Patent Abstract:
A curling iron providing angular adjustment of a heatable wand to a handle is disclosed. The curling iron comprises a pivot joint between the elongated handle and the elongated heatable wand. A manual detent is biased to constrain the pivot joint against rotation, thereby locking the elongated heatable wand in a selected position relative to the handle, and to release the wand for adjustment to another position. Release and adjustment may be performed by operating a manual control to release the pivot joint and rotating a wheel of the pivot joint to adjust angle of the wand relative to the handle. Alternatively, a single manual control can be manipulated to both release the pivot joint and also adjust the angle of the wand.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/147,297, filed on Apr. 14, 2015. The subject matter of the aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting hereof. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to curling irons for curling hair, and more particularly, to a curling iron having a heatable wand adjustably positionable relative to a handle thereof. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Curling irons are widely used to curl hair, and are hand wielded. Human physiology mandates that appropriate and ideal angles for the heatable wand of the curling iron be at various orientations relative to the hand of the person wielding the curling iron. In any one session, a number of different orientations may be necessary. Therefore, there exists a need for a curling iron which addresses the need of several positional adjustments in the course of curling the hair. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The disclosed concepts address the above stated situation by providing a curling iron which is readily adjustable as to orientation of the heatable wand of the curling iron relative to the handle. A pivot wheel is introduced between the handle and the heatable wand to facilitate mutual rotation therebetween. This pivot wheel is of dimensions such that it protrudes from the handle and the heatable wand, and can be readily rotated by the thumb of the user. With the wand fixed to the pivot wheel, the angle of the heatable wand to the handle is readily adjusted by thumb, which is a very natural and intuitive motion for a user. The pivot wheel not only serves as a pivotal joint between the handle and the heatable wand, but also gives the user structure to move the heatable wand without obliging the user to actually contact the heatable wand, which may be excessively hot for safely contacting the wand during angle adjustments. 
         [0005]    A detent button withdraws a latch from engagement with the pivot wheel to free the wand to rotate with the pivot wheel. The latch is spring biased to engage the pivot wheel and immobilize the pivot wheel, thereby keeping the heatable wand in a selected angle relative to the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed concepts will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a curling iron, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the curling iron of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the curling iron of  FIG. 1 , shown partly in cross section; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the curling iron of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but shows the heatable wand at an angle adjusted from the position shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side detail view of a curling iron, according to at least one additional aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows the components of  FIG. 6 , but with some components moved to a new position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of electrical components of the curling iron of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side depiction of the curling iron of  FIG. 1 , drawn to reduced scale. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1-5 , according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown a curling iron  100  providing angular adjustment of a heatable wand  102  to a handle  104 . Curling iron  100  comprises elongated handle  104  having a longitudinal axis  106  ( FIG. 1 ), elongated heatable wand  102 , and a pivot joint  108  between elongated handle  104  and elongated heatable wand  102 . Pivot joint  106  comprises an axle pin  110  anchored within elongated handle  104  and a pivot wheel  112  rotatable about axle pin  110 . Elongated heatable wand  102  is fixed to pivot wheel  112 . Pivot wheel  112  is at least partially exposed to finger contact proximate elongated handle  104 . A manual detent is biased to constrain pivot wheel  112  against rotation about axle pin  110  and is manually releasable to permit pivot wheel  112  to rotate about axle pin  110 . 
         [0018]    Heatable wand  102 , apart from its angular adjustability relative to elongated handle  104 , may be of generally conventional construction, having an electric resistance heating element  114  (see  FIG. 8 ) contain within. 
         [0019]    Referring primarily to  FIG. 3 , the manual detent comprises an actuator  116  slidably coupled to elongated handle  104 . Actuator  116  has a finger contact surface  118  engageable buy the user&#39;s finger or thumb  2  (e.g., as seen in  FIG. 6 ). When curling iron  100  is grasped in one hand by elongated handle  104 , it is most ergonimical to engage finger contact surface  118  by the thumb. 
         [0020]    Pivot wheel  112  comprises a circumferential surface  128  and a plurality of recesses  122  in circumferential surface  128 . The manual detent comprises a protuberance (seen as a finger  120 ) configured and dimensioned to partially occupy each one of recesses  122 , and a biasing member arranged to bias the protuberance to occupy one of recesses  122 . The biasing member comprises a spring  124  seated at one end in elongated handle  106 . 
         [0021]    Recesses  122  are similarly configured, to enable close cooperation with finger  120 . Spring  124  is a compression spring biases finger  120  into an engaged position ( FIG. 3 ) occupying one recess  122 . Rotation of pivot wheel  112  brings other recesses  122  into alignment with finger  120 . Rotation of pivot wheel  112  and selection of different recesses  122  alters an angle between longitudinal axis  126  of heatable wand  102  (see  FIG. 5 ) and elongated handle  104 . Pivot wheel  112  may be rotated by hand while simultaneously holding actuator  116  out of the engaged position shown in  FIG. 3 . Illustratively, actuator  116  is moved to the right, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0022]    In curling iron  100 , pivot wheel  112  is exposed to finger contact on one side of elongated handle  104 , and the manual detent comprises finger contact surface  118  on another side of elongated handle  104 . Pressure against finger contact surface  118  of the manual detent withdraws the protuberance (finger  120 ) from that one of recesses  122  occupied by the protuberance. The above configuration enables a user, with one hand encircling elongated handle  104 , to maintain actuator  116  in a disengaged position with the thumb for example, while manipulating pivot wheel  112  to a new position with the index finger for example. 
         [0023]    Circumferential surface  128  of pivot wheel  112  is configured or textured to enhance engagement by the fingers, thumb, or hand of a user. Recesses  122  may provide ridges enhancing engagement. Alternatively, ridging or other texturing (not shown) may be provided to enhance manual engagement of pivot wheel  112 . 
         [0024]    In curling iron  100 , the detent responds to finger pressure withdrawing the protuberance from recess  122  in a direction parallel to longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104 . 
         [0025]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in curling iron  100 , pivot wheel  112  has diameters greater than any diameter of elongated handle  106 . Also, pivot wheel  112  has diameters greater than any diameter of heatable wand  104 . These relationships enable pivot wheel  112  to project beyond the bounds of elongated handle  106 , thereby being readily exposed to finger or thumb engagement when adjusting angles of heatable wand  102  relative to elongated handle  104 . Also, these relationships assure sufficient leverage such that finger pressure will readily rotate heatable wand  104  to a new selected angular position relative to elongated handle  104 . 
         [0026]    Referring also to  FIG. 8 , in curling iron  100 , heatable wand  102  includes electrical resistance heating element  114 . Curling iron  100  further comprises electrical circuitry  130  connected to electrical resistance heating element  114  and a switch  132  controlling electrical power to electrical resistance heating element  114 . Switch  132  has a switch operator  134  accessible from elongated handle  106 . Electrical circuitry  130  will be understood to include the number of conductors and electrical insulation necessary for operation, even if these are not shown. Electrical circuitry  130  includes a power cord  136  terminating in a pronged plug  138 , so that power cord  136  may be used with ordinary residential power receptacles (not shown). 
         [0027]    Curling iron  100  further comprises a temperature sensor  140  in heat sensing relation to electrical resistance heating element  114 , and a temperature indicator (shown as an electronic display  142 ) visible to view. Temperature sensor  140  and electronic display  142  may be of conventional nature. 
         [0028]    Referring primarily to  FIG. 9 , in curling iron  100 , pivot joint  112  can accommodate angular adjustment of heatable wand  102  within a one hundred eighty degree range relative to longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104 . A one hundred eighty degree range satisfies almost all conceivable positions of heatable wand  102  relative to longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104  that would be encountered in ordinary use. 
         [0029]    In one implementation of curling iron  100 , the one hundred eighty degree range extends ninety degrees from longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104  in one direction, and ninety degrees from longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104  in an opposed direction. These relationships are indicated by arrows  144  and  146  in  FIG. 9 . Combination of swing of arrows  144  and  146 , each being ninety degrees, provides a total of one hundred eighty degrees. 
         [0030]    In curling iron  100 , heatable wand  102  is adjustable to any one of a plurality of discrete selectable positions relative to elongated handle  104 . This is a consequence of recesses  122 . Although three recesses  122  are shown in  FIG. 3 , any desired number of recesses  122  may be provided. 
         [0031]    Referring primarily to  FIGS. 1-4 , it will be noted that in curling iron  100 , heatable wand  102  has longitudinal axis  126 , and in one of the selectable positions, longitudinal axis  126  of heatable wand  102  is parallel to longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104 . This is one of the most convenient orientations of curling iron  100 . 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , but also referring to the other Figures, an example of curling iron  100  providing angular adjustment of heatable wand  102  to elongated handle  104  comprises elongated handle  104  having longitudinal axis  106 , elongated heatable wand  102 , and pivot joint  112  between elongated handle  104  and heatable wand  102 . Pivot joint  112  comprises axle pin  110  anchored within elongated handle  104  and pivot wheel  112  rotatable about axle pin  110 . Heatable wand  102  is fixed to pivot wheel  112 . A manual detent is biased to constrain pivot wheel  112  against rotation about axle pin  110  and manually releasable to permit pivot wheel  112  to rotate about axle pin  110 . The manual detent is connected to pivot wheel  112  to rotate pivot wheel  112  about axle pin  110 . A difference between the arrangement of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and the arrangement of  FIGS. 1-5  is the role of actuator  116 . In the arrangement of  FIGS. 1-5 , actuator  116  functions only to disengage finger  120  from a recess  122 . In the arrangement of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , actuator  116  both disengages finger  120  from a recess  122 , and also enables rotation of pivot wheel  112 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows an actuation system combining the functions of the manual detent and of rotating pivot wheel  112 . Actuator  116  pivots about an axis  148 , supported on a pin  150  anchored to elongated handle  104 . An arm  152  projects downwardly from a finger receiving portion  154  of actuator  116 . 
         [0034]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as downwardly, right, and left refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in body posture and position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position. 
         [0035]    Arm  152  includes a slot  156  capturing a trunnion  158  of finger  120 . Depressing arm  154  by exerting finger pressure against finger engagement surface  118  rotates actuator  116  in an an arcuate path indicated by an arrow  160 . The resulting position is shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein it is seen that finger  120  is displaced to the right, fully withdrawn from recess  122 . With this withdrawal, pivot wheel  112  is free to rotate, and in so doing, to establish a new angle between heatable wand  102  and longitudinal axis  106  of elongated handle  104 . However, pivot wheel  112  does not rotate merely as a consequence of retracting finger  120 . 
         [0036]    Pin  150 , actuator  116 , and finger  120  are carried on a cartridge  162  (shown only in abbreviated form in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) horizontally slidably coupled to elongated handle  104 . With actuator  116  in the depressed position shown in  FIG. 7 , finger pressure on finger engagement surface  118  is exerted so as to slide actuator  116  to the left or to the right as seen in  FIG. 7 . This action also moves cartridge  162 , which is coupled to a toothed rack  164  engaging teeth  166  of a pinion integral with pivot wheel  112 . Lateral movement of toothed rack  164  to the left or right (in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) rotates pivot wheel  112 , and hence, heatable wand  102  (see  FIGS. 1-5 ). Spring  124  ( FIG. 3 ) may be incorporated into the arrangement of  FIGS. 6 and 7  to bias finger  120  into engagement with an aligned recess  122 . Spring  124  would also bias actuator  116  to move along an arcuate path indicated by an arrow  160  to return to the position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0037]    While the disclosed concepts have been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred implementation, it is to be understood that the disclosed concepts are not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but are intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 
         [0038]    It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. 
         [0039]    Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0