Abstract:
A hair appliance ( 10 ) has a combination of heating plates ( 14, 15 ) and a fan ( 19 ) source of heated, forced air to selectively apply either or both to a user&#39;s hair.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to hair appliances and, more particularly, to hair appliances for applying heat while used for styling hair. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Existing appliances exist that are used for styling hair. Appliances that use heated plates for pressing a tuft of hair to straighten or style the hair generally comprise a handheld unit having an electrical heat element in thermal communication with heated plates of metal. Other appliances deliver forced air from a heat element juxtaposed next to a fan, as in a handheld hair dryer or a hot air brush. 
         [0004]    Each of the above-mentioned types of known hair appliances has distinct benefits for styling hair and, depending on the circumstances, one is more desirable than the other. Sometimes a user may find one of them most suitable on one occasion, and the other most suitable on another occasion. At other times, a use may use both appliances in sequence during a single hair styling session. Thus, two separate appliances are required. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile, multi-function, single hair appliance that achieves the benefits of a plurality of appliances of the type described above. These objects and others are achieved by the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention achieves the above-mentioned objects through a novel hair appliance having a combination of heating plates and a source of heated, forced air to selectively apply either or both to a user&#39;s hair. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a distal end view of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a side view of a device according to the present invention shown in a closed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1D  is a proximal end view of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1E  is a bottom view of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1F  is a side view of a device according to the present invention shown in an opened position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1G  is a partial, top view of a portion of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1H  is a side, cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    A hair appliance ( 10 ) according to the present invention comprises an upper handle portion ( 11 ), a lower handle portion ( 12 ), and a hinge ( 13 ) connecting the respective portions ( 11 ,  12 ). An upper heat plate ( 14 ) is attached to the upper handle portion ( 11 ) and a lower heat plate ( 15 ) is attached to the lower handle portion ( 12 ), each in a position such that they are facing each other and can be pressed into contact with each other when the handle portions ( 11 ,  12 ) are pivoted about the hinge ( 13 ) toward each other. An internal plate heating assembly ( 16 ,  17 ) is associated with each plate ( 14 ,  15 ) to deliver heat thereto, said heating assemblies being electrically-powered as is know to those skilled in the art. A power cord ( 18 ) delivers electricity from an external source. A fan and heater assembly ( 19 ) resides in a chamber internally in the upper handle portion ( 12 ) to provide heated, flowing air in a manner known to those skilled in the art. A display panel ( 20 ) is provided for displaying operating information such as temperature or settings, and it may be a light emitting diode (LED). LCD, or other known type of display. A metal panel ( 21 ) having textured dimples for enhanced grip is provided. The use of metal for the panel ( 21 ) provides a very durable, corrosion-resistant, scratch-resistant and easily cleaned surface. A set of raised ridges ( 22 ) are provided as a gripping element that will prevent slippage of the appliance ( 10 ) relative to the hand by serving as a stop if the appliance ( 10 ) slips to the point of contacting a user&#39;s thumb or finger while the appliance ( 10 ) is gripped on the panel ( 20 ). Side vents ( 23 ) provide an external air intake for the fan assembly ( 19 ). Distal end gripping ridges ( 24 ) are provided for additional gripping ability. Control buttons ( 25 ,  26 ) are provided for increasing or decreasing temperature or setting when the power switch button ( 27 ) is activated. A hot air button ( 28 ) is provided to independently activate the fan and heater assembly ( 19 ). An internal contact switch ( 29 ) is provided so that when the hot air button ( 28 ) is activated, upon closing the handle portions ( 11 ,  12 ) together, the internal contact switch ( 29 ) switches the fan and heater assembly ( 19 ) on to cause heated air to flow out of airflow openings ( 30 ) in the heat plates ( 14 ,  15 ). The heat plates ( 14 ,  15 ) are identical, so only one ( 14 ) is featured in the view of  FIG. 1G . Venting openings ( 31 ) are provided on the back side of each of the handle portions ( 11 ,  12 ) and they are in communication with the interior of each handle portion ( 11 ,  12 ) and the airflow openings ( 30 ) to prevent pressure buildup inside of the handle portions ( 11 ,  12 ) if, for example, a tuft of hair closed between the heat plates ( 14 ,  15 ) obstructs flow from the airflow openings ( 30 ). Another intake vent ( 32 ) is provided on the lower handle portion ( 12 ), as well as a set of raised ridges ( 33 ) are provided on the lower handle portion ( 12 ) to prevent slippage from a user&#39;s hand. A swivel mechanism ( 34 ) enables the power cord ( 18 ) to be rotatably mounted. A comb attachment ( 36 ) may be provided to assist in styling. 
         [0016]    In operation, the appliance ( 10 ) is held in a user&#39;s hand and is initially in an opened position as shown in  FIG. 1F . By depressing the power button ( 27 ), the user can then select a heat setting using the control buttons ( 25 ,  26 ). The user may then place a tuft of the user&#39;s hair between the heat plates ( 14 ,  15 ) and close the handle portions ( 11 ,  12 ) together as shown in  FIG. 1C  by pivoting them about the hinge ( 13 ). If desired, the user can activate the hot air function by depressing the hot air button ( 28 ). In this mode, hot air will be emitted from the openings ( 30 ) when the plates ( 14 ,  15 ) are close together or touching, as shown in  FIG. 1C , but hot air will cease to be emitted when the plates ( 14 , 15 ) are apart as in the opened position as shown in  FIG. 1F . 
         [0017]    While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been herein described, various modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.