Abstract:
A motorized and heated curling iron having interchangeable heads enables easy and consistent operation with reduced wrist and arm fatigue.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/732,750, filed Nov. 2, 2005 and having the same title and inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention is a motorized and heated curling iron with interchangeable heads selectable in various sizes and configurations to meet particular tasks. Because of greater flexibility for different tasks and motorized rotation, the invention is particularly advantageous for operators such as professionals who are subject to wrist and arm fatigue from repetitive motion. More compact workstations are also enabled because of the use of multiple attachments.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Electric curling irons are known, typically using resistance heating elements energized by an AC power from household AC circuits.  
         [0006]     Both DC and AC motors are known, however small DC motors are more efficient and readily available than an AC motor with similar power, while heating elements draw far more current than can easily be supplied in DC.  
         [0007]     The invention provides a unique combination of electrical and mechanical features.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A motorized and heated curling iron uses electrical power to provide motive force and heat energy for curling of hair. Interchangeable heads are selectable in various sizes and configurations to meet particular tasks. Motorized rotation enables easy and consistent operation with reduced wrist and arm fatigue. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the motorized curling iron, viewed from the front.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the motorized curling iron of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the front, including the motor and clutch.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the clutch and drive assembly of the motorized curling iron.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the commutator drive assembly of the motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is perspective view of the preferred head of the motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative head of the motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another alternative head of the motorized curling iron in a view from the rear.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Curling Iron  10  is formed with a handle  12  supporting shaft assembly  14  connected in turn to head  16 . Head  16  comprises in part sleeve  18  terminating in cap  20 . Clamp  22  captures the hair of an individual or of a person whose hair is being curled by a beautician or cosmetologist, referred to herein as the user.  
         [0017]     Curling iron  10  is arranged so that handle  12  is manipulated by the user so that shaft  14  enables rotation of head  16  including clamp  22 .  
         [0018]     Power supply cord  24  supplies electrical power from power supply  25  to curling iron  10  to provide both motive force and heat. Reversing motor switch  26  controls movement of and the direction of rotation of motor  28 . Gearbox  30  provides direct mechanical force from motor, ultimately to head  16 , through the mechanical assembly described below.  
         [0019]     Commutator drive assembly  32  provides both mechanical interconnection and through brushes  34  and conductors  36  which enable the transmission of electrical energy for operating heating element  38 .  
         [0020]     Resistance heating element  38  may preferably be a fiber or mesh conductive cylinder contained within sleeve  18  and covered at its end by cap  20 . Element  38  is energized by AC power from household AC circuits which is directly carried through cord  24  through commutator assembly  32 .  
         [0021]     Motor  28  is preferably a DC motor because small DC motors are more efficient and readily available than an AC motor providing similar mechanical power. Thus cord  24  is preferably fitted with dual power supply,  25 , combining DC from a power converter to motor  28  and line voltage to heating element  38 . Appropriate insulation, grounding and ground fault circuit interruption can be adapted. An additional advantage of a DC motor is the ease of configuration and economy in reversing switch  26 .  
         [0022]     Shaft assembly  14  incorporates a socket  50  connected to a sleeve receiver  52  comprising a portion of commutator assembly  32 . Electrical power passes from power cord  24  to brushes  34  through conductor array  56 . This can be wired to correspond to typical AC electrical “hot” and “common” protocols. Commutator assembly is electrically connected through conductors  36  to energize heating element  38 .  
         [0023]     Conductors  56  are formed as a plurality of conductive bands corresponding in number to the number of conductors  36  and brushes  34 . In this manner, rotation is permitted while electrical power is transmitted to element  38 . In the preferred embodiment four brushes  34  and conductors  36 ,  56  enable adequate power transmission for heating a rotating element.  
         [0024]     Sleeve receiver  52  mechanically interlocks commutator assembly  32  to handle  12 . The socket  50  is formed to receive a projecting shaft  57 , preferably of a “D” shaped section and is thereby adapted to receive alternate sleeves of selected size, diameter and configuration, described more fully below. Other shaft—socket configurations could be adapted, such as a hex configuration, but the “D” has an advantage in providing only a single orientation.  
         [0025]     Clutch assembly  40  transmits force from motor  30  to commutator assembly  32 . As commutator assembly rotates, so does socket  50  for force transmission to shaft  57  and thence head  16 . Clutch assembly  40  includes a driving member  62  and a driven member  64  having respective friction faces  66 ,  68 . In a preferred embodiment faces  66 ,  68  are formed in a manner analogous to gear teeth. Driving member  62  is offset in gearbox  30 , thereby permitting rotation of driven member  64  in turn attached to commutator assembly  32 . Driven member  64  and assembly  32 , therefore are substantially on the central axis of curling iron  10 . Should the lever  22  and sleeve  18  combination encounter rotational resistance, such as by a hair snag, clutch assembly  40  will release under load by distortion of the assembly. Other clutch face arrangements could be adapted, such as a spring loaded crown gear.  
         [0026]     The mechanical connection and operation of receiver  52  enables a user to substitute sleeves of different diameter, outer surface pattern, material, or the like, permitting the curling iron to be used for different curling techniques. Thus sleeve  16  is typical, but sleeve  80  of larger diameter, or sleeve  82  of shorter length may be substituted. Elimination of conductors  36  in shaft  57 , and substituting a nonconductive shaft could permit use of an unheated roller, or a pre-heated, non-electrical roller. With switch  26  open, and no rotation, even a flat, non-rotating hair treatment member could be used.  
         [0027]     Additionally a rheostat assembly  84  permits control of power transmitted to element  38  and a strain relief  86  protects cord  24 .  
         [0028]     While the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent, as noted above that variations and modifications may be made therein. It is also noted that the present invention is independent of the electromechanical interactions, and is not limited to the particular rotary curling iron shown. It is, thus, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification that falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.