Patent Publication Number: US-2004045572-A1

Title: Method and device for curling and waving hair

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
     [0001] The present application is a non-provisional application based on, and claiming the priority benefit of, co-pending U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/409,406, which was filed on Sep. 10, 2002, and co-pending U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/416,799, which was filed on Oct. 8, 2002, and are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to a device for curling and waving hair, and, more particularly, to a press-on curler for creating spiral curls and waves.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003] Curlers are available in a variety of forms and are widely used to produce different types of curls and waves in hair. The most common type of curler utilizes a cylindrical body over which strands of hair are wound and dried, and then combed out after removal of the curlers. The cylindrical body over which the hair is wound is available in many materials, such as plastic, foam, sponge etc. The means of fastening the wound hair to the cylindrical body is also accomplished in various ways, such as pinning the curler to the hair or using a clasp, a barrette, etc.  
       [0004] There are several drawbacks to such curlers, including that the rollers are difficult to use. For example, the user has to wind the hair strands onto the roller and then has to manipulate a fastening device to attach the roller to the hair or head. Similarly, the material of the rollers and/or the fastening devices are often constructed from a hard plastic material or from other types of very rigid material, making the roller uncomfortable to wear, especially when worn for extended periods of time and/or while sleeping.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005] There is a need for an improved hair waving device that can be used to produce wavy curls and that is relatively inexpensive, safe and simple to use. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair waving device for creating wavy curls is disclosed. The hair waving device includes a body having a core and a wrap portion, wherein the wrap portion is wrapped around the core and is adapted to self-adhere. The core may be of a generally cylindrical shape and may be adapted to receive strands of hair. The wrap portion may have a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends may be adapted to secure the hair waving device to the strands of hair by adhering to each other.  
       [0006] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair curling device for creating spiral curls is disclosed. The hair curling device includes a body having a core and a wrap portion, wherein the wrap portion is wrapped around the core and is adapted to self-adhere. The core may be of a generally cylindrical shape and may be adapted to receive bundles of wound hair. The wrap portion may have a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower end may be adapted to secure the bundle of hair to the hair curling device, and wherein the upper end may be adapted to secure the hair curling device to a head of hair. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair curling/waving device;  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1 including a pin;  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1;  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1 being wrapped around a hair bundle after the hair is wound around the hair curling device;  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1 with one end of the hair curling/waving device twisted together;  
     [0012]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of hair being secured onto the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1 with a self-adhering flap;  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1;  
     [0014]FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device being wrapped around the hair bundle after the hair is wound around the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1 after it is wrapped around the hair bundle and then adhered to itself;  
     [0017]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 1 as may be used to create spiral curls;  
     [0018]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of strands of hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of FIG. 2;  
     [0019]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device FIG. 2 being wound, with the strands of hair, to the top of the user&#39;s head;  
     [0020]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the ends of the hair curling/waving device FIG. 2 being folded over the strands of hair on the hair curling/waving device;  
     [0021]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the ends of the hair curling/waving device FIG. 2 being attached to each other while securing the hair curling/waving device to the strands of hair;  
     [0022]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the strands of hair being unwound from the hair curling/waving device FIG. 2; and  
     [0023]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of two hair curling/waving device FIG. 2 as may be used in combination. 
    
    
     [0024] While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. However, there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0025] Referring to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 a hair curling/waving device, as constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, is generally depicted by reference numeral  20 . As shown therein, the hair curling/waving device  20  includes a core  22  and a wrap portion  24 .  
     [0026] The materials of which the core  22  and the wrap portion  24  may be constructed may vary greatly. The core  22  may, for example, be constructed of foam, sponge, or any other material that may be suitable for this purpose. Similarly the wrap portion  24  may be constructed from latex rubber, cloth, or any other material that may be suitable for this purpose. In one exemplary embodiment, the wrap portion may be constructed of self-adhesive material, that enables the wrap portion to hold and retain objects, such as hair  23  and the hair curling/waving device  20 , without the use of other retaining means. In an alternate embodiment, the wrap portion, with or without having the self adhesive properties, may utilize other retaining means to aid in the retaining of objects including, but not limited to, rubber bands, pins, clips, tape, etc.  
     [0027] In one exemplary embodiment, the wrap portion  24  may be of a generally rectangular shape when unwrapped, and may be wrapped around the core  22  in a generally cylindrical shape. In the unwrapped position, the length and width of the wrap portion  24  may vary depending on several factors. For example, the diameter of the core  22  around which the wrap portion  24  may be wrapped may require the wrap portion  24  to be wider or more slender, and the length of the core  22  may require the wrap portion  24  to be longer or shorter. Similarly, the size of the wrap portion  24  may vary depending on the amount of overlap that is desired between the wrap portion  24  once the wrap portion  24  is wrapped around the core  22 . The wrap portion  24  may further include a lower end  26  and an upper end  28 .  
     [0028] In one exemplary embodiment, the core  22  may be of a generally cylindrical shape having a lower end  30  and an upper end  32 , a bore  33 . The core  22  may vary in diameter and length. The core  22  may, for example, have a larger diameter for instances in which a larger curl is desired, or may have a smaller diameter in instances in which a tighter curl is desired. The core  22  may also have various diameters on the same core to allow for varying sizes of curls or waves. Similarly, the core  22  may be long to allow for longer curls or waves, and/or longer hair, or the core  22  may be short to allow for shorter curls or waves, and/or shorter hair. The core  22  may also have varying lengths relative to the wrap  24 .  
     [0029] For example, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the core  22  may be long enough to allow for the lower end  30  of the core  22  to be substantially equal with the lower end  26  of the wrap portion  24 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, the core  22  may also be shorter than the wrap portion  24  to allow for the lower end  26  of the wrap portion  24  to extend beyond the lower end  30  of the core  22 . Similarly, the upper end  32  of the core  22  may be shorter than the upper end  28  of the wrap portion  24  to allow for the upper end  28  of the wrap portion  24  to extend beyond the upper end  32  of the core  22 .  
     [0030] In one exemplary embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2, the hair curling/waving device  20  may include one or more pins  21 . The pin  21  may be adapted to fit snugly within a bore  30  of the core  32 . More specifically, the pin  21  may fit within the bore  30  in a manner to allow the user to manually insert and/or remove the pin  21  to and from the bore  30 . Additionally or alternatively, the pin  21  may fit within the bore  30  in a manner to prevent the pin  21  from falling out from the bore  30  during normal use of the hair curling/waving device  20 . The materials of which the pin  21  may be constructed may vary greatly. The pin  21  may, for example, be constructed of plastic, metal, wood, foam, or any other suitable material.  
     [0031] The pin  21  may also be constructed in various lengths (not shown), and may be used for various reasons. The pin  21  may, for example, be long enough to stiffen the hair curling/waving device  20  during use, or the pin  21  may be long enough to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices  20  (additional hair curling/waving devices  20  not shown). Additionally or alternatively, the pin  21  may be long enough to both stiffen the hair curling/waving device  20  during use and to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices  20 .  
     [0032] In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, tom curl the strands of hair  23 , the user may twist the upper end  28  of the wrap portion  24  to create a rope-like end piece. To begin winding the hair  23  around the hair curling/waving device  20 , the user may secure the hair to the hair curling/waving device  20  as shown in FIG. 6. More particularly, the user may secure the hair  23  onto the hair curling/waving device  20  by unwrapping the lower end  26  of the wrap portion  24 , as seen in FIG. 2, placing the hair  23  between an inner and outer layer of the wrap portion, and then pressing together the inner and outer layer of the wrap portion  24  with the hair  23  there between.  
     [0033] Anytime before, after and/or during the wrapping of the hair  23  around the hair curling/waving device  20 , the user may wet the hair with water and/or any hair styling product to easier manipulate the hair and/or to add a desired quality to the hair, such as body, hold, softness, volume, aroma, shine, lack of frizz, etc. Similarly, anytime before, after and/or during the wrapping of the hair  23  around the hair curling/waving device  20 , the user may add or remove the pin  21  to or from the hair curling/waving device  20 . The user may, for example, add the pin  21  to the hair curling/waving device  20  to provide additional stiffness to the hair curling/waving device  20  during the wrapping and drying of the hair  23 . Conversely, the user may remove the pin  21  from the hair curling/waving device  20  to obtain flexibility or softness. For example, the user may desire to wear the hair curling/waving device  20  while sleeping and/or the user may desire to bend the hair curling/waving device  20  into various shapes and forms. Additionally and/or alternatively, the pin  21  may be flexible, such as a piece of metal wire or plastic wire.  
     [0034] The user may continue wrapping the hair  23  around the hair curling/waving device  20 , as seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, until the user achieves the desired amount of curl and/or until the user comes to the end of the hair curling/waving device  20 , as seen in FIG. 8. The user may wrap the hair  23  around the hair curling/waving device  20  in a helical pattern, thereby achieving a helical or spiral curl. Once the user has achieved the desired amount of curl and/or the user has come to the end of the hair curling/waving device  20 , the user may wrap the upper end  28  of the wrap portion  24 , as seen in FIG. 9, around the bundle of hair  23 . The user then adheres the upper end  28  of the wrap portion  24  to itself (FIGS. 4 and 10). By doing so, the user has secured the hair curling/waving device  20  to the head of hair  36  as shown in FIG. 11.  
     [0035] In another exemplary embodiment, to wave the strands of hair  23 , as shown in FIG. 12, the user, in operation, may begin winding the strands of hair  23  around the hair waving device  20 , and the user may secure the strands of hair  23  to the hair waving device  20 . More specifically, the user may secure the strands of hair  23  onto the hair waving device  20  by unwrapping the ends  26 ,  28  of the wrap portion  24 , placing the strands of hair  23  between an inner layer  27  and an outer layer  29  of the wrap portion  24 , and then pressing together the inner and outer layers of the wrap portion  24  with the strands of hair  23  therebetween.  
     [0036] The user may continue wrapping the strands of hair  23  around the hair waving device  20 , as seen in FIG. 12, until the user achieves the desired amount of wave and/or until the user comes to the end of the strands of hair  23 , as seen in FIG. 13. The user may wrap the strands of hair  23  around the hair waving device  20 , thereby achieving wavy or curly hair. Once the user has achieved the desired amount of wave and/or the user has come to the end of the strands of hair, the user may secure the hair waving device  20  to the strands of hair  23 , as seen in FIGS. 14 and 15. More specifically, the user may bend the ends  26 ,  28  of the wrap portion  24  at the ends  30 ,  32  of the core  22  toward the wound portion of the strands of hair  23  (FIG. 14). To secure the hair waving device  20  to the strands of hair  23 , the user may adhere the first end  26  and the second end  28  to each other by pressing the first and second ends  26 ,  28  together, thereby securing the hair waving device  20  and preventing the hair waving device  20  from unrolling.  
     [0037] As shown in FIG. 16, the user may unwind or unroll the strands of hair  23  from the hair waving device  20  by separating the first and second ends  26 ,  28  of the wrap portion  24  from each. More specifically, the user may pull or peel the ends  26 ,  28  of the wrap portion  24  to separate the ends  26 ,  28  of the wrap portion  24  from each other and other portions of the wrap portion  24 , and then unroll the hair waving device  20 .  
     [0038] In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the hair curling/waving device  20  may include one or more linking pins  23 . The linking pin  23  may be adapted to fit snugly within the bore  30  of the core  32 . More specifically, the linking pin  23  may fit within the bore  30  in a manner to allow the user to manually insert and/or remove the linking pin  23  to and from the bore  30 . Additionally or alternatively, the linking pin  23  may fit within the bore  30  in a manner to prevent the linking pin  23  from falling out from the bore  30  during normal use of the hair curling/waving device  20 . The materials of which the linking pin  23  may be constructed may vary greatly. The linking pin  23  may, for example, be constructed of plastic, wood, foam, or any other material that may be suitable for this purpose.  
     [0039] The linking pin  23  may also be constructed in various lengths (not shown), and may be used for various reasons. The linking pin  23  may, for example, be long enough to stiffen the hair curling/waving device  20  during use, or the linking pin  23  may just long enough to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices  20 . Additionally or alternatively, the linking pin  23  may be long enough to both stiffen the hair curling/waving device  20  during use and to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices  20 .  
     [0040] While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.