Electric heating – Heating devices – Tool or instrument
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-12
2001-08-21
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Tool or instrument
C132S231000, C132S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278086
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hair styling appliance including a handle portion, a heating portion for heating the hair, and a holding member which can be moved from an open to a closed condition, with the hair being adapted to be placed between the heating portion and the holding member.
A hair styling appliance of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,567. In this patent, a handle is provided on which an electrically operated heating element is retained. The heating element has an elongated configuration and serves to heat a user's hair. A scissors-type clamping member is pivotally mounted roughly in the transition area between the handle and the heating element. The clamping member has also an elongated design and is adapted in its shape to the heating element. The clamping member can be swivelled by a user to a closed condition and an open condition by means of an actuating lever. Hair may be placed in between the heating element and the clamping member in the open condition. Hair may then be wrapped around the heating element and styled in this way.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 1,865,655 discloses an electrically operated hair curling iron of the type initially referred to, wherein the holding member is pivotable about a bearing provided on the handle portion until the holding member will abut on the surface of the heating portion. The holding member is connected to two oppositely arranged clamping members which can be tilted manually in relation to the longitudinal axis of the holding member so that they bear against the surface of the heating portion and partly embrace it, when the holding member is in abutment on the heating portion. Hair rolled up on the heating portion will thus be pressed by the clamping members against the surface of the heating portion.
When hair is disposed between the heating element and the clamping member, it is pressed against the heating element by the clamping member when in the closed condition. The pressure force exerted on the hair depends on the distance between the hair and the tilting axis. Thus, a higher pressure force acts upon the hair proximate the tilting axis than spaced farther away therefrom. This renders it impossible in the prior art hair styling tool to press the hair evenly against the heating element over the entire length of the clamping member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hair styling element which permits a uniform application of the hair against the heating barrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, this object is achieved in a hair styling element of the type mentioned hereinabove by the provision of a pressure member for exerting a pressure force on the hair which is arranged between the heating portion and the holding member and by the pressure member being resiliently retained on the hair styling appliance. Thus, a separate pressure member is provided for exerting pressure on the hair which is independent of the holding member. This offers the advantage that the pressure force is also independent of the holding member. It is thereby achieved that it is insignificant with a tiltable holding member how far the hair being pressed is spaced from the tilting axis. Instead, the pressure member applies a uniform pressure on the hair over the entire length of the holding member. The said uniform pressure application on the hair is produced by the resilient pressure member arranged between the heating portion and the holding member, as mentioned above. This may be realized in different ways.
For example, it is possible to provide an elastically deformable pressure member which is pushed back by the hair that is put into the appliance. In this case, the pressure force depends on the deformability or, respectively, elasticity of the pressure member. It is also possible to support the pressure member in a resilient manner so that, with hair put in the appliance, the spring, being configured as a pressure spring or helical spring, leaf spring, rubber-elastic or resilient element, or a similar element, is compressed and thereby causes displacement of the pressure member. The pressure force depends on the spring rate of the spring in this case. This achieves the advantage that the pressure force exerted by the pressure member can be adjusted as desired. Thus, the pressure force may e.g. be influenced by a corresponding deformability or, respectively, elasticity of the pressure member itself, or by a corresponding spring rate of the spring which provides the mounting support for the pressure member. As explained hereinabove, the adjustment of the pressure force is independent of the holding member in all cases. Thus, a hair styling appliance is achieved with the pressure member that is arranged between the heating portion and the holding member and exerts a pressure force on the hair which renders it possible that a predeterminable pressure force is uniformly applied to the hair.
In a favorable embodiment of the present invention the pressure member is held resiliently on the holding member, and the hair can be placed between the heating portion and the pressure member. Thus, the pressure member is coupled to the holding member and forms a unit with it. In this case, the hair is placed between the heating portion and the pressure member and may then be wrapped around the heating portion or around the pressure member and the holding member. The advantage of this embodiment is its simple construction. Further, this embodiment of a hair styling appliance lends itself to special ease of handling by a user.
In another favorable embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member is held resiliently on the heating portion, and the hair can be placed between the holding member and the pressure member. Thus, the pressure member is associated with the heating portion. This may be achieved, for example, because the pressure member is integrated in the heating portion and, in case of need, will even be heated. In this case, the hair is placed intermediate the pressure member and the holding member. It is advantageous in this embodiment of a hair styling appliance that a user will notice almost no difference as regards the appearance and handling in comparison to prior art appliances.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention the heating portion has an axis, there is provision of a guiding means to radially guide the pressure member. The heating portion is configured as an elongated heating barrel, for example. It is achieved by the guiding of the pressure member, which is radial with respect to the barrel, that an especially uniform pressure is applied by the pressure member to the hair. The hair is this way pressed uniformly against the heating portion over the entire length of the holding member especially when the pressure member is associated with the holding member.
In a favorable embodiment of the present invention the pressure member is mounted with two springs, rubber elements, or similar elastic means, fitted especially on the opposite ends of the pressure member. It is thereby achieved that the pressure member exerts a generally uniform pressure force on the hair even in the event of load application on a single side. This improves the uniform pressure application still further.
It is especially appropriate when the springs are arranged so that they produce a resilient force in a radial direction. This renders it possible in particular to predefine with relative precision the effect of the resilient force on the hair. An exact and reproducible adjustment of the resilient force and, thus, of the pressure force acting on the hair is thereby facilitated.
A stop on which the holding member abuts in the closed condition is provided in a particularly favorable embodiment of the hair styling appliance of the present invention.
This stop may be provided proximate the free end of the hair styling appliance, that is, for example, at the end of a swivellable holding member remote from the tilting axis. However, it is also possible th
Janouch Peter
Jung Robert
Liebenthal Dieter
Seng Jürgen
Braum GmbH
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Jeffery John A.
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