Hair styling appliance

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes a first and a second arm each having a heatable plate and an arm member. The first and second arms are moveable between a closed position, in which the heatable plate of the first arm is adjacent the heatable plate of the second arm, and an open position, in which the heatable plates of each arm are spaced apart. The heatable plate of at least one of the arms is coupled to a respective arm member about a pivot arranged to allow the heatable plate to move relative to the respective arm member about an axis transverse to the length of said respective arm member such that the plate pivots.

Claims

1. A hair styling apparatus comprising a first arm and a second arm coupled at one end, and each of said first and second arms having a first end and second end and comprising a heatable plate, a heater for heating the heatable plate, and a plate pivot connecting the heatable plate to the respective first or second arm, the first ends forming the coupled end; wherein the first and second arms are moveable between a closed position in which said heatable plate of said first arm is adjacent said heatable plate of said second arm and an open position in which said heatable plates of the first and second arms are spaced apart, wherein each heatable plate has an inner surface that faces the respective arm and an outer surface that faces the outer surface of the other heatable plate when the first and second arms are in the closed position, wherein each plate pivot is arranged to allow its respective heatable plate to move relative to its respective arm about an axis transverse to a length of its respective arm, the plate pivot comprising a projection extending from said heatable plate or the first or second arm of said heatable plate that engages a slot on said respective arm or said heatable plate, wherein said heatable plate of said first arm is biased so that an end of said heatable plate furthest from said coupled ends of said first and second arms contacts said heatable plate of said second arm first and then applies pressure to hair when said first and second arms are moved from said open position to said closed position, wherein the first arm further comprises a first biasing spring configured to bias the heatable plate of said first arm, the first biasing spring near the end of said heatable plate furthest from said coupled ends of said first and second arms; wherein the second arm further comprises a second biasing spring configured to bias the heatable plate of said second arm, the second biasing spring near the end of said heatable plate furthest from said coupled ends of said first and second arms; and wherein the heater of each of the first and second arms is positioned adjacent to and in thermal contact with the inner surface of the respective heatable plate.

2. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate pivot is positioned at an end of said at least one heatable plate closest to said coupled end of said arms.

3. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plate pivots is positioned at an end of its respective heatable plate that is furthest from said coupled end of said arms.

4. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in use, closing of said first and second arms rotates said at least one heatable plate about its plate pivot such that said heatable plates are able to abut flat against one another whilst said first and second arms converge towards said closed position.

5. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said heatable plates is biased parallel to its respective arm is biased parallel to said at least one arm when in said open position.

6. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in use, at least one of said heatable plates is arranged to move about its respective plate pivot responsive to clamping said first and second arms about a quantity of hair.

7. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second arms is generally elongate and said heatable plates extend along at least part of a longitudinal length of the respective arm.

8. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in use, the heaters are configured to heat the heatable plates to a temperature so that a section of hair that is clamped between the heatable plates is heated to at least 160° C.

9. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to control operation of said heaters.

10. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heatable plates are generally planar.

11. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hair styling appliance is a hair straightener.

12. A hair styling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hair styling appliance is a hair crimper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect reference shall now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of hair straighteners according to the prior art;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an example of hair crimpers according to the prior art;

(4) FIG. 3a shows an example of hair straighteners with pivotable plates;

(5) FIG. 3b shows the staighteners of FIG. 3a in a first closed position;

(6) FIG. 3c shows the staighteners of FIG. 3a in a second position with hair clamped between the plates;

(7) FIG. 3d shows an example of hair crimpers with pivotable plates;

(8) FIG. 4 shows a variant of the pivotable plates of FIG. 3a;

(9) FIG. 5 shows a further variant of the pivotable plates of FIG. 3a;

(10) FIG. 6 shows a further variant of the pivotable plates combining the plate of FIGS. 4 and 5;

(11) FIG. 7 schematically shows a vertical cross-section through a heater plate; and

(12) FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system forming part of the hair styler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

(13) Referring now to FIG. 3a, this shows an example embodiment of a hair styling apparatus 20 (in this example a hair straightener) with a pair of arms 22a, 22b and heatable plates 23a and 23b. FIG. 3d illustrates an example where the hair styling apparatus 20 is a hair crimper.

(14) Heatable plate 23 is mounted to a pivot 26a (plate pivot) to allow the heatable plate to rotate about the pivot. In FIG. 3a plate 23a is shown angled downwards, with end 25a furthest away from the arm coupling below the pivot point and arm 24a above the pivot point. The heatable plate can rotate from this shown position to a second position in which end 25a is raised above the pivot point and end 24a falls below the pivot point. Plate 23b may similarly rotate about another pivot on arm 22b (not shown).

(15) FIG. 3b shows the hair styler with both arms closed together. When closed, the arms are off-parallel, forming an acute angle between plates 23a and 23b meaning that the plates are also not parallel if they are biased by default parallel with their respective arm. Thus, in this arrangement, the plates may be biased (for example by biasing springs 31a and 31b) such that when the plates move from an open to closed position, the heatable plates then first abut one another at the mouth end of the hair styler, i.e. at the end of at least one of the heatable plates furthest from the arm coupling which connects the two arms of the hair styler together. This means that, in the closed position as the plates first touch, the ends of the heatable plates further from the arm coupling are closer to one another than the ends of the heatable plates closest to the arm coupling. Such an arrangement may be further used, for example, to enable the arms to first abut one other at the mouth end of the arm, i.e. the end furthest away from the arm coupling.

(16) This arrangement is useful for ensuring that hair does not fall or get pushed off the end of the plates as pressure is applied to the hair.

(17) With a further squeezing pressure applied to the arms of the hair styler after the plates first touch, the plates then pivot further, as depicted in FIG. 3c. FIG. 3c shows a quantity of hair 27 clamped between the plates by a user squeezing arms 23a and 23b together. In this example, the quantity of hair is slightly thicker at the end of the plates furthest away from the coupling end of the arms. Plates 23a and 23b can be seen to pivot about pivots 26a and 26b respectively to retain contact and a good grip on the hair along the length of the heatable plates.

(18) In the embodiment in FIG. 3a the pivot is positioned at an equal distance between ends 24a and 25a of the plates. This arrangement allows the plates to first abut one another at the end of the plates furthest from the arm coupling when moved to the closed position, thereby preventing hair falling off the end of the plates. Further, in the example shown, the pivot 26a is provided by a projections extending sidewards from either side of plate 23a which engages with slots either side of plate 23a moulded into arm 22a. Such projections may be part of a heating plate assembly/housing to which the metal plate 23a is mounted. In variants it will be appreciated that slots may be provided on the plate/plate housing or assembly and the projections on the arm either side of the plates. Other examples of pivots are possible, for example, the pivot may be positioned below the plate, engaging with the plate/plate housing/assembly below the plate. A ball and socket type joint may then be used, which would provide a further option for sideways pivoting in addition to the action shown in FIG. 3.

(19) One or both of heatable plates 23a and 23b are biased parallel to their respective arms 22a and 22b such that when in use and the styler is applied to hair or released, there is no risk of hair getting caught across any end of the plates.

(20) Plate pivot 26a may be mounted on a resilient suspension to allow sideways movement of plate 23a relative to the arm which helps the plate retain contact with hair clamped as a user moves the styler during styling. The same applies to plate 23b. This may be use separately or in addition to a ball and socket type coupling below the plate within each arm.

(21) A variant of the FIG. 3a embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. In this variant, the hair straightener 30 comprises heatable plates 33a and 33b. Plate 33a is pivoted about plate pivot 36 positioned at the end of the plate closest to the arm coupling such that plate end 35a rotates. In this arrangement, the plates may be biased such that when the plates move from an open to closed position, the heatable plates again first abut one another at the mouth end of the hair styler, i.e. at the end of at the heatable plates furthest from the arm coupling which connects the two arms of the hair styler together. Thus, in the closed position, the ends of the heatable plates furthest from the arm coupling are closer to one another than the ends of the heatable plates closest to the arm coupling.

(22) In the variant shown in FIG. 5, hair straightener 40 comprises heatable plates 43a and 43b. Plate 43a is pivoted about pivot point 46 positioned at the end of the plate furthest away from the arm coupling such that end 44a rotates.

(23) In the embodiments described in FIGS. 3a-c, 4 and 5, it is not necessary for the pivot to be in the same position on both heater plates. In variants, for example, a combination of the arrangements in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be used, as shown in FIG. 6. In this arrangement one heater plate 63a is pivoted at an end closest to the arm coupling, by pivot 66a, and the other heater plate 63b is pivoted at the end of the arm, by plate pivot 66b, furthest from the arm coupling. In this arrangement, the plates may again be biased such that when they move from the open to closed position, they first abut one another at the mouth end of the hair styler as shown in FIG. 6. In such an arrangement, when closed, the ends of the heatable plates furthest from the arm coupling are again closer to one another than the ends of the heatable plates closest to the arm coupling (as depicted in FIG. 6). The heater plates are then relatively biased such that they first abut at the end of the heater plate furthest from the arm coupling. To achieve this an end of the heater plate 63a biased according to FIG. 4 is arranged such that its other end (the mouth end) projects further towards the opposing arm than the arm coupling end of the other arm. The resulting effect is that when moving to the closed position, the arms then first abut one other at the mouth end of the arm, i.e. the end furthest away from the arm coupling.

(24) Referring now to FIG. 7, this shows a single-sided ceramic heater 50 comprising a metal, for example aluminium, heating plate 56 bearing a layer of ceramic 54, for example an oxide layer, on which is deposited an electrically conductive pattern 52 forming a heating element (or heater). The heating plate may incorporate a temperature sensor 58 such as a thermistor or thermocouple; alternatively the temperature sensor may be located elsewhere. FIG. 8 illustrates the control system 60 used to control the operation of the heaters 52a and 52b that are used to heat the heating plates 23a and 23b respectively.

(25) To further improve contact with hair, the heatable plate 56 may be cold forged then milled, to provide a very flat surface. The plate may be formed by shaping the metal plate, (for example by stamping then bending), followed by milling to provide the flat surface. Milling may also be used to flatten a screw boss, or any other securing feature used to hold the plate to the heater and any form of substrate/enclosure.

(26) Such a process may be applied to one or both sides of the heatable plate 56 to improve thermal contact with one or both of the ceramic heater 54 used to heat the plate and hair in contact with the heatable plate 56 during styling.

(27) It will be understood that one or both of the heatable plates may pivot, and the examples shown in attached figures shown only one heatable plate being able to rotate for simplicity.

(28) No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

(29) Through out the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprise”, means “including but not limited to, and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

(30) Throughout the description and claims, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

(31) Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example, of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.