Abstract
The appliance is composed of heat-retaining materials such as natural materials, including but not limited to grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, clay, and/or stones, manmade materials, including but not limited to beads and/or gels of silicon or glycerin, or combinations of natural and man-made heat-retaining materials. The invention relates to curling irons, crimping tools, straightening irons, hair rollers, hot air dryer brushes, traditional hair brushes and combs, heated brushes and similar appliances. The appliances may be heated by conventional sources such as an electrical plug or battery, or, heated by placing said appliance on or in a separate heating housing unit, and/or by heating in a microwave. The appliance may be used to fashion or style hair without the need for ongoing power from electrical or battery-operated sources. The appliances can retain and release hair additives, including but not limited to moisture and/or fragrances that, in addition to heating the heat-retaining materials, can impart moisture and/or fragrances to the materials of
Claims
1) A stored heat hair appliance comprising heat-retaining materials optionally enclosed in an enclosure of fabric, plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, and/or carbon components wherein said stored heat hair appliance is not electrically or battery powered.
2) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a curling iron, a straightening iron, a combined curling iron and straightening iron, a crimping tool, a wave-making tool, hair rollers, and/or a hair brush.
3) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 1 wherein the heat-retaining materials or the heat-retaining materials within their optional enclosure are permanently affixed to said appliance.
4) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 1 wherein the heat-retaining materials and/or their enclosure are replaceable.
5) A method of replacing the heat-retaining materials and/or their enclosure within the stored heat hair appliance of claim 4, wherein such method comprises: removing the current heat-retaining materials from their enclosure and refilling the enclosure with new heat-retaining materials; removing the current heat-retaining materials and their enclosure from the stored heat hair appliance and replacing the current heat-retaining materials and their enclosure with a new enclosure containing new heat-retaining materials; or removing the current heat-retaining materials and their enclosure from the stored heat hair appliance, removing the current heat-retaining materials from their enclosure, transferring the current heat-retaining materials to a new enclosure, and placing the new enclosure with the current heat-retaining materials into the stored heat hair appliance.
6) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 1 wherein the heat-retaining materials comprise rice, seeds, nuts, legumes, grains, oats, flowers, herbs, wood, clay, silica, tourmaline, graphene, ceramic, glycerin, polypropylene, silicon, polystyrene, and/or combinations thereof.
7) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 1 wherein the heat-retaining materials are mixed with the one or more hair additives.
8) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 7 wherein the one or more hair additives comprise water, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, flowers, fragrance, essential oils, spices, herbs, and/or combinations thereof.
9) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 1 wherein the enclosure for the heat-retaining materials are dampened, coated, woven, infused, or otherwise constructed such that the enclosure include water, fragrances, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, essential oils, solid materials such as spices, dried flowers, seeds, herbs, and/or combinations thereof.
10) A method of applying water, gels, conditioners, keratin, and/or oils to hair during styling comprising adding said water, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, and/or oils to heat-retaining materials, placing such heat-retaining materials within an enclosure of fabric, plastic, or metal, and affixing, permanently or temporarily, said enclosure containing said heat-retaining materials to a heated hair appliance.
11) A stored heat hair appliance comprising heat-retaining materials optionally enclosed in an enclosure of fabric, plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, and/or carbon components wherein said heat-retaining materials perpetuate and/or enhance heat provided by electrical, battery, or other standard power sources.
12) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 11 wherein the appliance is a curling iron, a straightening iron, a combined curling iron and straightening iron, a crimping tool, a wave-making tool, hair rollers, a hot air dryer brush, a hair brush, a hair comb, and/or a heated hair brush or heated hair comb.
13) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 11 wherein the heat-retaining materials or the heat-retaining materials within their optional enclosure are permanently affixed to said appliance.
14) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 11 wherein the heat-retaining materials and/or their enclosure are replaceable.
15) A method of replacing the heat-retaining materials and/or their enclosure within the stored heat hair appliance of claim 14, wherein such method comprises: removing the current heat-retaining materials from their enclosure and refilling the enclosure with new heat-retaining materials; removing the current heat-retaining materials and their enclosure from the stored heat hair appliance and replacing the current heat-retaining materials and their enclosure with a new enclosure containing new heat-retaining materials; or removing the current heat-retaining materials and their enclosure from the stored heat hair appliance, removing the current heat-retaining materials from their enclosure, transferring the current heat-retaining materials to a new enclosure, and placing the new enclosure with the current heat-retaining materials into the stored heat hair appliance.
16) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 11 wherein the heat-retaining materials comprise rice, seeds, nuts, legumes, grains, oats, flowers, herbs, wood, clay, silica, tourmaline, graphene, ceramic, glycerin, polypropylene, silicon, polystyrene, and/or combinations thereof.
17) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 11 wherein the heat-retaining materials are mixed with the one or more hair additives.
18) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 17 wherein the one or more hair additives comprise water, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, flowers, fragrance, essential oils, spices, herbs, and/or combinations thereof.
19) The stored heat hair appliance of claim 11 wherein the enclosure for the heat-retaining materials are dampened, coated, woven, infused, or otherwise constructed such that the enclosure include water, fragrances, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, essential oils, solid materials such as spices, dried flowers, seeds, herbs, and/or combinations thereof.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings which correspond to the same.
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention in the form of a hair straightening iron with a removable plate containing heat-retaining materials.
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention in the form of a brush, wherein the heat-retaining materials are permanently affixed to the appliance and where the appliance is heated via a rechargeable battery.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention in the form of a curling iron, wherein the heat-retaining materials are located below the surface that interacts with the hair.
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention in the form of hair curlers as well as an apparatus for heating said hair appliance.
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention in the form of a hot air dryer brush.
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates examples of apparatuses that may be used to heat a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention as well as depicting the addition of waters, gels, or oils to said apparatuses. Update this drawing to include some more modern devices like the charging matt.
[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates examples of the potential placement of the heat-retaining material, and optionally the hair additive, in relationship to the surface that contacts or is closest to the hair in the stored heat hair appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The reference numerals used in the detailed description of the embodiment below correspond to the reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings.
[0037] The present invention encompasses stored heat hair appliances featuring heat-retaining materials, as depicted in FIGS. 1-5, and a depiction of heating said appliances, FIG. 6, and examples of the potential placement of the heat-retaining materials in relationship to the surface that contacts the hair in the stored heat hair appliance, FIG. 7. FIGS. 1-7 depict exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the inventions set forth herein.
[0038] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a stored heat hair appliance of the present invention in the form of a stored heat straightening iron 100 with a plate 10 comprising heat-retaining materials 11 wherein said plate 10 is removable. In FIG. 1, the bottom surface 12 of the plate 10 contains an engaging male component 14 that slideably engages into a corresponding engaging female component 16 to lock the plate 10 into place such that the top surface 18 will be in contact with the user's hair. FIG. 1 includes a standard power cord 29 and plus, but it should be understood that any form or source of heating may be used.
[0039] In FIG. 1, the top surface of 18 is the heat-retaining material itself. As alternatives not depicted, solid, mesh, or perforated fabric, plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, carbon material components, or the like form the top surface 18; in such alternatives, the heat-retaining materials 11 would lie beneath the top surface 18. In yet other alternatives, the heat-retaining materials 11 could be placed in enclosures, such as pockets, sleeves, compartments, pouch, cartridges, or other forms of confinement, also made of solid, mesh, or perforated fabric, plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, carbon material components or the like. As non-limiting examples, suitable materials for the top surface 18 and/or enclosures could be made with natural or synthetic fabric, including but are not limited to cotton, cotton blends, flannel, felt, hemp, burlap, canvas, wool, percale, polyester, cotton-polyester combination fabrics, silks, satin, sateen, velvet, nylon, bamboo, thermal textiles, and/or proprietary fabrics, including but not limited to waterproof and breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex, Hyvent, and the like. In further embodiments, also not shown, the heat-retaining materials of the stored heat hair appliance may be covered, or enclosed by or affixed to the appliance with enclosures, containing plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite or carbon material components, including but not limited to stainless steel foil-coated heat reflective fiberglass cloth, high temperature heat reflective aluminum coated fiberglass, radiant and heat reflective dual coated aluminum film, silicone rubber cushion fabric, high temperature and heat reflective aluminum foil coated fabric, ceramic fiber paper, ceramic fiber blanket, fiberglass, radiant and graphite foil, acrylic fiber with PTEE impregnation square braided gasket rope,
[0040] Nomex products, ceramics, and/or carbon fiber, graphene, and all carbon products. A combination of fabric and plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, or carbon material components may also be used to cover the heat-retaining materials, or to use as enclosures for the heat-retaining materials, of the stored heat hair appliance.
[0041] While FIG. 1 depicts a stored heat hair appliance with a plate 10 comprising heat-retaining material 11 that is removable and slideably engages with the appliance, in other preferred embodiments, not shown, the plate 10 may be temporarily affixed by any fastener or fixative known in the art, including but not limited to hook and loop type products, zippers, snap-and-fit components buttons, latches, hinges, snaps, glues, clips, and/or pins. In yet another preferred embodiment, not shown, the plate 10 is permanently affixed to the stored heat hair appliance. Alternatively, the heat-retaining material 11 may be separable from the plate 10. While not shown, one of ordinary skill in the art also can contemplate replacing the heat-retaining materials 11 by replacing, or by emptying and then refilling, enclosures, such as pockets, sleeves, compartments, or other forms of confinement, used to enclose the heat-retaining materials 11.
[0042] It should also be noted that in FIG. 1, the top surface 18 of the plate 10 of the stored heat straightening iron 100 is depicted as flat, corresponding to the use of the stored heat hair appliance as a stored heat straightening iron 100 for straightening hair. Another preferred embodiment, not shown, is a stored heat hair appliance where the plate is patterned, including but not limited to a plate with crimping peaks for crimping hair or having waves for waving hair and using heat styling as is known in the art.
[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred stored heat hair appliance of the invention, a stored heat hair brush 200. In FIG. 2, the stored heat hair brush 200 has bristles 20 that are embedded within a supporting surface 22 comprised of heat-retaining materials 24. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the stored heat hair appliance may be a round brush, a cushion brush, a vented brush, a barrel brush, or other brush tool, In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the stored heat hair appliance may be a comb, rather than a brush, having teeth, rather than bristles, that are affixed to the portion of the comb comprising heat-retaining materials. In further embodiments, also not shown, the bristles or teeth, may comprise the heat-retaining materials.
[0044] In FIG. 2, the heat-retaining materials 24 are affixed directly to the supporting surface 22. In other preferred embodiments, not shown, the heat-retaining materials 24 could be covered by another material or enclosed in enclosures, such as pockets, sleeves, compartments, or other forms of confinement, where such enclosures may be permanently sealed and/or may be able to be opened and closed and/or could be completely removed and replaced. The other materials covering the heat-retaining materials 24, or the enclosures of the heat-retaining materials 24, may be solid, mesh, or perforated fabric, plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, and/or carbon material components or the like.
[0045] FIG. 2 also depicts a charging station 250 that may optionally be used to heat the stored heated hair brush 200. As known in the art, the hair brush 200 of the present invention may have a rechargeable battery, not shown. To heat the hair brush 200 that has a rechargeable battery, the user would place the hair brush 200 into the charging station 250 to charge. As depicted in FIG. 2, the charging station 250 comprises a structure 26 that interacts with a cavity 25 of the hair brush 200 such as to align the hair brush charging points 27 with the charging station charging points 28 so as to enable the rechargeable battery of the hair brush 200 to charge and heat the hair brush 200 via a power connection 29. The power connection itself could be made using usb or, not shown, a traditional electrical plug. The present invention further includes hair brushes or combs that are not powered by battery or electricity, but instead merely contain heat-retaining components (including but not limited to heat-retaining components in the base of the bristles/teeth, and/or on or at the bristles/teeth).
[0046] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is that of a stored heat curling iron 300 as shown in FIG. 3. As depicted in FIG. 3, the curling iron 300 comprises a styling tip 34 that, once removed, exposes the hollow opening within the stored heat curling iron 300. The heat-retaining materials 36 can then be inserted into the hollow opening of the stored heat curling iron 300, where they lie below the curling surface 30 and heat the surface. Holes 32 in the curling surface 30 may also be present to allow heat and/or hair additives, including but not limited to water, moisture, vapor, liquids, fragrances, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, oils, sprays, volumizers, softening agents, powders, nano-powders, and the like to transfer to the user's hair. In FIG. 3, the stored heat curing iron 300 is heated using batteries 39, but any forms or methods of heating may be used.
[0047] FIG. 4 depicts a further preferred embodiment of a stored heat hair appliance where the appliance comprises hair curlers 400 and a hair curler heating apparatus 450. In FIG. 4, the hair curler heating apparatus 450 consists of a heated surface 40 that heats the hair curlers 400. The heated surface 40 of the hair curler heating apparatus 450 may optionally contain holes 42 from which heat or hair additives, including but not limited to water, moisture, vapor, liquids, fragrances, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, oils, sprays, volumizers, softening agents, powders, nano-powders, and the like, may escape and infuse the hair curlers 400. The hair curlers are comprised of ends 44 that the user may touch during the styling process and the roller core 46, which comprises the heat-retaining materials 48. One option for heating the curlers is a charging mat, 49, such as one that can be charged by usb as depicted in FIG. 4. Any other forms or methods for heating may also be used. As one non-limiting example, the hair roller could be non-powered, wherein the heat-retaining materials are heated by external means such as hot air, a hot plate, a heated housing unit, see FIG. 6, microwave, or other heat-providing source.
[0048] FIG. 5 depicts another preferred embodiment of a stored heat hair appliance where the appliance is a hot air dryer brush 500. In FIG. 5, the hot air dryer brush 500 comprises bristles 52 affixed to or integrally formed with an upper surface 50. As depicted in FIG. 5, the heat-retaining materials 56 are beneath the upper surface 50. In alternative embodiments, the heat-retaining materials 56 themselves could form the upper surface 50 and/or bristles 52.
[0049] The upper surface 50 of hot air dryer brush 500 may optionally contain holes 54 from which hot air, heat, or hair additives, including but not limited to water, moisture, vapor, liquids, fragrances, gels, conditioners, keratin, silicones, oils, sprays, volumizers, softening agents, powders, nano-powders, and the like, escapes. The upper surface 50 and/or bristles 52 of the hot air dryer brush 500 are heated by hot air generated by an internal dryer component not shown.
[0050] FIGS. 1-5 are only illustrative examples of stored heat hair appliances of the present invention. Any hair appliance that applies, directly or indirectly, heat to hair may be modified to include heat-retaining materials at or above the surface closest to the hair or below such a surface and, optionally, hair additives.
[0051] FIGS. 1-5 further do not show every potential source of heat for the stored heat hair appliances. As noted previously, in one preferred embodiment, the stored heat hair appliances or the heat-retaining materials themselves may be heated using heated housing units, also known as appliance “ovens,” which are known in the hair-styling arts. An example of an appliance oven 600 is shown in FIG. 6. Other examples of apparatuses that may be used to heat the heat-retaining materials of the stored heat hair appliances, and/or the heat-retaining materials comprising such appliances, include, but are not limited to, microwaves, stove-top heating, a hot plate 650, as shown in FIG. 6, boilers, cookers, ovens, infrared sources, ultrasonic sources, solar sources, thermal pouches, or battery-operated (rechargeable or disposable) heating units.
[0052] As depicted in FIG. 6, hair additives in liquid form, including but not limited to water 60, oils 62, solutions, conditioners, keratin, silicones, and/or gels, may be added to the heated housing units and/or apparatuses for heating the stored heat hair appliances and/or heat-retaining materials comprising such appliances. Other hair additives, including in gaseous and solid forms, may also be added (not shown).
[0053] In other embodiments, not shown, the stored heat hair appliance and/or the heat-retaining materials may obtain heat from an electrical source via an outlet, preferably via a retractable, removable, or windable cord. The stored heat hair appliance may also, alternatively, have a battery component, with a traditional chemical battery and/or a rechargeable battery, or a solar powered battery source, or, alternatively, the stored heat hair appliance may be chargeable via a usb cord, charging mat, or other charging devices. Another example of a source for the heat for the stored heat hair appliance is a cartridge or product utilizing butane, propane, methane, or other types of gases and/or liquids.
[0054] FIG. 7 provides examples of the potential placement of the heat-retaining materials and/or hair additive in relationship to the surface that contacts or is closest to the hair in the stored heat hair appliance. In placement 700, the heat-retaining material 72 forms the surface closest to the hair 70. In placement 710, the heat-retaining material 72 is placed below an upper surface 74. This upper surface could be solid, mesh, or perforated fabric, plastic, fiberglass, metal, rubber, composite, and/or carbon material component or the like. In placement 720, the heat-retaining material 72 is placed below an upper surface 74 that further contains an overlay 75. Overlays 75 may include, for example, hook and loop structures that smooth the hair, where such hook and loop structures are separate from or integrally formed with the upper surface 74. In placement 730, the heat-retaining material 72 is combined with a hair additive 76 and is placed below an upper surface 74. In placement 740, the hair additive 76 is separated from the heat-retaining material 72, both of which are placed below an upper surface 74. The placements depicted in FIG. 7 should not be considered limiting; there are many other placements possible for the heat-retaining material, such material could be added in layers, and or other components—such as heat reflective layers, air pockets, and the like—may also be used in the stored het hair appliances of the current invention.
[0055] Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding configurations described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
