Hair Styling Device for Curling or Waving Hair and Method for Operating Such a Hair-Styling Device

Abstract

A hair-styling device serves to curl or wave hair. Said hair-styling device comprises two styling bodies 5, 5.1, which interact with each other to style the hair and can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the styling bodies and of which at least one of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 is driven, which styling bodies 5, 5.1 have a shell surface contoured by elevations and recesses and are arranged in relation to each other in such a way that complementary contours of the two styling bodies 5, 5.1 mesh in the course of rotation of the two styling bodies. The styling bodies 5, 5.1 have a bone-shaped cross-sectional geometry having two head sections 7, 7.1 designed with a shell surface 8 that is convexly rounded at least in some sections and having a tapered central section 6 located between the head sections and designed with a concave shell surface. The radius of curvature in the region of the central apex 9 of the head sections 7, 7.1 of the one styling body 5, 5.1, 5.2 corresponds to the radius of curvature of the tapered central section 6 of the other styling body. The axis of rotation 11, 11.1 of the styling bodies (5, 5.1) is arranged in the central section 6 centrally between the central apexes 9 of the head sections 7, 7.1.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A hair-styling device for curling or waving hair, comprising: two styling bodies, which interact with each other to style the hair, which may be rotated about their longitudinal axis and of which at least one of the styling bodies is driven, which styling bodies have a shell surface contoured by elevations and recesses and are arranged in relation to each other in such a way that complementary contours of the two styling bodies mesh in the course of rotation of the two styling bodies, wherein the styling bodies have a bone-shaped cross-sectional geometry having two head sections designed with a shell surface that is convexly rounded in one or more sections and having a tapered central section located between the head sections and designed with a concave shell surface, wherein the radius of curvature in the region of the central apex of the head sections of the one styling body corresponds to the radius of curvature of the tapered central section of the other styling body, and that the axis of rotation of the styling bodies is arranged in the central section centrally between the central apexes of the head sections.

18. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the thickened head sections have a width, said width corresponds to a multiple of the width of the central section.

19. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the head sections of the styling bodies in an area of their central apexes have a larger radius of curvature than in an area of their side apexes.

20. The hair-styling device of claim 18, wherein the head sections of the styling bodies in the area of their central apexes have a larger radius of curvature than in an area of their side apexes.

21. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the styling bodies carry a hair contact functional part in their head sections in the area of the apexes of an transition from the convexly rounded shell surface to the concave shell surface of the central section.

22. The hair-styling device of claim 21, wherein the hair contact functional part is a hair entrainer which is adapted according to its material properties.

23. The hair-styling device of claim 21, wherein the hair contact functional part is a care substance applicator.

24. The hair-styling device of claim 22, wherein the hair contact functional part is a care substance applicator.

25. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein both styling bodies have the same cross-sectional geometry and an same cross-sectional size.

26. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the styling bodies when rotating about their axis of rotation may be moved past each other, without any mutual contact.

27. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein both styling bodies, in order to be rotatably driven, are connected to a gear which is driven by a common motor.

28. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the hair styling device has arms, wherein each arm carries on its side directed towards the other arm a styling body, and wherein said arms are pivotally connected to each other to open and close the hair-styling device for inserting a hair strand.

29. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the styling bodies are made of a heat conducting material, such as an aluminum alloy, and wherein an electric heating element is disposed above the surface of their head sections.

30. The hair-styling device of claim 17, wherein the styling bodies are made of a thermally conductive material, such as an aluminum alloy, and wherein each part housing the styling bodies has one or more radiating heat source.

31. A method for operating the hair styling device of claim 17, wherein the styling bodies are driven according to a predetermined program with reference to their drive, and wherein a control program privileges a non-constant drive of the styling bodies.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the styling bodies are driven with an alternating slow and faster driving speed.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the styling bodies are driven intermittently.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the intermittent driving of the styling bodies is cycled according to 90-positions of the styling bodies to each other and a drive interruption is performed in one or more of said 90-positions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present disclosure is explained in the following by means of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the appended figures. In particular:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front side view of a hair styling device having two rotatably driven styling bodies,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the hair styling device of FIG. 1,

[0022] FIGS. 3a to 3j show a sequence of different positions of the styling bodies of the hair styling device of FIG. 1 to each other in a rotating drive of the styling bodies within a range of rotation angles of 90,

[0023] FIGS. 4a, 4b show a schematic representation of the hair styling device of previous figures during the process of styling hair in two different positions of its styling bodies,

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a further hair styling device of the present disclosure, and

[0025] FIG. 6 shows one of the two styling bodies of the hair styling device of FIG. 5 in a cross-sectional representation.

[0026] Before further explaining the depicted embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since the present disclosure is capable of other embodiments. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] A hair styling device 1 comprises two arms 2, 2.1, which are pivotally connected to each other. FIG. 1 shows the hair styling device 1 having closed arms 2, 2.1. The arms 2, 2.1 may be separated from each other in the direction of the block arrows, shown in FIG. 1, for opening the hair styling device. FIG. 2 shows the hair styling device 1 in a side view, in which the articulated position of arms 2, 2.1 may be seen. The pivot joint is shown in FIG. 2 at 3. The arm 2.1 penetrates a section of arm 2 around the joint 3 and carries at its other end a handle 4. In order to open the hair styling device 1, whereby the arms 2, 2.1 are separated for receiving a hair strand, the handle 4 is lifted and thus moved away from the grip part 5. In the position of use of the hair styling device 1 shown in figures, both arms 2, 2.1 are locked, wherein the locking is released by acting on the handle 4.

[0028] Each arm 2, 2.1 carries a styling body 5, 5.1. The styling bodies 5, 5.1 in both arms 2, 2.1 are identical. The styling body 5 is described in the following, and the same description is valid for the other styling body 5.1 as well.

[0029] The body 5 is ultimately a styling body having an approximately strip-shaped appearance with a longitudinal extension as shown in the side view in FIG. 2. FIG. 1 shows the styling body 5 in a front side view and thus with reference to its cross-sectional geometry. The cross-sectional geometry of the styling body 5 is bone-shaped. Thus, the styling body 5 is provided with two head sections 7, 7.1, which are thickened with respect to a central section 6. The head section 7 has a convexly curved shell surface 8. In the plane of the central longitudinal plane, on the outer side of the shell surface 8 a central apex 9 is positioned. The radius of curvature in the area of the central apex 9 is larger than in the section of the head section 7, through which its largest width is defined. In this position two side apexes 10, 10.1 are provided. The head section 7.1 is configured as the head section 7. Between both head sections 7, 7.1 the already described central section 6 is provided. It has, at both its shell surface sides, a concavely curved shell surface. The shell surface of the head sections 7, 7.1 is continuously merged to the tapered surface of the central section 6. The axis of rotation of the styling body 5 is indicated in FIG. 1 and provided with reference numeral 11. The styling body 5 is driven in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1.

[0030] The styling body 5 in the example shown is a section made of an extruded aluminum profile having a smooth typically polished outer shell surface. The head sections 7, 7.1 are hollow chambers. In each hollow chamber of the head sections 7, 7.1 a heating element is inserted, such as a PCT-heating element. The hollow configuration of the head sections 7, 7.1 and the heating element housed therein are not shown in the figures. The heating elements inserted in the hollow chamber of the head sections 7, 7.1 heat the shell surface 8 of the styling body 5. Due to the good heat conductivity of the material used for the styling body 5, the shell surface of the styling body 5 has a homogeneous surface temperature during heating.

[0031] The radius of curvature in the area of the central apex 9 of the styling body 5 corresponds to the radius of curvature of the concave formation of the shell surface in the area of the central section 6, which forms its tapering 12.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows both styling bodies 5, 5.1 in the position of use of the hair styling device 1, and thus having closed arms 2, 2.1. The axes of rotation 11, 11.1 of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 and the configuration of the respective tapering 12 and the contour of the head sections 7 or 7.1 entering the same during use of the hair styling device 1 are adapted to each other in such a way that a contact between the styling bodies 5, 5.1 during a rotational movement thereof is excluded.

[0033] The sequence of FIGS. 3a to 3j shows the hair styling device 1 in different positions of its styling bodies 5, 5.1. In FIG. 3, the styling body 5 is directed horizontally and the styling body 5.1 is directed vertically. This position of both styling bodies 5, 5.1 to each other is evidenced by the insertion of the head section 7.1 of styling body 5 into the complementary tapering of styling body 5.1. Insofar, the head sections 7, 7.1 in the hair styling device 1 form elevations and the taperings 12 form recesses and thus the contouring of the shell surface of styling bodies 5, 5.1. A hair styling gap is provided between both styling bodies 5, 5.1. This reciprocal position shown in FIG. 3a of both styling bodies 5, 5.1 corresponds to a configuration having the smallest width of the hair styling gap. The remaining hair styling gap in the example shown is 1.0 mm, for example.

[0034] Both styling bodies 5, 5.1 are driven by means of an electric motor and a distribution gear connected downstream of the electric motor, while being cinematically coupled to each other about their rotational movement. In the example shown this occurs through two spur and bevel gears engaged to each other, which are positioned near the joint 3. A movement of the styling body 5 may thus be performed without a corresponding rotational movement of styling body 5.1.

[0035] In order to style a hair strand, both styling bodies 5, 5.1 are rotatably driven. The sequence of FIGS. 3a to 3j shows the different positions of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 to each other when performing a rotational movement of 90 degrees. After a 90-degree rotation, the styling body 5 is directed vertically and the styling body 5.1 is directed horizontally (see FIG. 3j). This position corresponds to the position of FIG. 3a with the hair styling gap at its smallest width. In this movement process, it is interesting that the width of the hair styling gap, starting from a position of the styling bodies 5, 5.1, as shown in FIG. 3a, initially increases, in particular up to an angle of 45 degrees and then drops again, until upon inserting the head section of styling body 5.1 into the tapering 12 of styling body 5, the smallest width of the hair styling gap is reached again. This repeats cyclically in the course of one rotational movement of the styling bodies 5, 5.1.

[0036] Through this measure, not only is a hair strand inserted in the hair styling gap successively drawn in, but also a relatively large curl or wave is formed in a particularly effective way.

[0037] FIG. 4a shows the hair styling device 1 with an inserted hair strand H and styling bodies 5, 5.1 in a position according to FIG. 3. The hair strand H has been inserted, after the arms 2, 2.1 have been previously opened. The opening of the hair styling device 1 for inserting or extracting a hair strand may be performed at each position of the styling bodies 5, 5.1. Then, the arms 2, 2.1 are again closed. The position shown in FIGS. 3a and 3j of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 to each other having the smallest gap width are positions in the course of the styling process. In these positions, the hair to be styled is subject to pressure, since the hair strand H has a thickness of slightly more than 1 mm and thus is slightly thicker than the minimum width of the hair styling gap. In this position the central apex of one head section of the one styling body 5 faces the apex of a tapering of the other styling body 5.1 and the gap width for hair styling is minimal. The otherwise continuous rotational movement of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 is interrupted for a certain period, for example 1 to 2 seconds. At this point a curl or wave apex is introduced into the hair strand H by applying pressure and temperature. Further rotation of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 to 90 degrees occurs with a continuous drive, before the styling bodies are in a position corresponding to FIG. 3j. The drive of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 is again shortly interrupted to impress the successive curl or wave apex in the hair strand H. This is repeated until the entire hair strand has been drawn through the hair styling device 1.

[0038] The phases of hair styling between said apex impressing phases also contributes to the hair styling.

[0039] The head sections of the two styling bodies 5, 5.1, to which the hair is applied, act due to the rotation of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 in the manner of edges on which the hair strand H to be formed is drawn past. This causes a preheating of the hair strand and a pre-configuration of the same before the impressing step in the 90-degree positions of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 to each other. For an effective pre-configuration, the side apexes 10, 10.1 of the head sections of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 are designed with a smaller radius of curvature than the center vertices. This is the case in the described embodiment. Another possible embodiment allows the head sections to have a cross-sectional or approximately circular cross-sectional shape deviating from the illustrated oval shape.

[0040] In the hair styling process described above, a certain impressing time is provided when the styling bodies 5, 5.1 are in their 90-degree position relative to each other (corresponding to FIGS. 3a and 3j). This impressing time is typically adjustable, so that in this way influence on hair styling can be taken. The curl or wave apexes are accentuated with a longer impressing time. It is also possible to use a hair-styling process in which the styling bodies 5, 5.1 are driven continuously and without interruption by the impressing time.

[0041] Influence on the hair styling may also be exerted through the rotational speed of the styling bodies 5, 5.1, as this, if an impressing time is provided, defines the length of the hair styling process on the hair strands to be styled, which is performed without an abutment.

[0042] The illustration of the strand of hair to be formed in FIGS. 4a, 4b make it clear that in the course of the rotational movement of the styling bodies 5, 5.1 and the changing width of the hair styling gap, the hair styling device 1 can be moved without pulling on the strand of hair. This can be used to influence the shape of the curls or waves. If larger curls or waves are to be formed, this will be done in the opposite direction of the insertion direction of the hair strand H.

[0043] The insertion direction of the hair strand H is indicated in FIGS. 4a, 4b with an arrow.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows another hair styling device 1.1 of the present disclosure. This is in principle constructed as the hair styling device 1, which has been described in detail in the preceding figures. The hair styling device 1.1 is provided in the area of its handle 13, with a control switch arrangement 14. The control switch arrangement 14 comprises a central key 15 and adjacent keys 16.

[0045] Through these, the operating mode of the hair styling device 1.1 can be adjusted. This includes setting of the desired hair styling temperature and hair styling program, which in turn influences the drive of the styling bodies. The hair styling device 1.1 also has an acceleration sensor for detecting longitudinal axial rotational movements. This makes it possible to start and stop the drive of the styling bodies. A short, fast turning movement over a small turning angle in one direction is the starting signal. A rotation movement corresponding to a few degrees of rotation in the opposite direction is the stop signal. The hair styling program to be performed has been previously selected. Therefore, the hair styling device 1.1 can then be used without requiring the operation of the control switch arrangement. Finally, it is usual for the strand of hair to be curled with the same operating mode of the hair styling device 1.1.

[0046] The operating mode can be varied with respect to the drive in the hair styling device 1.1, for example, by a differently intermittent drive. Of course, a continuous drive of the styling bodies may also be set. In an intermittent drive, the styling bodies remain at predetermined locations, typically in the 90 positions where the apex of a head section opposes the apex of a tapering of the central section, for a predetermined period of time. Such brief interruption may last one or more seconds. The interruption is the same in every 90 position, depending on the program selected, but may also be different. In this way the resulting hair styling may be individually adjusted. In the 90 positions of both styling bodies to each other, maximum heat is applied to the hair.

[0047] In the hair styling device 1.1, two styling bodies 5.2 are used (see FIG. 6). These styling bodies 5.2 are constructed in principle, as the styling bodies 5, 5.1 of the embodiment of the hair styling device 1 of the preceding figures. In the styling body 5.2 PTC heating elements 17 inserted therein are shown, through which the head sections are heated. At the side apexes 10.2 and thus at the apexes between the terminal convex shell surface section and the concavely curved shell surface section of the central section, hair entrainers 18 are arranged on the styling body 5.2. These are used in slots provided on the styling body 5.2, which follow the longitudinal extension. The hair entrainers 18 are made of silicone and cause a hair entrainment due to their surface adhesion force.

[0048] It may also be conceived, that a hair entrainer is provided on one side of opposing sides of the apexes 10.2 of the head sections of the styling body 5.2 and on the other side a hair conditioner applicator is provided. The styling body 5.2 is then driven in the direction in which one side apex 10.2 initially contacts the hair with the hair entrainer and the other side apex of the styling body contacts the hair only after it has moved through the 90 position of both styling bodies to each other and thus applies a conditioner onto the hair strand at the end of the hair styling process.

[0049] The developments of the hair styling device 1.1 described herein may also be used for the hair styling device 1 of the preceding figures.

[0050] The invention was described based on exemplary embodiments. A person skilled in the art will derive numerous embodiments for implementing the invention without departing from the scope of the present claims. While a number of aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations, which are within their true spirit and scope. Each embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

[0051] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub-combinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure.

[0052] In general, the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0053] 1, 1.1 hair styling device [0054] 2, 2.1 arm [0055] 3 joint [0056] 4 handle [0057] 5, 5.1, 5.2 styling body [0058] 6 central section [0059] 7.7 head section [0060] 8 shell surface [0061] 9 central apex [0062] 10, 10.1, 10.2 side apexes [0063] 11, 11.1 axis of rotation [0064] 12 tapering [0065] 13 grip [0066] 14 control switch arrangement [0067] 15 key [0068] 16 key [0069] 17 PTC heating element [0070] 18 hair entrainer [0071] G grip section [0072] H hair strand