Abstract
A dual member hair roller device designed to produce spiral curls for hair lengths that vary from medium short to very long and comprised of a flexible, permeable, elongated supporting roller body with a lateral surface that is capable of gripping fabric; and a detached, elastic, permeable fabric sleeve that safely and securely affixes to the gripping surface of the roller body.
Claims
1. A method for curling hair with a supporting roller having a surface extending along an axis of the supporting roller and a sleeve shaped to completely angularly surround a tress of hair inserted into the sleeve in a length the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to removably secure to the surface of the supporting roller, the method comprising: inserting the tress into the sleeve in a length direction so that the sleeve completely angularly surrounds the tress; and winding the length of the sleeve around the supporting roller such that the tress is held in a helical shape about the supporting roller.
2. The method of claim 2, wherein the tress is wet, the method further comprising: drying the hair in the sleeve by allowing moisture to exit the sleeve.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Example embodiments will become more apparent by describing, in detail, the attached drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the example embodiments herein.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the hair roller assembly, illustrating the relationship between the supporting roller member 100 and the elastic fabric sleeve member 200.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary cylindrically shaped embodiment of the supporting roller member 100.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary right frustum shaped embodiment of the supporting roller member 100.
[0017] FIG. 3A is a side view of the supporting roller member of FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an end view of the supporting roller member 100 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an end view of the supporting roller member 100, as shown in FIG. 3, that demonstrates the bendable properties of the roller body as a compression force, FC, is applied to its surface.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the tubular fabric sleeve member 200 and its elastic properties as a tensile force, FT, is exerted by each end of the sleeve.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the tubular fabric sleeve member 200 and a tress of hair that has been passed through it.
[0022] FIG. 8A is an isometric view of the hair roller assembly that depicts an alternative arrangement of the supporting roller member 100 and the fabric sleeve member 200.
[0023] FIG. 8B is an isometric view of the hair roller assembly that depicts another alternative arrangement of the supporting roller member 100 and the fabric sleeve member 200.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Because this is a patent document, general broad rules of construction should be applied when reading it. Everything described and shown in this document is an example of subject matter falling within the scope of the claims, appended below. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely for purposes of describing how to make and use example embodiments. Several different embodiments not specifically disclosed herein may fall within the claim scope; as such, the claims may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only example embodiments set forth herein.
[0025] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, and and or are equivalent to the term and/or, which includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0026] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being connected, coupled, mated, attached, or fixed to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly connected or directly coupled to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). Similarly, a term such as communicatively connected includes all variations of information exchange routes between two devices, including intermediary devices, networks, etc., connected wirelessly or not.
[0027] As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the and the plural form indicia are intended to include both the singular and plural forms, unless the language explicitly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises, comprising, includes, and/or including, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not themselves preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0028] It should also be noted that the structures and operations discussed below may occur out of the order described and/or noted in the figures. For example, two operations and/or figures shown in succession may in fact be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Similarly, individual operations within example methods described below may be executed repetitively, individually or sequentially, so as to provide looping or other series of operations aside from the single operations described below. It should be presumed that any embodiment having features and functionality described below, in any workable combination, falls within the scope of example embodiments.
[0029] An exemplary embodiment is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 1-8. The embodiment presented is not to be construed as limiting the invention thereto.
[0030] A specific example of a preferred embodiment of the hair roller device is depicted in FIG. 1. The drawing demonstrates the composite assembly of the partnering members of the present hair roller in which the sleeve member 200 is wound around the roller member 100 in a spiral fashion. It should be understood that first a tress of hair has been passed through sleeve member 200. The tress, together with the sleeve member 200, is jointly wound along roller member 100 in a spiral manner. Accordingly, roller member 100 is constituted to be the supporting roller member of the present hair roller ensemble.
[0031] In terms of greater detail, an embodiment of the supporting roller member 100 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 3-5. In FIG. 2, one preferred form of the roller member 100 may be generally characterized as an elongated, right cylinder. The cylinder embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is hollow. A second preferred form of the roller member 100 may be generally characterized as an elongated, right conical frustum. The frustum embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5 is also hollow. The supporting roller member 100 has two opposite ends 11 and 11, a circumference, and an approximately circular or elliptical cross section with a diameter that may stay constant as viewed in FIG. 2 or may increase from one end along the axial length of the roller towards the other end as viewed in FIGS. 3-5. The supporting roller member 100 may or may not be hollow. The outer periphery of the roller is covered with plurality of flexible projections 12. Each projection 12 has a hooked shaped end which is capable of gripping fabric. The fabric-gripping hooks as projections 12 act as multiple attachment mechanisms that easily and securely connect the supporting roller member 100 to the sleeve member 200.
[0032] The embodiment of the supporting roller member 100 is made of light-weight material that has plurality of apertures 13 so that it is porous and allows the movement of air, liquids, and water vapor through it. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the supporting roller member is also made of soft material that possesses sufficient flexibility and resilience. When a compression force, Fc, is exerted at the sides of the roller member 100, for example when the weight of a head is applied to the roller when lying on a pillow or another resting surface, the roller walls bend under that force. Furthermore, the roller member 100 reverts to its original shape after removal of the stress. The distinctive combination of the flexible frame, the fabric-gripping exterior, and the permeable, elongated shape characterize the improvements of the supporting roller member 100 over all of the currently known hair rollers.
[0033] In terms of greater detail, an embodiment of the sleeve member 200 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 6-7. The preferred form of the sleeve member may be generally characterized as tube with two open ends 14 and 14 (FIGS. 8A & 8B). It should be understood that the sleeve's ends 14 and 14 (FIGS. 8A & 8B) are indistinguishable. The sleeve member 200 may be made of knitted, woven, laced, or crocheted type of fabric material that is light weight. The material may have plurality of apertures 15. The yarns of the sleeve fabric may be spaced so that the material has open appearance. The apertures 15 and the sufficiently spaced yarns allow the movement of air, liquids, and water vapor from one side of the fabric to the other. The fabric material is elastic and may have stretch engineered into its yarn through mechanical stretch construction so that when a tensile force, FT, is exerted by each end of the sleeve member as viewed in FIG. 6, the member has the ability to stretch in four directions and to return to its original size and shape after removal of the stress. The fibers of the sleeve yarn may be natural, synthetic, or a combination of both. The fabric sleeve member 200 can easily and securely attach to and detach from the fabric-gripping surface of the roller member 100. The use of a fabric sleeve as an attachment mechanism in the hair curling technology offers advantages over other existing technology.
[0034] The dual-member hair roller may be installed to the hair as follows:
[0035] First, the sleeve member 200 is taken and the fabric is gathered around the installer's fingers to form a scrunched up fabric ring. Second, a tress of hair 18 is taken and, starting with the tips 17, is passed through the ring described above. Once the entire tress of hair 18 goes through the ring, the fabric is slid upwards towards the scalp 16. Next, the fabric is extended back to its original length, or stretched out along its axial length so that in covers more hair surface. When the tress of hair 18 is fully inserted within the fabric sleeve as viewed in FIG. 7, the first end of the sleeve 14 (FIG. 8A & 8B) is located close to the scalp 16 while the opposite end 14 (FIG. 8A & 8B) is located close to the hair tips 17. Next, the supporting roller member 100 is taken and moved close to the scalp 16 and the sleeve end 14 (FIG. 8A & 8B). The supporting roller member 100 is placed in an upright position and is held stationary. The winding process begins by relative rotation of the fabric sleeve member 200 around the roller member 100. Unlike the winding process employed in the case of non-elongated cylindrical hair curlers, the tress of hair herein is wound along the roller member 100 in a spiral manner from one end 11 to the opposite end 11 of the roller. As indicated previously, depending on the embodiment of the preferred form of the roller member 100, the tress of hair 18 may be wound up in a continuous curve of either constant (FIG. 2) or changing (FIG. 3) diameter along the frame of roller member 100. Thus, the tress of hair may have a bending radius that either stays constant or increases or diminishes continuously. The winding process ends when the entire length of the tress of hair 18 within the sleeve member 200 is wound around the roller member 100. The sleeve member 200 and the supporting roller member 100 can be pressed together or pulled apart for easy fastening and unfastening. By enveloping the tress of hair 18, the sleeve member 200 prevents the hair from rubbing against the hooked projections 12 of the roller member 100, thus reducing the build-up of static electricity.
[0036] FIGS. 8A and 8B depict two alternative arrangements 300 and 400 of the supporting roller member 100 and the elastic fabric sleeve member 200. The 300 arrangement illustrates an exemplary hair roller constructed by attaching three right conical frustum supporting roller members 100 horizontally to one another via their fabric-gripping exterior walls. The 400 arrangement illustrates an exemplary hair roller constructed by attaching two hollow, right conical frustum supporting roller members 100 vertically to one another via their fabric-gripping exterior walls. The fabric sleeve member 200 is then wound around the two newly constructed supporting bodies. The ability of the supporting roller bodies to interlock by adhering to one another's gripping surfaces is a novel element in the hair curling technology and it makes possible the rolling of very long tresses of hair.
[0037] Some example embodiments being described here, it is understood that one or more examples and components thereof may be used in combination and/or in duplication to provide desired hair curling. It will further be appreciated by one skilled in the art that example embodiments may be varied through routine experimentation and without further inventive activity. For example, although some examples rely on a single support roller to achieve desired shade, it is understood that other examples may use several separate pieces, including separate rollers, as well as multi-part or plural rollers. Variations are not to be regarded as departure from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
