Abstract:
In a hair curler, at least one first cylindrical stretching member is adapted to pass a hair bundle therethrough, and a second cylindrical stretching member is adapted to pass a neck therethrough. String-type stretching members couple an end of the first cylindrical stretching member to an end of the second cylindrical stretching member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a simple hair curler for curling and fixing hair, which can also serve as decorative goods. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A prior art hair curler is constructed by a rectangular thin hydroscopic cloth and a flexible net with a rubber string at an opening thereof (see: Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3086682). First, a hair bundle is wound and wrapped by the cloth (see:  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the above-document). Then, the cloth is rolled from the outside of the hair bundle to the inside of the hair bundle (see:  FIG. 5  of the above-document). Finally, the rolled cloth is inserted into the net (see:  FIG. 6  of the above-document). Thus, the hair bundle is curled and fixed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The above-described prior art hair curler is simple; however, the following problems have arisen. 
         [0006]    Firstly, when the hair bundle is located on the back of the head of a person, it is difficult for the person per se to wind and wrap his or her hair bundle and roll the cloth. 
         [0007]    Secondly, when the cloth is rolled, the hair bundle may easily come off the cloth. 
         [0008]    Thirdly, when the hair bundle is wound and wrapped by the cloth, overlapped portions occur in the cloth. Such overlapped portions would affect the rolling of the cloth. That is, the rolled cloth is substantially swollen by the overlapped portions thereof, so that the curl ratio of the hair bundle is decreased and it is difficult to insert the swollen cloth including the curled hair bundle into the net. Additionally, the swollen cloth inserted into the net does not seem to serve as decorative goods. 
         [0009]    According to the present invention, in a hair curler, at least one first cylindrical stretching member is adapted to pass a hair bundle therethrough, and a second cylindrical stretching member is adapted to pass a neck therethrough. String-type stretching members couple an end of the first cylindrical stretching member to an end of the second cylindrical stretching member. 
         [0010]    In this hair curler, an upper portion of the first cylindrical stretching member is furled. Then, a neck of a person is inserted into the second cylindrical stretching member, so that the furled first cylindrical stretching member is located around the root of a hair bundle of the person. In this case, note that the second cylindrical stretching member is operated to pull the furled first cylindrical stretching member, to thereby prevent the hair bundle from coming out of the furled first cylindrical stretching member. Then, the furled portion of the first cylindrical stretching member is released to wrap an end of the hair bundle. Then, the first cylindrical stretching member along with the hair bundle is rolled. These operations can be easily carried out by the person per se. 
         [0011]    Also, even when the hair bundle is wrapped by the first cylindrical stretching member, no overlapped portions occur therein. As a result, the curl ratio of the hair bundle is not decreased. 
         [0012]    Further, the first and second cylindrical stretching members and the string-type cloths can serve as decorative goods. 
         [0013]    Note that the second cylindrical stretching member can be replaced by string-type cloths or cloths along with fasteners. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention will be more clearly understood from the description set forth below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the hair curler according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A through 2G  are perspective views for explaining the operation of the hair curler of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the hair curler according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4A through 4G  are perspective views for explaining the operation of the hair curler of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the hair curler of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views illustrating other modifications of the hair curler of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view where the modification of hair curler as illustrated in  FIG. 6B  is applied to the hair curler of  FIG. 4F . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    In  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a first embodiment of the hair curler according to the present invention, reference numeral  1  designates a cylindrical stretching member such as a cylindrical cloth for passing a hair bundle therethrough,  2  designates a cylindrical stretching member such as a cylindrical cloth, and  3  and  3 ′ designate string-type stretching members such as string-type cloths for coupling an end of the cylindrical cloth  1  to an end of the cylindrical cloth  2 . 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 1 , note that the cylindrical cloths  1  and  2  and the string-type cloths  3  and  3 ′ are made of a single cloth; however, they can be made of separate cloths. 
         [0024]    Spaces as indicated by X 1  and X 2  are used for accommodating a face and head of a person. 
         [0025]    The operation of the hair curler of  FIG. 1  is explained next with reference to  FIG. 2A through 2F . 
         [0026]    First, referring to  FIG. 2A , an upper portion of the cylindrical cloth  1  is furled. 
         [0027]    Next, referring to  FIG. 2B , a neck of a person is inserted into the cylindrical cloth  2 , so that the furled cylindrical cloth  1  is located around the root of a hair bundle of the person. In this case, note that the cylindrical cloth  2  is operated to pull the furled cylindrical cloth  1 , to thereby prevent the hair bundle from coming out of the furled cylindrical cloth  1 . 
         [0028]    Next, referring to  FIG. 2C , the furled portion of the cylindrical cloth  1  is released to wrap an end of the hair bundle. 
         [0029]    Next, referring to  FIG. 2D , the cylindrical cloth  1  along with the hair bundle is rolled. 
         [0030]    Finally, referring to  FIG. 2E , the cylindrical cloth  1  is fixed to the hair by a pin or a clip (not shown). Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 2F , the cylindrical cloth  2  is turned up to the head, so that the cylindrical cloth  1  is fixed to the head in a bandanna shape. Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 2G , the cylindrical cloth  2  is moved onto the head. 
         [0031]    Thus, over time, the hair bundle as illustrated in  FIGS. 2E ,  2 F or  2 G is curled and fixed. Thereafter, the cylindrical cloths  1  and  2  including the string-type cloths  3  and  3 ′ can be removed from the person. Otherwise, i.e., if the cylindrical cloths  1  and  2  including the string-type cloths  3  and  3 ′ are not removed from the person, they can serve as decorative goods. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a second embodiment of the hair curler according to the present invention, the cylindrical cloth  1  of  FIG. 1  is replaced by three cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3 , and string-type cloths  3 - 1  and  3 - 1 ′,  3 - 2  and  3 - 2 ′ and  3 - 3  and  3 - 3 ′ correspond to the string-type cloths  3  and  3 ′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 3 , note that the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  and  2  and the string-type cloths  3 - 1 ,  3 - 1 ′,  3 - 2 ,  3 - 2 ′,  3 - 3  and  3 - 3 ′ are made of a single cloth; however, they can be made of separate cloths. 
         [0034]    Spaces as indicated by Y 1  and Y 2  are used for accommodating a face and head of a person. 
         [0035]    The operation of the hair curler of  FIG. 3  is explained next with reference to  FIG. 4A through 4F . 
         [0036]    First, referring to  FIG. 4A , upper portions of the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  are furled. 
         [0037]    Next, referring to  FIG. 4B , a neck of a person is inserted into the cylindrical cloth  2 , so that the furled cylindrical cloth  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  are located around the roots of hair bundles of the person. In this case, note that the cylindrical cloth  2  is operated to pull the furled cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3 , to thereby prevent the hair bundles from coming out of the furled cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3 . 
         [0038]    Next, referring to  FIG. 4C , the furled portions of the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  are released to wrap ends of the hair bundles. 
         [0039]    Next, referring to  FIG. 4D , the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  along with the hair bundles are rolled. 
         [0040]    Finally, referring to  FIG. 4E , the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  are fixed to the hair by pins or clips (not shown). Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 4F , the cylindrical cloth  2  is turned up to the head, so that the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  are fixed to the head in a bandanna shape. Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 4G , the cylindrical cloth  2  is moved onto the head. 
         [0041]    Thus, over time, the hair bundles as illustrated in  FIGS. 4E ,  4 F or  4 G are curled and fixed. Thereafter, the cylindrical cloth  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  and  2  including the string-type cloths  3 - 1 ,  3 - 1 ′,  3 - 2 ,  3 - 2 ′,  3 - 3  and  3 - 3 ′ can be removed from the person. Otherwise, i.e., if the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  and  2  including the string-type cloths  3 - 1 ,  3 - 1 ′,  3 - 2 ,  3 - 2 ′,  3 - 3  and  3 - 3 ′ are not removed from the person, they can serve as decorative goods. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 5 , which illustrates a modification of the hair curler of  FIG. 1 , protrusions  1   a  are provided by a tape on an inner side of another end of the cylindrical cloth  1 . As a result, as illustrated in  FIG. 2C , when the furled portion of the cylindrical cloth  1  is released, the protrusions  1   a  are operated to comb the hair bundle. Note that the protrusions  1   a  can be applied to the cylindrical cloths  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 6A , which illustrates another modification of the hair curler of  FIG. 1 , the cylindrical cloth  2  of  FIG. 1  is replaced by string-type cloths  2 -A including strings  101  and  102 . 
         [0044]    Also, in  FIG. 6B , which illustrates a further modification of the hair curler of  FIG. 1 , the cylindrical cloth  2  of  FIG. 1  is replaced by cloths  2 -B including fasteners (such as buttons)  103  and  104 . 
         [0045]    The string-type cloths  2 -A of  FIG. 6A  or the cloths  2 -B of  FIG. 6B  can be applied to the neck as illustrated in  FIG. 2B  or  4 B. In  FIG. 7  where the cylindrical cloth  2  of FIG.  4 F is replaced by the cloth  2 -B of  FIG. 6B . 
         [0046]    Note that the string-type cloths  2 -A of  FIG. 6A  and the cloth  2 -B of  FIG. 6B  can be applied to the hair curler of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0047]    In the above-described embodiments, the number of the cylindrical cloths  1  (or  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2  and  1 - 3 ) is  1  or  3 , however, this number can be other values. If this number is increased, the curvature of hair bundles can be increased and the texture of hair bundles can be varied. 
         [0048]    Also, the color, pattern and material of the cloths  1 ,  1 - 1 ,  1 - 2 ,  1 - 3 ,  2 ,  2 -A and  2 -B can be changed to exhibit the decorative effect. In this case, the material can be selected from ultraviolet screening material and protection material against cold.