Patent Publication Number: US-2016227898-A1

Title: Hair straightener

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to hair styling tools and more particularly, to a hair straightener for straightening hair. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With the progress of society, improvement of people&#39;s living standards enhances the pursuit of beauty. In dealing with hairstyling, some people will use a hair dryer to blow hot hair toward hair and simultaneously straighten hair with a hairbrush, some others directly use a hot air brush to straighten hair. However, these two methods are still not satisfactory. To facilitate the hair straightening, hair straightener is created. A conventional hair straightener comprises two flat irons, heated and hard-pressed together to heat hair, setting hair straight when cooled down. A hair straightener achieves a better hair-straightening effect. However, people cannot use a conventional hair straightener to straighten one&#39;s own hair, more particularly, one person is difficult to straighten hair on the back side of the head by oneself and can easily miss the part of hair that one cannot see, lowering the hair straightening effect. Further, using a conventional hair straightener may take two to four hours to complete hair straitening, wasting much time. On the other hand, the use of a conventional hair straightener can cause damage to the scalp when hard-pressing the heated flat irons to stretch hair. When operating the heated hair straightener to heat and stretch hair, hair may be not evenly distributed in between the two flat irons. At this time, a thickly gathered part of hair can be effectively stretched while the other loosely gathered part of hair cannot be well stretched. Thus, the operator needs to repeatedly perform the hair straightening operation to have all hair be well straightened, causing friction damage to hair cuticle and loss of hair shine. Further, because the two flat irons are exposed to the outside, they can accidentally burn the user during application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a hair straightener, which avoids hair cuticle damage and saves time on hair styling. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a hair straightener comprises a power cord, a control circuit board, an upper shell, a bottom shell, an electric hot plate and a heat-conductive brush head. The upper shell and the bottom shell are fastened together with a first accommodation chamber defined therein. The bottom shell defines an opening. The control circuit board, the electric hot plate and the heat-conductive brush head are accommodated in the first accommodation chamber. The heat-conductive brush head comprises a front side, an back side and a plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth. The heat-transfer plate is mounted on a back side of the heat-conductive brush head. The electric hot plate is bonded to the heat-transfer plate. The plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth forwardly extended from the front side of the heat-conductive brush head. Each said heat-transfer brush tooth has a free end thereof extended out of said opening of said bottom shell and terminating in a heat insulation tip. The upper shell is provided with an button. The button, the electric hot plate and the power cord are respectively electrically coupled to the control circuit board. 
     Preferably, the heat-conductive brush head further comprises a plurality of anti-scald brush teeth forwardly extended from the front side thereof around the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth. 
     Preferably, the hair straightener further comprises an electric hot plate gland cover disposed inside the first accommodation chamber and fixedly covered on the back side of the heat-conductive brush head. Further, the electric hot plate is set between the electric hot plate gland cover and the heat-conductive brush head. Preferably, the hair straightener further comprises a heat insulation cover disposed inside the first accommodation chamber and connected with the heat-conductive brush head to define a second accommodation chamber therein. Further, the heat-transfer plate, the electric hot plate and the electric hot plate gland cover are accommodated in the second accommodation chamber. 
     Preferably, the upper shell comprises an ornamental frame mounted around the periphery thereof. Further, the button is fixedly mounted on the ornamental frame. 
     Preferably, the hair straightener further comprises a temperature indicator and a temperature probe. The temperature probe is mounted in the heat-transfer plate and electrically coupled to the control circuit board. The upper shell comprises a groove located on an outside wall thereof. The temperature indicator is fixedly mounted in the groove of the upper shell and electrically coupled to the control circuit board. 
     Preferably, the bottom shell has one end thereof terminating in a handheld end and disposed remote from the opening. The heat-conductive brush head comprises an anti-scald strip disposed adjacent to the handheld end of the bottom shell. 
     Preferably, the heat-conductive brush head and the opening respectively have an oval shape. The heat insulation tip of each said heat-transfer brush tooth is a silicon rubber heat insulation tip. 
     Preferably, the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth comprises multiple rows of first heat-transfer brush teeth and multiple rows of second heat-transfer brush teeth. The lengths of second heat-transfer brush teeth that extend out of the opening are shorter than the lengths of the first heat-transfer brush teeth that extend out of the opening. Each row of second heat-transfer brush teeth is disposed between two rows of first heat-transfer brush teeth. 
     Preferably, the heat-conductive brush head comprises a convex surface portion located on a front middle part thereof. 
     When compared with the prior art design, the invention achieves the following effects: 
     1. The hair straightener of the invention uses the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth to brush and straighten hair in a multi-contact manner. The plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth are arranged into multiple rows for heating hair, facilitating hair styling, improving hair straightening efficiency and saving time on hair styling. A user can operate the hair straightener to straighten hair by oneself without the help of others. 
     2. When the hair straightener becomes hot and directly touches the scalp, the rubber silicon heat insulation tips prevents direct contact between the hot heat-transfer teeth and the scalp to cause damage to the scalp. The silicon rubber heat insulation tips are flexible and can be kept in direct contact with the scalp to stimulate blood circulation and to achieve meridian clearing and massaging without burning the scalp. The plurality of anti-scald brush teeth are respectively extended from the front side of the heat-conductive brush head around the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth, constituting a protective layer to prevent contact burns and scalds. The anti-scald strip at the end of the heat-conductive brush head adjacent to the handheld end of the bottom shell prevents accidental contact of the hand with the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth, avoiding causing burn injuries during operation. 
     3. The temperature probe can instantly detect the temperature of the electric hot plate and provides a corresponding temperature signal to the control circuit board for indication on the temperature indicator so that the user can operate the hair straightener according to the temperature indication of the temperature indicator. Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique elevational view of a hair straightener in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the hair straightener in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of Part A of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a hair straightener in accordance with the present invention is shown. The hair straightener comprises a power cord  1 , a control circuit board  2 , an upper shell  3 , a bottom shell  4 , an electric hot plate  5  and a heat-conductive brush head  6 . 
     The upper shell  3  and the bottom shell  4  are fastened together, defining a first accommodation chamber (not shown). Further, the bottom shell  4  has an opening  7  located on one end thereof. The upper shell  3  provides a button  11 . 
     The control circuit board  2  is mounted inside the first accommodation chamber. 
     The electric hot plate  5  is mounted inside the first accommodation chamber. 
     The heat-conductive brush head  6  is mounted inside the first accommodation chamber. The heat-conductive brush head  6  comprises a front side (not denoted in the figure), an back side (not denoted in the figure) and a plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9 . The heat-transfer plate  8  is mounted on a back side of the heat-conductive brush head  6 . The electric hot plate  5  is bonded to the heat-transfer plate  8 . The plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  forwardly extended from the front side of the heat-conductive brush head  6 . Each said heat-transfer brush tooth  9  has a free end (not denoted in the figure) thereof extended out of said opening  7  of said bottom shell  4  and terminating in a heat insulation tip  10 . 
     Further, the button  11 , the electric hot plate  5  and the power cord  1  are respectively electrically coupled to the control circuit board  2 . 
     After understanding the structural details of the hair straightener in accordance with the present invention, the application of the hair straightener is explained hereinafter. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  again, the electrical plug (not shown) at one end of the power cord  1  is connected to an electrical outlet (not shown) for enabling the power cord  1  to provide electricity to the control circuit board  2 . At this time, the control circuit board  2  controls the electric hot plate  5  to generate heat. The heat-transfer plate  8  is a metal plate of good thermal conductivity. Heat generated by the electric hot plate  5  is transferred through the heat-transfer plate  8  to the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9 . The plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  are metal pins. When the user operates the hair straightener to move the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  through hair like the way we comb our hair, hair is straightened. This operation is quite simple without the help of others, and without pulling hair hardly, creating a protective effect on hair. Because the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  have the free ends thereof respectively terminating in a heat insulation tip  10 , the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  will not directly touch the skin of the head, avoiding scalding injuries. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  of the hair straightener include multiple rows of first heat-transfer brush teeth (not denoted in the figure) and multiple rows of second heat-transfer brush teeth (not denoted in the figure). The lengths of the second heat-transfer brush teeth that extend out of the opening  7  are shorter than the lengths of the first heat-transfer brush teeth that extend out of the opening  7 . Further, each row of the second heat-transfer brush teeth is disposed between two rows of the first heat-transfer brush teeth. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  again, the operating temperature of the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  ranges from about 80° C. to about 220° C.; the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  are preferably arranged in an elevationally staggered manner, facilitating hair styling, and thus, hair can be temperature-treated several times no matter from which direction hair is getting into the gaps between the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9 . According to the experimental data obtained, the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  preferably divided into five rows. Under this arrangement, the hair straightening speed can be faster, greatly improving hair straightening efficiency, and at this time, the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  are reasonably spaced and hair will not be heavily dragged, avoiding hair cuticle damage. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, according to the above-described preferred embodiment, the free ends of the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  are respectively terminating in a respective heat insulation tip  10 . When the hair straightener directly touches the scalp, the high temperature of the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  can cause damage to the scalp, the arrangement of the heat insulation tips  10  prevents such incidents, giving protection to the scalp. The heat insulation tips  10  can be made from plastics or silicon rubber, however, plastic heat insulation tips are relatively harder than silicon rubber heat insulation tips and can cause discomfort upon contact with the scalp, and therefore, it is preferable to select silicon rubber heat insulation tips. According to the experimental data obtained, the silicon rubber heat insulation tips  10  can be kept in direct contact with the scalp without burning the scalp when the temperature of the silicon rubber heat insulation tips  10  is maintained in the range of 40° C. to 45° C. Further, according to medical knowledge, it can be certain that the silicon rubber heat insulation tips  10  can stimulate blood circulation to achieve meridian clearing and massaging effects upon contact with the scalp if the silicon rubber heat insulation tips  10  have a spherical shape. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, the heat-conductive brush head  6  of the hair straightener further comprises a plurality of anti-scald brush teeth  12  respectively extended from the front side near the border thereof around the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9 . The plurality of anti-scald brush teeth  12  are arranged in a circle, constituting a protective layer around the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9 . The plurality of anti-scald brush teeth  12  are selected from a heat-resistant inflexible material, preventing contact burns and scalds. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, the hair straightener further comprises an electric hot plate gland cover  13  disposed inside the first accommodation chamber and fixedly covered on the back side of the heat-conductive brush head  6 . The electric hot plate  5  is set in between the electric hot plate gland cover  13  and the heat-conductive brush head  6 . In this embodiment, the hair straightener generates heat by means of the electric hot plate  5 , enabling generated heat to be transferred through the heat-transfer plate  8  to the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9 , and thus, the electric hot plate  5  and the heat-transfer plate  8  must be kept in contact to achieve excellent heat transfer effects. In order to keep the electric hot plate  5  in the optimal position, the electric hot plate gland cover  13  is affixed to the back side of the heat-conductive brush head  6  with screws, preventing displacement of the electric hot plate  5  in long-term use. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  again, in use, the user needs to hold the hair straightener with one hand. To prevent the hand comes into contact with the upper shell  3  or the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  to cause burn injuries, a heat insulation cover  14  is mounted inside the first accommodation chamber. The heat insulation cover  14  and the heat-conductive brush head  6  are connected together, defining therein a second accommodation chamber. The heat-transfer plate  8 , the electric hot plate  5  and the electric hot plate gland cover  13  are all disposed inside the second accommodation chamber. The heat insulation cover  14  is made from a good heat insulation material, minimizing transfer of heat energy from the electric hot plate  5  to the upper shell  3 . The opposite end of the bottom shell  4  remote from the opening  7  is a handheld end. The end of the heat-conductive brush head  6  adjacent to the handheld end of the bottom shell  4  is bonded with an anti-scald strip  18 , preventing accidental contact of the hand with the plurality of heat-transfer brush teeth  9  to cause burn injuries during operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  again, the heat-conductive brush head  6  preferably has an oval shape, enhancing the sense of beauty and applicability. The opening  7  preferably has an oval shape fitting the oval shape of the heat-conductive brush head  6 . However, the heat-conductive brush head  6  and the opening  7  can also be made in any other shape according to actual application. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  again, the upper shell  3  is peripherally equipped with an ornamental frame  15 . The button  11  is fixedly mounted on the ornamental frame  15 . The ornamental frame  15  achieves a decorative effect and enhances the packing tightness between the upper shell  3  and the bottom shell  4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, the hair straightener of the preferred embodiment of the invention further comprises a temperature indicator  16  and a temperature probe (not shown). The temperature probe is affixed to the heat-transfer plate  8 . The upper shell  3  has a groove  17  located on an outer wall thereof. The temperature indicator  16  is fixedly mounted in the groove  17 . The temperature indicator  16  and the temperature probe are electrically coupled to the control circuit board  2 . The temperature probe detects the temperature of the heat-transfer plate  8  and provides the detected temperature signal to the control circuit board  2  so that the user can instantly know the temperature of the hair straightener through the indication on the temperature indicator  16  and start the hair straightening operation when the temperature of the hair straightener reaches a predetermined operating temperature range, or turn off the power supply of the hair straightener to save power consumption when the temperature reaches a predetermined high level. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  again, the heat-conductive brush head  6  of the hair straightener in accordance with the preferred embodiment has a convex surface portion (not denoted in the figure) located on a front middle part thereof.