Patent Publication Number: US-2004045571-A1

Title: Method and device for straightening 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. 60/409,428, which was filed on Sep. 10, 2002, and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to a device for straightening hair and, more particularly, relates to a non-electric hair straightening device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003] Many people with varying degrees of curly hair have the desire to straighten their hair and/or remove curls. To straighten hair and/or remove curls, several devices and methods can and have been used including, but not limited to, using a flat iron, blow drying the hair using a brush or comb, and/or using chemical solutions. Each of the above mentioned methods and devices has, however, aspects that make it difficult and/or impractical to use.  
       [0004] The flat iron, for example, requires, among other things, a costly iron, electricity or an alternate power source to operate the iron. The iron is also heavy and cumbersome to use, which makes its use less than ideal. Similarly, using a blow-dryer to straighten the hair requires electricity and a costly blow-dryer, and it required the complete attention of the user. The chemical solutions are often toxic and can greatly damage the hair, which to a lesser extent also occurs with the other above-identified options.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] There still remains a need for an improved method and device for straightening hair. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair straightening device having a body and a fastener is disclosed. The body includes a first portion and a second portion having an inside and an outside, wherein the first portion and the second portion are pivotally connected by a seam that is adapted to allow for the inside of the first portion to abut the inside of the second portion. The body further includes a plurality of bristles that are located on at least one of the insides of the first and the second portion. A fastener is adapted to secure the first and second portions together with hair entrapped between. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair straightening device in the open position;  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair straightening device of FIG. 1, in the open position, as hair is inserted into the hair straightening device;  
     [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair straightening device of FIG. 1, in the closed position, after hair is inserted into the hair straightening device; and  
     [0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of multiple hair straightening devices, in the closed position, after hair is inserted into the hair straightening device. 
    
    
     [0010] 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  
     [0011] Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a hair straightening device is generally depicted by reference numeral  20 . As shown therein, the hair straightening device  20  includes a body  22  having a first portion  26  and a second portion  32 . The first portion  26  has an inside surface  28  and an outside surface  30 . The second portion  32  includes an inside surface  34  and an outside surface  36 . The first portion  25  is connected to the second portion  32  along a first side  33  of the body  22 , and in this exemplary embodiment is connected by a seam  38 . At least one of the inside surfaces  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32 , respectively, may further include a plurality of bristles  40 .  
     [0012] In one exemplary embodiment as depicted FIG. 1, the hair straightening device  20  may be of a generally rectangular configuration, such that the first portion  26  and the second portion  32  each have two elongated sides  42 ,  44  and two short sides  46 ,  48 . The first and second portions  26 ,  32 , in this exemplary embodiment, may be fixedly connected to each other at the seam  38  which may be located on the elongate sides  42  of each of the first and second portions  26 ,  32 . The seam  38  may be created by sewing or stitching the first and second portions  26 ,  32  together, or it may be created by other means, including, but not limited to, melting the portions  26 ,  32  together, gluing the portions  26 ,  32  together, forming a living hinge, or any other suitable means to accomplish the intended purpose. Similarly, the first and second portions  26 ,  32  may be one single piece that is folded, thereby creating the first and second portions  26 ,  32  at the seam  38 . Such a construction would be particularly well suited for use with a living hinge.  
     [0013] Located on the elongated sides  44  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32 , may be a fastener  24 . In one exemplary embodiment, the fastener  24  may be a strip  45  from a Velcro® fastener running along substantially the entire elongate side  44 . The fastener  24  may, however, be one or more fasteners, located near the side  44 . Similarly, the fastener  24  need not be made of Velcro®, but may be any fastener suitable for its intended purpose, including, but not limited to hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, latch and key, snaps, re-useable self-stick adhesive, or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the inside surfaces  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32  may be one part of the fastener  24 , such as the hook portion of a Velcro® fastener, and the strip  45  located on at least one of the inside surfaces  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32  may be a loop part of the fastener  24 , thereby creating the fastener  24 .  
     [0014] The bristles  40  may be one end of a hook and loop type fastener such as Velcro®, such that the insides  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32  may be one side of a hook and loop material. Alternately and/or additionally, the bristles  40  may be any suitable type of bristles that are part of or are added to the insides  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32 .  
     [0015] The body  22  of the hair straightening device  20  may be made from a material that is rigid or semi-rigid, including, but not limited to, plastic, cloth, or any other material suitable for the intended purpose.  
     [0016] In operation, as seen in FIGS.  2 - 4 , one or more hair straightening devices  20  may be used to straighten the user&#39;s strands of hair  47 . In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the user may first open the hair straightening device  20  and locate the hair straightening device  20  relative to the user&#39;s strands of hair  47 , such that the users strands of hair  47  lay parallel to the elongate sides  42 ,  44 . Anytime before, after and/or during the insertion of the strands of hair  47  into the hair straightening device  20 , the user may wet the strands of hair  47  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.  
     [0017] The user may place the strands of hair  47  into the open hair straightening device  20 , such that the user may brush or smooth the strands of hair  47  with the bristles  40  located on the inside surface  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32 . With the strands of hair  47  placed inside the hair straightening devices  20 , the user may press the inside surface  28 ,  34  of the first and second portions  26 ,  32  together, thereby closing the hair straightening device  20 . Similarly, by pressing the inside surfaces  28 ,  34  together, the fastener  24  may be engaged and the strands of hair  47  may be placed under pressure between the first and second portions  26 ,  32 . The user may also tug on the hair straightening device  20  thereby utilizing the bristles  40  to further straighten and arrange the strands of hair  47  within the hair straightening device  20 .  
     [0018] As shown in FIG. 4, multiple hair straightening devices  20  may be used to accommodate different length and styles of hair. For example, the user may use two or more hair straightening devices  20  on the same strands of hair, or may decide to only straighten parts of the user&#39;s strands of hair  47 .  
     [0019] Once the application of water or styling products has been completed, and the hair straightening device  20  is in place, the user may wait to let the hair at least partially dry before opening the hair straightening device  20 .  
     [0020] While the foregoing detailed description has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the disclosure, 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.