Abstract:
Hair curler which has a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical, metal members having opposed side faces. The members are joined at one end by a bridge that separates the side faces of the metal members by a distance adapted to receive a rail-like heat conductor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to personal care devices for grooming hair. More particularly, the invention relates to hair curlers and devices for heating hair curlers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Hair setting and curling devices are well known that include means for heating hair rollers to a selected temperature for use in the curling or setting of a woman&#39;s hair. These devices usually comprise a casing that has supports for detachably holding and heating hair rollers. When the rollers are heated to a desired temperature, they are removed from the supports. The user winds a cluster of hair around the outer surface of the heated roller and, as a result, the hair is more readily curled. The roller may be removed from the hair after only several minutes. 
     An example of a hair roller as described above is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,552 issued to Tolmie for Portable Electric Appliance. The Tolmie patent discloses a hair setting and curling means including hair roller means and heating apparatus therefor. The heating apparatus is provided in a casing and includes a heating plate having a plurality of spaced and parallel rail members. Hair rollers are provided that have grooves in one end adapted to be fitted over the rails thereby enabling heat to be conducted from the rail members to the rollers. 
     These known devices present problems and inconveniences in use. The conventional heating apparatus transfers heat from a heating element to a heater case, then from the heater case to heater posts. This method of heat conduction is inefficient because heat energy is lost to the air by conduction or convection. Thus, the conventional heating apparatus is slow and wastes energy. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a more effective heating arrangement in which the path of heat conduction to a hair roller is as short as possible and in which the hair roller receives as much of the heat generated as possible. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for quickly heating hair rollers. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an energy efficient apparatus to heat hair rollers. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a hair roller specifically for use with a heater support. 
     The present invention is a hair curler comprising a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical, metal members having opposed side faces. The members are joined at one end by a bridge that separates the side faces of the metal members by a distance adapted to receive a rail-like heat conductor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exterior view of a preferred embodiment of a hair curler that incorporates the present invention. 
     FIG. 1a is a cross-sectional view of the noted portion of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hair curler of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is an exterior view of the hair curler of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a heater assembly for use with the hair curler of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is an exterior view of the hair curler of FIG. 1 placed upon the heater assembly of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an exterior view of a preferred embodiment of the outer body, generally identified as 1, of a hair curler, that incorporates the present invention. Outer body 1 is divided into members 12a, 12b. Members 12a, 12b are preferably aluminum extrusions that have hollow regions 18a, 18b (see FIG. 2) defined by inner walls 14a, 14b (also see FIG. 2) and outer walls 16a, 16b. Members 12a, 12b are spaced apart by an integral bridge 9. A slot 7 (see FIG. 3) is thereby formed in hair curler 1 between inner walls 14a, 14b. Additionally, outer body 1 may be covered in a material, such as flocking, to enable outer body 1 to more easily grip hair wound upon it. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, an inner member 21 comprises an endpiece 23 having a central opening 23a (see FIG. 3) through which endcap 24 extends. Endcap 24 may be optionally opaque or translucent Two, preferably hollow, columns 25a, 25b depend from endpiece 23. Columns 25a, 25b of inner member 21 are positioned within respective hollow regions 18a, 18b of respective members 12a, 12b of outer body 1. 
     The exploded view of FIG. 2 shows how the hair curler is preferably assembled. Outer body 1 is manufactured by extrusion as a hollow body having inner walls 14a, 14b and outerwalls 16a, 16b. A portion 26 of outer body 1 is cut between inner walls 14a, 14b to thereby create bridge 9 and slot 7 (see FIG. 3). Optionally, a heat pipe 26 is placed in contact with bridge 9 and a thermochromic plug 28 is placed upon heat pipe 26 so as to be visible through optionally translucent endcap 24. Columns 25a, 25b of inner body 21 are inserted into respective hollow regions 18a, 18b of respective members 12a, 12b of outer body 1. Finally, end caps 27a, 27b are connected to respective columns 25a, 25b. 
     Heater assembly 30 is shown in FIG. 4. Heating element 33 is sandwiched between insulating layers 34a, 34b. Preferably, insulating layers 34a, 34b are mica. Sheath 36 is placed over insulating layers 34a, 34b. Sheath 36 is a heat conducting metal, most preferably, aluminum. Heater assembly 30 is proportioned to create an interference fit with inner walls 14a, 14b of hair curler 1. 
     In operation, as shown is FIG. 5, outer body 1 is disposed upon heater assembly 30 by placing slot 7 over sheath 36. Heating element 33 of heater assembly 30 transfers heat energy through insulating boards 34a, 34b into sheath 36. Sheath 36 transfers the heat energy to inner walls 14a, 14b of hair curler 1 and also heats the air enclosed within hollow regions 18a, 18b. Inner walls 14a, 14b transfer the heat energy to outer walls 16a, 16b. Inner walls 14a, 14b also transfer the heat energy through heat pipe 26 to thermochromic plug 28. Thermochromic plug 28 changes color at a given temperature so as to notify the user that outer body 1 is ready to be used. 
     The invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred form thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.