Patent Publication Number: US-2004045573-A1

Title: Hair curler for winding up human hair

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims priority to co-pending German Patent Application No. 102 41 772.5 entitled “Lockenwickler zum Aufwickeln menschlichen Haares”, filed Sep. 10, 2002.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to a hair curler for winding up human hair. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair curler including a supporting element having a hollow shape and including a middle portion which forms a winding surface serving to wind up hair. Such a hair curler is used to wind up parts of the human hair to form curls.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] A hair curler is known from German Patent No. DE 196 48 186 C2 corresponding to European Patent No. EP 0 848 919 B1. The known hair curler includes a supporting body having the shape of a tube section. The supporting body may be made of plastic material, and it includes a plurality of openings. The supporting body has a cylindrical circumference and a cover being located on the cylindrical circumference. The cover is designed as a part of a hook band or as a Velcro fastener. The known hair curler is designed as a grip roller. The hooks of the hook band serve to contact the tips of the hair at the beginning of the winding operation. Depending on the length of the wound up hair, the hair especially in the middle portion of the supporting body forms a roll. Consequently, the hair curler cannot contact the beginning of the hair at the head even when the hooks of the hook band in both end portions of the known hair curler are not covered with hair. The known hair curler does not include a separate fixing element, but the required function of the fixing element is rather fulfilled when the winding operation is finished and the curled up hair contacts the hooks of the hook band. In another embodiment of the known hair curler, the soft part of a Velcro fastener is located on the circumference of the supporting element instead of the hook band. Such a velvet curler additionally requires the use of a fixing element for fixing the curl on the circumference of the supporting element and for fixing the hair curler at the head after having finished the winding operation. Such a fixing element may be made of a transverse pin or a section of a hook band being used in addition to the soft part of the Velcro fastener. The known hair curler has a number of drawbacks when being used. When winding up the hair, the hair cannot be prevented from being distributed about the entire axial length of the hair curler. It is even possible that some parts of the hair laterally slide down from the hair curler. During unwinding of the curl, it is difficult to detach the hair from the end portions of the hair curler. At the end of the unwinding process, this also applies to the middle portion of the hair curler. During unwinding of the curl, the end portions of the hook band get free from contact to the hair resulting in the danger of hair (which has not yet been wound up) now getting wound up. As a result, it is possible that hair is pulled out of the scalp of the head since the hair cannot be detached from the hair curler neither by rotating the supporting body in a forward nor in a backward direction. To counteract this drawback, it is known to design the hook band and/or the soft band to be antistatic. In this way, the effect of electrically charged hair moving in an axial outward direction is prevented to a certain extent, and the hair to be wound up to form a curl are more or less completely wound up. The winding process is simplified due to the antistatic design. There is a slight danger of winding up adjacent hair in an undesired way. The use of transverse pins, rubber bands, clips and the like causes pressure marks which may lead to the effect of the hair being damaged. The transverse pins partly result in the hair being tensioned too strongly such that there is the danger of the hair breaking. The pressure marks of the transverse pins at the scalp is also unpleasant to the person.  
       [0004] Another hair curler is known from German Patent No. DE 40 18 202 C2 corresponding to European Patent No. EP 0 460 452 B1. The known hair curler is designed as a grip curler to be preferably used during nighttime. The hair curler includes a supporting body and a cover being located on the supporting body. The cover is designed as a section of a hook band. The hooks of the hook band may be designed as cut loops. The unit being formed by the supporting body and the hook band is designed to be soft and elastic. The supporting body may be designed as a cylindrical section of foamed plastic having such a narrow porous design such that it is capable of containing liquid and to be squeezed like a sponge. Such a known grip roller has similar drawbacks as described above. The use of a Velcro fastener also results in the danger of hair being pulled out from the scalp during use of the known roller.  
       [0005] Another hair curler is known from German Patent Application No. DE 43 20 972 A1 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,107. The known hair curler includes a supporting element having a middle portion of a reduced diameter compared to the two end portions. The end portions are not designed as fixing portions. They do not include any fixing elements serving to connect the known hair curler to a head in the final position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention relates to a hair curler for winding up human hair. The hair curler includes a supporting element having a generally hollow design. The supporting element includes a middle portion and two end portions. The middle portion has a diameter, and it is arranged between the first end and the second end. The middle portion is designed and arranged to form a winding surface to support wound up hair. The first fixing portion has a diameter, and it is arranged at the first end of the supporting element. The first fixing portion includes a plurality of fixing elements being designed and arranged to protrude from the first fixing portion in a radial direction to attach the hair curler to a head. The second fixing portion has a diameter, and it is arranged at the second end of the supporting element. The second fixing portion also includes a plurality of fixing elements being designed and arranged to protrude from the second fixing portion in a radial direction to attach the hair curler to a head. The diameters of the first and second fixing portion are approximately identical. The diameters of the first and second fixing portion are substantially greater than the diameter of the middle portion.  
       [0007] The novel hair curler is designed in a way that the roll of wound up hair is substantially located in the middle portion of the hair curler. The novel hair curler remains in the wound up position close to the scalp without requiring the use of additional fixing elements, as for example transverse pins, clips and the like.  
       [0008] The novel hair curler includes a centric winding portion serving for winding up the hair and two outer fixing portions for fixing the hair curler to the head. These three portions are designed and arranged to be spaced apart and to separately fulfill different functions. The middle portion is located in a middle region of the hair curler and to be spaced apart from the two axial ends of the supporting element. The fixing portions are located at the two free axial ends of the supporting element. The middle portion has a smaller diameter than the fixing portions. In this way, one attains a bobbin-like body having two protruding “flanges”. This design makes it easy to wind up the hair only in the middle portion having the reduced diameter. Due to the comparatively decreased diameter of the middle portion, there is enough room for the roll being formed by the wound up hair.  
       [0009] The two fixing portions may include a section of a hook band being connected to their circumference. Alternatively, the fixing portions may include grip protrusions and the like being part of the fixing portions. These grip protrusions and the hooks of the hook band, respectively, do not contact the wound up curl, but they serve as a fixing unit being used at the end of the winding process. At the end of the winding process, the novel hair curler is pressed against the scalp of the head, and the two fixing portions contact the beginning of the hair close to the scalp such that the hair curler is closely and fixedly connected to the head. Due to the fact that the head of a human being is not a plain surface, but it rather has a rounded design, the difference between the values of the (smaller) inner diameter and the (bigger) outer diameters makes it possible to contact the beginning of the hair with the outer fixing portions to securely attach the hair curler to the head.  
       [0010] The novel hair curler does not require the use of transverse pins, rubber bands, clips or any other additional fixing elements. The wound up hair surrounding the middle portion is not pressed against the scalp such that it contacts the scalp, but the diameter difference provides a certain distance with respect to the scalp resulting in a substantial decrease of the danger of the hair breaking when realizing permanent curls. The end of the wound up hair close to the scalp is directed on the hair curler in a steep upward direction. This has a great positive influence on the volume of the hair. When the hair curler is heated before its use, it is especially advantageous that the scalp is not directly contacted by the hot hair curler. There will be no pressure marks. The fact that the middle portion does not contact the scalp also has the advantage of the wound up curl being located in some distance with respect to the scalp. This arrangement results in the period of time required for drying the hair being reduced since the air may circulate between the scalp and the middle portion. Additionally, the novel hair curler is more securely connected to the head compared to prior art hair curlers since the outer fixing portions are not covered by the curl. Additionally, unwinding the curl from the novel hair curler has been substantially simplified compared to prior art hair curlers. The novel hair curler may be grasped with two fingers similar to a roll, and it may be simply removed by pulling it away from the scalp since there is no danger of adjacent hair being unintentionally wound up or of portions of the curl contacting the hook band.  
       [0011] It is especially advantageous to design the axial length of the middle portion to be approximately between two times to six times greater than the axial length of each of the first and second fixing portions. In other words, the ratio of lengths will be approximately between 1:2 to 1:6 (length of one fixing portion:length of the middle portion). The two fixing portions have a certain axial length although they do not participate in the actual winding process of the hair. This length is required to securely fix the hair curler to the head in the end position. Consequently, it is preferred not to choose the axial lengths of the fixing portions to be too small. On the other hand, the overall length of the hair curler also has an influence on the change of the diameter of the portions and on the axial lengths of the middle portion and of the fixing portions, respectively.  
       [0012] Preferably, the fixing portions are designed to have a constant diameter along their axial length. It is not necessary to choose a convex or concave design since such differences are compensated by the hooks of the hook band or the other protrusions.  
       [0013] The value of the difference between the diameters of the first and second fixing portion and the diameter of the middle portion may be chosen to be coordinated with the length of the hair to be curled. Rather long hair will result in a comparatively great thickness of the roll of hair being located in the middle region of the hair curler such that the change of the diameter may be increased. This also applies with respect to the diameter of the middle portion. The hair curler may be produced in various sizes to have different influences on the diameter of the curls produced therewith. When the hair is comparatively short, the thickness of the roll of hair will be less such that the change of the diameter may be chosen to be comparatively small. This also applies to hair curlers having a comparatively small diameter. The difference of the diameters may be chosen to be approximately between 2 mm to 8 mm depending on the size of the hair curler.  
       [0014] The diameter of the middle portion may be designed to be approximately constant. It may have a cylindrical shape such that it has a constant circular cross section at all locations of the middle portion. However, it is also possible to design the middle portion to be concave, meaning to have a comparatively smaller diameter in the center of the middle portion. With such a concave arrangement of the middle portion, the curl will be preferably wound up in the center of the middle portion such that it never contacts the fixing portions. When realizing such a concave design of the middle portion, the difference of the diameters relates to the smallest diameter being located in the center of the middle portion compared with the constant diameter of the fixing portions.  
       [0015] The cross section of the supporting body in its middle portion and/or in the two fixing portions may have an annular design, an oval shape or a rectangular shape. Preferably, the cross section is chosen to be circular.  
       [0016] The middle portion may have a completely roughened surface, a partly roughened surface, a corrugated surface, a spinous surface or a different appropriate design to fix the tips of the hair of the part of the hair to be wound up at the surface of the middle portion in an easy way. It is also possible to arrange a section of a hook band in the middle portion. However, it is not necessary to arrange a hook band in the middle portion, and the hook band does not have to extend about the entire length of the middle portion.  
       [0017] The supporting element may be designed to be substantially stiff, meaning to be flexible to a small extent. For example, the supporting element may be designed as a form body made of hard plastic material. However, it is also possible to design the supporting element to be soft and elastic. This may be preferred to allow for the novel hair curler being used during nighttime (for example when lying in bed) and/or to use a sponge-like supporting element to allow for the use of liquid hair products.  
       [0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and the detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the novel hair curler.  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the hair curler according to FIG. 1 in a final winding position close to the scalp of a human head.  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a view of another exemplary embodiment of the novel hair curler including three elements.  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the novel hair curler. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0024] Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a novel hair curler  1  for winding up human hair. The hair curler  1  includes a body or a supporting element  2 . The supporting element  2  may be designed as a form element made of plastic material and the like. Preferably, the supporting element  2  is designed to be hollow. The supporting element  2  has a cylindrical shape about a center axis. The supporting element  2  includes a middle portion  3  and two axial ends. A first fixing portion  4  is located at the first end, and a second fixing portion  4  is located at the second end of the supporting element  2 . The two fixing portions  4  have approximately the same diameter  14 . The diameter  14  of the fixing portions  4  is substantially greater than the smallest diameter  12  of the middle portion  3  such that the hair curler  1  has a shape similar to a bobbin or a roller including end portions protruding in a radial outward direction. Preferably, the two fixing portions  4  are covered by a hook band  5  about their circumference and along their axial extension. Such hook bands  5  are known as being part of Velcro fasteners. They include a base material which is woven or knitted and protruding elements being designed and arranged to protrude in an outward direction. These protruding elements may be designed as spikes or hooks  6 . The hooks  6  may be especially produced by cut loops. The middle portion  3  as well as the attaching portions  4  of the supporting element  2  may include a majority of openings  7 .  
     [0025]FIG. 2 illustrates the wound up position of the hair curler  1  at a human head  8  in the region of the scalp  9 . The illustration of FIG. 2 only shows one wound up part of the hair forming a curl  10 . The remaining parts of the hair are not illustrated. It is to be understood that winding of the hair to form such a curl  10  always begins at the tips of the hair. The center of the middle portion  3  includes a section of a pin tape or band  11 . The pins of the pin tape  11  are designed to be shorter in a radial direction compared to the hooks  6  of the hook band  5  being located in the fixing portions  4 . The pin tape  11  only extends along a certain portion of the axial length of the middle portion  3 . The pin tape  11  serves to appoint the tips of the hair at this place, and to begin the winding process. Due to the increasing diameter in the region between the middle portion  3  and the two fixing portions  4 , it is ensured that the curl  10  when being wound up is only supported in the middle portion  3  to reach a certain winding thickness. When winding up the hair to form a curl  10 , the hook band  5 —or other fixing elements protruding from the fixing portion  4  in a radial direction to attach the hair curler  1  to a head  8 —being located in both attaching portions  4  is not contacted by any hair. As soon as the hair curler  1  during winding approaches the scalp  9  and the winding process is almost finished, the hair curler  1  is pressed towards the scalp  9 . This situation is illustrated in FIG. 2. The hooks  6  of the two outer hook bands  5  of the fixing portions  4  engage the hair being located close to the scalp  9  such that the hair curler  1  achieves the desired fixed arrangement close to the scalp  9 . Due to the increasing diameter as seen from the smaller diameter of the middle portion  3  towards the greater diameter of the attaching portions  4 , there is enough room for a certain winding thickness of the curl  10 . Nevertheless, the increased diameter of the fixing portions  4  makes it possible to attain the desired fixed arrangement of the hair curler  1  at the head  8  even though the head  8  has a more or less rounded design. The hair close to the scalp  9  and being wound up to form the curl  10  are not bent, but they may rather extend between the hair root and the place where the hair is wound up at the circumference of the curl  10  in a radial direction with respect to the head  8 . This arrangement results in increased fullness of the achieved curl  10 . Additionally, there still is free space allowing for air to pass through in the end position of the hair curler  1  being connected to the head  8 . In this way, even the part of the curl  10  facing the scalp  9  may be dried when wet hair has been wound up.  
     [0026] The exemplary embodiment of the hair curler  1  as illustrated in FIG. 2 may have the following dimensions: The middle portion  3  has a diameter 12 of approximately 32 mm. The middle portion  3  extends along an axial length 13 of approximately 40 mm. The two attaching portions  4  each have a diameter 14 of approximately 40 mm, and they each have an axial length 15 of approximately 10 mm. The hooks  10  may extend approximately 3 mm in a radial direction. The pins of the pin tape  11  may be approximately 1.5 mm long.  
     [0027] The supporting element  2  of the exemplary embodiment of the novel hair curler  1  according to FIG. 2 is designed as a form body being made as one piece. Only the two sections of the hook band  5  and the pin band  11  are connected to the supporting element  2  by welding. When connecting the bands  5 ,  11  to the respective portion of the supporting element  2 , the ends of the bands  5  and  11 , respectively, are also interconnected such that the bands  5 ,  11  are fixedly located on the supporting element  2  of the hair curler  1 .  
     [0028]FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the novel hair curler  1 . In this case, the hair curler  1  is designed to be smaller to wind up shorter hair about a smaller diameter. The supporting element  2  is made of three separate elements. The supporting element  2  includes a tube section  16  extending along the entire axial length of the hair curler  1 . Two rings  17  are located on the tube section  16  in the end portions of the tube section  16 . The elements  16  and  17  may be interconnected by glue, by a snap connection, and the like. The rings  17  serve to fulfill the function of the fixing portions  4 , and they result in the diameter substantially increasing compared to the middle portion  3  not including the rings  17 . The middle portion  3  may be designed to include riffling elements  18  to simplify connection of the hair to the hair curler  1  when starting the winding operation. The rings  17  include sections of hook bands  5 , or the hooks  6  are directly connected to the rings  17 , or they are part of the rings  17 . The exemplary embodiment of the hair curler  1  as illustrated in FIG. 3 has different relations of diameters and lengths. The hair curler  1  is comparatively small. The change of the diameter when comparing the diameter of the middle portion  3  with the outer diameter of the rings  17  is also less when comparing the hair curler  1  with the one as illustrated in FIG. 2.  
     [0029]FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the novel hair curler  1  including the supporting element  2 . The supporting element  2  in the middle portion  3  has diameters 12 varying along the axial length 13. The diameter 12 has its minimum value in the center of the middle portion  3 . In this center region of the middle portion  3 , pins  19  or other pin-like protrusions may be located. The diameter 12 increases towards the attaching portions  4  in a way that the curl  10  will be preferably located in the center portion of the middle portion  3 . Consequently, it is ensured that the hooks  6  of the fixing portions  4  do not contact the hair when winding up the hair, as it is desired to later fulfill the attaching function of the hair curler  1  to the head  8 . Such an embodiment of the novel hair curler  1  is especially preferred for parts of the head  8  having a strongly rounded design. However, this positive effect may also be achieved when choosing the change of the value of the diameters 12 and 14 to be comparatively great. Using the novel hair curler  1  is especially simple and safe. At the beginning, the tips of the part of the hair to be wound up are brought into contact to the middle portion  3  by the pin band  11 , the riffling element  18  or the pins  19 . The hair is then wound up about the hair curler  1  to form the curl  10  without the danger of the hair contacting the hooks  6  of the hook bands  5  of the fixing portions  4 . At the end of the winding operation, the hair curler  1  approaches the scalp  9 , and the hair curler  1  is pressed towards the head  8 . Consequently, the hooks  6  engage adjacent parts of the hair not being wound up.  
     [0030] Unwinding the hair from the hair curler  1  is also very simply. First, the hair curler  1  is slightly pulled in a radial direction away from the scalp  9 . Consequently, the hooks  6  get free from contact to the hair, and the supporting element may be easily unrolled by inserting two fingers into the hollow cross section from both ends of the hair curler. The hair curler  1  only needs to be pulled in a radial direction away from the head  8 . At the end of the pulling movement, the curl  10  gets free from contact to the hair curler  1 , and the curl  10  has attained the desired curled shape.  
     [0031] Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.