Abstract:
A double heat resistant comb flat Iron, with built in combs attached to the Iron clamp/body is disclosed. My invention improves on these difficulties because mastering the ability to use two hands and hair tools isn&#39;t necessary. Also, using my invention makes straightening hair convenient and gives better results.

Description:
[0001]    The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/319,167, filed Apr. 6, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention pertains to the field of hair styling instruments. In particular, the invention is related to an improved device for straightening naturally curly hair, enabling operation with the use of one hand. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For people born with naturally curly hair, it may be desired to straighten their hair. A technique called “chasing” has been used in the past, in which an iron is used in combination with a comb to flatten and detangle the hair. In the chasing technique, a flat iron is used to flatten, with a separate comb being used in front of, or behind the flat iron. Thus, the flat iron applies heat simultaneous with flattening of the hair and the comb is used to keep separation of the hair. It is possible to operate either by combing immediately prior to applying the flat iron or by combing immediately after applying the flat iron, so long as the combing and ironing are being performed in near succession. The result of this “chasing” technique is hair which is straightened and separated. 
         [0004]    A drawback of the chasing technique is that it generally requires two hands and two hair tools simultaneously to straighten hair. One hand holds the comb, while the other hand holds the flat iron. This process is inconvenient because of the difficulty with balancing two hair tools simultaneously and occupying both hands to get hair straightening results. 
         [0005]    It is therefore desirable to find a device which performs the function of the flat iron along with the function of the comb, which can be operated with only one hand. The problem with other devices in this field is there is no other device that offers straightening and detangling simultaneously, in a manner which is comfortable to use and which includes comb teeth attached to one arm of the flat iron. Consumers are left having to use more than one hair tool simultaneously to straighten and detangle hair. 
         [0006]    The instant invention improves on these difficulties because two hair tools and the use of both hands are no longer necessary. Mastering the chasing technique, which utilizes both hands, is no longer necessary. The instant invention allows for the use of a single hand, leaving the other hand free. It does not require the difficult balancing of two different tools. The instant invention makes straightening hair convenient and gives better results. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In an embodiment, a hair iron is contemplated which contains: a first member and a second member joined to one another at one end by a hinge and being freely opened or closed at the other end; 
         [0008]    a first heated plate mounted on an internal surface of the first member and a second heated plate mounted on an internal surface of the second member, such that the first heated plate and the second heated plate face each other when the hinge is closed; 
         [0009]    a first single row of comb teeth on a first side of the first member and a second single row of comb teeth on a second side of the first member, opposite the first side of the first member; 
         [0010]    wherein, when the hinge is closed, the first single row of comb teeth and the second single row of comb teeth extend from the first member to either side of the second member. 
         [0011]    In a second embodiment, the hair iron according to the first embodiment is contemplated, wherein the comb teeth of the first single row and the comb teeth of the second single row are formed from heat resistant plastic. 
         [0012]    In a third embodiment, the hair iron according to the first embodiment is contemplated, wherein the first heated plate and the second heated plate are made from ceramic, metal or titanium. 
         [0013]    In a fourth embodiment, the hair iron according to the first embodiment is contemplated, wherein the comb teeth of the first single row and the comb teeth of the second single row are formed from heat resistant plastic, and wherein the first heated plate and the second heated plate are made from ceramic. 
         [0014]    In a fifth embodiment, the hair iron according to the fourth embodiment is contemplated, wherein the hair iron further comprises a temperature monitor on an outside surface of the first member. 
         [0015]    In a sixth embodiment, the hair iron according to the fifth embodiment is contemplated, wherein the temperature monitor is a digital temperature gauge. 
         [0016]    In a seventh embodiment, the hair iron according to the fourth embodiment is contemplated, wherein the first member comprises a thumb grip on the outside surface, in a location near the freely opened or closed end. 
         [0017]    In an eighth embodiment, the hair iron according to the fourth embodiment is contemplated, wherein the hinged end of the first and second member comprises an electrical cord capable of swiveling. 
         [0018]    In any of the above listed embodiments, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a single device which performs both the function of a flat iron by heating and flattening hair, and the function of a comb in that it separates hair. 
         [0019]    The instant invention is used, for example, by closing the hinge such that hair is between the heated plates, and running the device down the length of the hair. The hair then proceeds through the comb teeth and between the two heated plates. The result is flattened, separated hair, without the need for using two or more separate devices. These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the instant invention, which contains a first member and a second member, joined by way of a hinge at one end and allowed to open or close at the other end. The first member has a single row of comb teeth on either side, which extend from the first member on either side of the second member when in the closed position. The inner surfaces of the first member and the second member have heated plates optionally formed from ceramic, metal, or titanium. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0022]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0023]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0024]    As previously noted, the hair technique commonly called “chasing” is understood to require two hands and two hair tools simultaneously to straighten hair. This process is inconvenient because of the difficultly with balancing two hair tools simultaneously and occupying both hands to get results. The invention claimed here solves this problem. 
         [0025]    The instantly described invention has built in combs in the flat iron body/clamp. These combs are, for example, in the form of one or more rows of comb teeth on either side of an upper (first) member, which extend from the upper member on either side of the lower arm when the iron is closed. In one embodiment, the comb teeth are present in a single row on either side of the upper member. The upper member and lower member (first member and second member) can, for example, be attached to one another by way of a hinge at one end, leaving the other end free to open and close. As the instant invention incorporates both the comb function and the flat iron function, the “chasing” technique is easily accomplished with one hand. With the instant invention only one hair tool is necessary and one hand required to straighten the hair instead of two. 
         [0026]    The comb teeth of the instant invention are optionally formed of a heat resistant plastic. Such heat resistant plastics are readily understood by the skilled artisan as being plastics which are formulated in order to withstand high temperatures, in particular temperatures which would be seen in the operation of a hair flat iron. Such temperatures can be, for example, from 300 to 400° F. Examples of such heat resistant plastics are polyimides such as VESPEL®, polyamide-imides such as Nylon 6/6, polyphenylene sulfide such as RYTON®, and polyphenylene oxide/polystyrene blends such as NORYL®. Built in heat resistant combs are able to detangle and give a smoother hair straightening finish. 
         [0027]    An embodiment of the instant invention is depicted in  FIG. 1 , where reference numbers refer to the following. 
         [0028]      1 . First Member 
         [0029]      2 . Second Member 
         [0030]      3 . Comb Teeth 
         [0031]      4 . Heated Plates 
         [0032]      5 . Thumb Grip 
         [0033]      6 . Heating Element-electrical source, power switch, heat control meter 
         [0034]      7 . Electrical Cord 
         [0035]      8 . Temperature Display 
         [0036]      9 . Hinge 
         [0037]    In this embodiment, a clamp and body are formed from a first (upper) member  1  and a second (lower) member  2 , attached by way of a hinge  9  at one end and allowed to open and close at the other end. The first member and the second member can be formed of any material, such as for example metal or plastic. As with the comb teeth, the first member and second member may, for example, be made from heat resistant plastic. While in the depicted embodiment the first member  1  and the second member  2  are flat on their outer surfaces, they may also be rounded, and also may be round at the end or any shape, so long as heated plates may be positioned on the inside, and so long as, when closed the inner faces of the first member  1  and second member  2  face each other, allowing hair to pass between the heated plates during operation. 
         [0038]    Heated plates  4  are located on the inner surface of the first member and the inner surface of the second member, such that when the hinge is closed the heated plates directly oppose one another, allowing for passage of hair during operation, which results in flattening of the hair. These heated plates function to maintain a temperature which is sufficient to flatten hair as it is passed between the heated plates. When the hinge is in the closed position, these heating plates directly face one another. These heated plates can be formed of any material capable of maintaining the heat level required to flatten hair, for example ceramic, metal, or titanium. 
         [0039]    Comb teeth  3  are attached to at least the first member, optionally located on left and right surfaces of the first member. The comb teeth extend from the first member in a manner such that, when the hinge is closed and hair is allowed to pass between the heated plates, it also passes through the comb teeth. As such, one embodiment would contain rows of comb teeth on one or both sides of the first member. In a particular embodiment, these comb teeth are arranged in a single row on both sides of the first member. The comb teeth could optionally be placed on the left, right, front, back, top and/or bottom of the flat iron clamp/body. In one embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 1 , when the hinge joining the first and the second member is closed the comb teeth extend from the first member on either side of the second member. 
         [0040]    Optional heating elements  6  are located on the inside of either one or both of the first member and the second member. These heating elements, for example, can include an electrical source, a temperature gauge, a thermal fuse, a thermostat switch and other heating components. A temperature display  8  can, for example, be located on the outside of the first member such that it would be visible whether the hinge was in the open or the closed position. It can display the temperature in any customary manner, for example by digital display. An electrical cord  7  can optionally be located at the end of the member with the hinge and may for example be capable of swiveling, for easy maneuverability while the iron is plugged in. This cord could then be connected to a power source. 
         [0041]    A thumb grip  5  can optionally be included to comfortably position a thumb of a hand holding the device in the closed position. This thumb grip can be in any shape in which a thumb would comfortably fit, for example an ovular shape indented into the outer surface of the first member. 
         [0042]    The thumb grip can be made of any material suitable for such an application, such as for example metal, plastic, or rubber. 
         [0043]    The first member, the second member, and the hinge together form a body/clamp device. The body/clamp device protects the internal parts of the iron and holds the straightening plates (which, as noted above, may optionally be made from ceramic, metal, or titanium) used to straighten hair. The comb teeth are held by the clamp which detangles hair before and after the hair enters and exits the hair straightener. The temperature gauge, thermostat, thermal fuse and heat control switch are optionally located in the body used to complete and control the heating functions of the iron and also protects hair and straightener from overheating circuits. The Swivel Cord located at the base of the body/clamp use to connect the unit to the power source to heat up the iron. 
         [0044]    The instant device can, for example, be operated by placing the device around a plurality of hair strands and closing, so that the hair is held between the two heated plates, and allowed to pass through the comb teeth on either side of the first member. The operator would then, while holding the device in the closed position, pull the device along the length of the hair so that the entire hair strands are flattened by being pressed between the heated plates, and at the same time detangled by passing through the comb teeth. It is possible to use this device using only a single hand, whereas using a separate comb and flat iron would require the use of both hands. 
         [0045]    The instant invention can optionally contain additional elements such as, for example, an automatic temperature switch, a thumb rest, a digital temperature gauge.