Patent Publication Number: US-9844252-B2

Title: Hair curling system and method that utilizes bi-stable ribbon springs

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to systems and methods that utilize bi-stable ribbon springs, commonly known as “slap bands” or “slap bracelets”. The present invention also relates to hair curling systems that are used to set a curl in a lock of hair. 
     2. Prior Art Description 
     Ribbon coil springs have been in existence for centuries. Ribbon coil springs are thin ribbons of steel that have been wound into a spiral and are biased into that shape. Ribbon coil springs are used in thousands of mechanisms, such as wind-up clocks, music boxes and spring hinges. However, it has only been in the past few decades that people have taken short segments of ribbon coil springs and made “slap band” devices. 
     A slap band is a short segment of coiled ribbon spring that is made bi-stable so that it can be straightened from its coiled configuration into a stable straight configuration. However, the stability of the straight configuration is tenuous. If the slap band is deformed from its straight configuration, it will immediately return to its coiled configuration. Slap bands are typically made into lengths that can coil about a person&#39;s wrist. In this manner, the slap band can be initially manipulated into its straight configuration. The slap band is then slapped against a person&#39;s wrist, wherein the slap band immediately curls around the person&#39;s wrist. 
     Having the described characteristics, it is only natural that slap bands have been decorated and used as bracelets and as watchbands. Such prior art applications are exemplified by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0155389 to Swartzentruber, entitled Slap On Band. Slap bands have been incorporated into other consumer products, such as bag holders and cuff holders. Such prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,019 to Shaw, entitled Devices Incorporating A Bi-Stable Ribbon Spring. 
     Although slap bands have been used for many consumer products, slap bands have always been used to wrap around another object. In the present invention, the structure of a slap band has been modified and is used in a novel manner. The slap band is not used to wrap around an object. Rather, the structure of the slap band is used as a platform to support a lock of hair. Once the slap band converts back into its coiled shape, it transfers that coiled shape to the supported hair. This provides the lock of hair with a curl. 
     The details of the present invention are described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system and method for curling a lock of hair. A hair curling assembly is provided that contains a bi-stable ribbon spring. The ribbon spring is biased into a coiled configuration. The ribbon spring stores energy when unwound from the coiled configuration into a linear configuration. The ribbon spring is bi-stable because it has positional stability in both its coiled configuration and its linear configuration. 
     The ribbon spring is manipulated into its linear configuration within the hair curling assembly. The hair curling assembly is then positioning proximate the lock of hair to be curled. 
     The ribbon spring is moved out of its linear configuration to a point where it loses its stability. Once the ribbon spring loses its positional stability, it automatically winds into its coiled configuration. The lock of hair winds with the ribbon spring into its coiled configuration, therein forming a curl in the lock of hair. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a hair curling assembly in a coiled configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hair curling assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in an unstable configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hair curling assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in a linear configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the present invention hair curling system can be embodied in many ways, the illustrations provided show only a few exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in conjunction with both  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , a hair curling assembly  10  is shown. The hair curling assembly  10  contains an elongated flexible casing  12 . Within the casing  12  is at least one bi-stable ribbon spring  14 . The flexible casing  12  bends and curls with the bi-stable ribbon spring  14 . Accordingly, the flexible casing  12  and the overall hair curling assembly  10  embody the bi-stable nature of the bi-stable ribbon spring  14 . 
     Since the hair curling assembly  10  is bi-stable, the hair curling assembly  10  can stand at rest in one of two stable configurations. The first stable configuration is shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1 , the hair curling assembly  10  winds around itself into a coiled configuration  16 . The second stable configuration is shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 3 , the hair curling assembly  10  lay in a straightened linear configuration  18 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the hair curling assembly  10  in an unstable configuration halfway between the stable coiled configuration  16  of  FIG. 1  and the stable linear configuration  18  of  FIG. 3 . The hair curling assembly  10  only passes through the unstable configuration as it is being manually unwound from the coiled configuration  16  to the linear configuration  18 , or when the hair curling assembly  10  recoils from its linear configuration  18  back to its coiled configuration  16 . 
     The hair curling assembly  10  includes a segment of bi-stable ribbon spring  14 . The bi-stable ribbon spring  14  is preferably metal. However, a length of resilient plastic may also be used. The ribbon spring  14  has a top surface  22 , a bottom surface  24 , two long side edges  26 ,  27 , and two short side edges  28 ,  29 . The corners  30  where the long side edges  26 ,  27  meet the short side edges  28 ,  29  are preferably rounded so as not to present any salient points that can cause injury. The long side edges  26 ,  27  have a preferred length of between three inches and eighteen inches. The short side edges  28 ,  29  have a preferred length of between 0.5 inches and two inches. 
     The bi-stable ribbon spring  14  is manufactured to be biased into its coiled configuration  16  of  FIG. 1 . The bi-stable ribbon spring  14  stores energy when unwound from the coiled configuration  16  of  FIG. 1  into its linear configuration  18  of  FIG. 3 . The bi-stable ribbon spring  14  has positional stability only in both its coiled configuration  16  and its linear configuration  18 . When in its linear configuration  18 , only a slight deformation will cause the bi-stable ribbon spring  14  to lose its stability and automatically revert back to its coiled configuration  16 . 
     The casing  12  has two flaps  32 ,  34  that are attached along a common seam  36 . In the shown embodiment, the first flap  32  contains a pocket  38  that receives and holds the bi-stable ribbon spring  14 . The material  40  used to create the casing  12  can be simple fabric. However, the material  40  of the casing  12  is preferably a mesh material or a perforated material through which air can readily pass. In this manner, heat from a hairdryer can reach the hair  20  wound within the hair curling assembly  10  and moisture from the hair  20  can exit the casing  12 . 
     The hair curling assembly  10  is manually manipulated into its linear configuration  18  ( FIG. 3 ). Once in this configuration, the two flaps  32 ,  34  of the casing  12  are opened and a lock of hair  20  is placed between the two flaps  32 ,  34 . The two flaps  32 ,  34  are closed around the lock of hair  20 . Consequently, the lock of hair  20  is interposed between the first flap  32  and the second flap  34  of the casing  12 . 
     Once the two flaps  32 ,  34  of the casing  12  are closed around the lock of hair  20 , the hair curling assembly  10  is slightly deformed by a manually applied force. This causes the ribbon spring  14  within the hair curling assembly  10  to become unstable and immediately revert back into its coiled configuration  16 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The coiling of the hair curling assembly  10  causes the lock of hair  20  within the hair curling assembly  10  to curl. The hair curling assembly  10  can then be left in place or set on the head with a hairclip. The hair curling assembly  10  is left in place as the lock of hair  20  dries, either naturally or through the use of a hair dryer. Once the curl is set in the lock of hair  20 , the hair curling assembly  10  can be removed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternate embodiment of a hair curling assembly  50  is shown. In this embodiment, two bi-stable ribbon springs  52 ,  54  are used. The two ribbon springs  52 ,  54  are set into pockets in the first and second flaps  56 ,  58 , respectfully of a casing  59 . The ribbon springs  52 ,  54  align in parallel and the hair curling assembly  50  operates in the same manner as previously described for the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The use of two bi-stable ribbon springs  52 ,  54  increases the strength of the hair curling assembly  50  and enables larger locks of hair to be curled. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an alternate embodiment of a hair curling assembly  60  is shown where a casing  62  without a fold is provided. A bi-stable ribbon spring  64  is molded within a surrounding elastomeric casing  62 . A lock of hair can be placed against the casing  62  as the casing  62  and bi-stable spring  64  recoil. Any lock of hair in contact with the casing  62  will coil with both the casing  62  and ribbon spring  64 . 
     Lastly, referring to  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of a hair curling assembly  70  is shown that does not have a casing. Rather, the hair curling assembly  70  is made from a plastic molded bi-stable ribbon spring  72 . The ribbon spring  72  is wider than previous metal springs, since its body produces the entirety of the hair curling assembly  70 . The bi-stable ribbon spring  72  is preferably molded with perforations so that heated air can pass through the hair curling assembly  70  from a hair dryer. To use the hair curling assembly  70 , a lock of hair is placed against the molded ribbon spring  72 . As the molded ribbon spring  72  recoils, the lock of hair  20  coils with the molded spring  72 . 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments and can mix and match various elements of the different embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.