufacture of the tube  210  the sides  212  are pressed together to form the flattened shape of the tube  210 , and the engaging ends of the barrier halves are secured together by welding or adhesive. 
     In the third embodiment of  FIG. 6  the barriers  320  are of non-uniform cross-section, there being a step between the substantially circular end of the barrier part  320   a  and the substantially circular end of the barrier part  320   b.    
     In the fourth embodiment of  FIG. 7  the barriers are formed by indenting or scalloping of the tube  410 , i.e. the edges  414  of the tube are not linear as in the earlier embodiments, but include indentations  432  which define the barriers  420  and thereby define the form of the wave which is produced in the tress of hair. 
     The fifth embodiment of tube  510  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  also includes barriers  520  which are formed by scalloping the edges of the tube  510 , the scalloped form being intended to more closely match the shape of the wave which is produced. 
     It will be understood that tubes similar to those of  FIGS. 1-9  can be produced by welding or otherwise adhering together parts of the opposing sides of the tube. Thus, an embodiment similar to that of  FIGS. 1-3  could be produced by pressing the otherwise substantially planar sides ( 112 ) together and welding the sides together at the desired locations for the barriers ( 120 ). Similarly, the indentations of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  for example could be produced by pressing the sides together adjacent the edges and welding or otherwise adhering the sides together to form barriers similar in form and position to the indentations ( 432 ). 
     The sixth embodiment of tube  610  shown in  FIG. 10  differs from the other described embodiments, firstly in utilising a tube of substantially circular cross-section, secondly in utilising a single extended barrier  620 , and thirdly in that the barrier does not span the tube. In this embodiment the barrier  620  is helical, comprising a helical web secured to the inside of the tube  610 . The barrier  620  occupies only part of the diameter of the tube  610 , and leaves a central opening  630  through which the tress of hair may be passed. This embodiment functions in the same way as the other embodiments, however, in that as the tube is relaxed from its extended state, the contained tress of hair is caused to form a wave determined by the location of the helical barrier  620 , the tress of hair tending to form a helix of similar pitch to the barrier  620 . 
       FIGS. 11-12  show a seventh embodiment of the device, which comprises a tube  710  and a housing  42 . The housing  42  comprises a base part  44  and a top part  46  which can be secured together in the condition of  FIG. 11 , or can be unsecured and subsequently separated as shown in  FIG. 12 . The end  726  of the tube  710  is secured to the base part  44 , and the end  728  of the tube  710  is secured to the top part  46 , respectively. Accordingly, as the user separates the top part  46  from the base part  44  the tube  710  is extended, as shown in  FIG. 12 . In  FIGS. 11 and 12  the tube is similar to the tube  110 , but it will be understood that a suitable housing could be used with any of the earlier embodiments. 
     The housing  42  can have solid walls, or aperture walls, as desired, the latter being beneficial if it is desired to apply heat to the tube (from an external hair dryer for example) in order to dry the tress of hair. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show an optional clip  50  which is provided to grip the tress of hair. The clip  50  is preferably carried by the housing  842  (which may otherwise be identical to the housing  42  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). As shown in  FIG. 14 , when the clip is closed it compresses the tube  810  and thereby compresses and grips the tress of hair within the tube. The clip can be latched in the closed position by the latch member  52 . 
     In an alternative embodiment the clip engages the tress of hair directly, i.e. it does not grip the hair by way of the intervening tube. 
     It will be understood that the device comprising just the tube  110  (for example), or the device comprising the tube and housing  710 ,  42 , may be used without any means to grip the hair. Such embodiments will require the user or stylist to hold the device against the user&#39;s head, and will also require the user or stylist to ensure that the tress of hair remains within the tube as the tube is moved from its extended condition to its non-extended condition. It is, however, preferred that a clip  50  or similar means to grip the hair is provided at the “scalp end” of the device (i.e. adjacent to the end  126  of the tube  110  or the end  726  of the tube  710 ) so that the device can be left in place whilst the user&#39;s hair is drying or is treated so as to maintain the formed wave. In addition, it is preferred that a second clip  50  or similar is provided at the “free end” of the device (i.e. adjacent to the end  128  of the tube  110  or the end  728  of the tube  710 ), so as to retain the tress of hair within the tube. 
       FIG. 15  shows a combination heating and hooking tool  40  designed for use with the device of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The tool  40  comprises a handle  60  from which projects three forks  62  and  64 . One or more of the forks  62  and  64  can be heated whereby to heat the tube  710  prior to the styling operation. The heat may be applied by way of an electrical coil within the fork(s), and actuated by a switch on the handle  60 , or by way of external means (such as a hair dryer, or conductive or inductive heater). 
     The central fork  62  is designed to pass along the central passageway  730  of the tube  710 , and is extended to form a hook  66  which can be used to capture the tress of hair (not shown) and (when the tube  710  has reached the desired temperature) pull the tress of hair through the tube  710 . 
     When the tress of hair has been passed through the tube  710 , the base part  44  is then held (or secured by a clip such as  50 ) to the tress of hair adjacent to the user&#39;s scalp, and the top part  46  is moved away from the base part  44  so as to extend the tube  710 . When the tube  710  has been fully extended, or the top part  46  has been moved to a chosen position relative to the base part  44 , the free end of the tress of hair is held (or secured by a clip such as  50 ) adjacent to the end  728  of the tube  710  so as to retain the tress of hair within the tube. The tube  710  can thereafter be moved to its non-extended position, causing the tress of hair to form a wave within the tube as previously described. 
     It will be understood that in embodiments of the device which include a housing such as  42 , it is not necessary that the barrier(s) be connected to both sides of the tube. Thus, whilst it is desired in most embodiments that the barriers completely span the distance between the sides of the tube, so that no hair may pass around or over the end of a barrier, the housing can also act to press the sides of the tube together and thereby press the sides against the ends of the barriers. Even if a barrier is only connected to one of the sides, the pressure applied by the housing can be sufficient to prevent the unwanted passage of hair around the end of a barrier. 
     It will also be understood that the form of the tube and housing, and the form and position of the barrier(s) can be varied from those shown in the drawings without departing from the invention. For example, a single line of barriers, or three or more lines of barriers, can be provided. Also, the tube does not require the flattened sides, and could alternatively be of oval or perhaps substantially circular cross-section. 
     Also, whilst it is preferred that the tube be made of resilient material and that it moves from its non-extended condition to its extended condition by stretching, the invention could be preformed by other means, for example the tube could extend by way of a telescoping action, or in concertina fashion, if desired.