US20070209674A1

US20070209674A1 - Holding clamp for a hair curler

Info

Publication number: US20070209674A1
Application number: US11/713,137
Authority: US
Inventors: Hubert Seidel
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2006-03-08
Filing date: 2007-03-02
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Also published as: WO2007102118A1; MX2008011423A

Abstract

A holding clamp 1 for a curler 2 to hold a strand of hair 3 rolled up on the curler 2, wherein the clamp 1 has an elastic spring hook 6, 7 at each of the two ends 4, 5, and both of the hooks, each having an edge 8, 9, can be snapped in at both ends 10, 11 of the curler 2. The holding clamp 1 has a pressure spring device 12 between both hooks 6, 7; the pressure spring device induces a spring force F to at least a portion of a jacket area 13 of the curler 2. At least one injection molded leaf spring 14 is provided as a pressure spring device 12. In doing so, the leaf spring 14 is distorted so that it can be placed at the contours of the jacket area 13 with a gentle amount of pressure thus preventing the distortion of the rolled up strand of hair 3 (FIG. 4).

Description

The invention relates to a holding clamp for a hair curler.
This type of holding clamp is known from European Application No. EP0511892B1, FIG. 1c, indicated by “p.” The disadvantage here is that this holding clamp, constrained by its design, has a relatively rigid effect on a portion of a jacket area of the curler and thus places significant pressure on a strand of hair on the curler, which then causes disadvantageous pressure points in the strand of hair and therefore can result in a poor treatment result.
Thus, the object of the invention is to obtain a generically equivalent holding clamp, which does not have the aforementioned disadvantage, enables simple handling, and can be produced economically.
The invention is described in detail below.
The following is shown:
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a holding clamp with a pressure spring device;
FIG. 2 shows a view from below of the holding clamp according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the holding clamp according to FIG. 1, but connected to a curler;
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the holding clamp according to FIG. 3, but connected to a rolled up strand of hair;
FIG. 5 shows a top view of the holding clamp according to FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a holding clamp similar to FIG. 3, but with a first and a second clamping element;
FIG. 7 shows a top view of the holding clamp according to FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the curler according to FIG. 7; and
FIGS. 1 through 5 show, in a first exemplary embodiment, a holding clamp 1 for a curler 2 to hold a strand of hair 3 rolled up on the curler 2, wherein the clamp 1 has an elastic spring hook 6, 7 at each of the two ends 4, 5, and both of the hooks, each having an edge 8, 9, can be snapped in at both ends 10, 11 of the curler 2. The holding clamp 1 has a pressure spring device 12 between both hooks 6, 7; the pressure spring device induces a spring force F to at least a portion of a jacket area 13 of the curler 2. At least one injection molded leaf spring 14 is provided as a pressure spring device 12.
A center handle 21 is arranged on the curler 2 for placement of the holding clamp 1. In this case, the holding clamp 1 is placed onto one side of the curler 2 and then connected to the curler 2 with a light application of pressure on the handle 21 to snap it into place using the elastic spring hooks 6, 7. Simultaneously, the injection molded leaf spring 14 is deformed so that it can be placed at the contours of the jacket area 13 with a gentle amount of pressure thus preventing the loosening of the rolled up strand of hair 3. This enables a secure hold not only with curlers 2 with extremely curvy contours but also with a strongly cylindrical jacket area, whereby the holding clamp 1 can be used universally. In addition, despite the holding clamp 1, creamy hair treatment products can be applied to the hair strands 3 very easily with an application tool.
There is a catch 22, 23, facing the outside, in the immediate vicinity of both hooks 6, 7, wherein one of the catches 22, 23 is released towards the top via a light amount of manual pressure and can then be removed to facilitate removal of the holding clamp 1 from the curler 2.
The holding clamp 1 is manufactured, together with the pressure spring device 12 and/or the leaf spring 14, as a single piece, particularly from plastic.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the holding clamp 1 and the curler 2 with a rolled up strand of hair 3, wherein, in this case (and in FIG. 3), the effective spring force F is shown on the rolled up strand of hair 3.
In a second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6 through 8, the holding clamp 1 has a first and a second clamping element 15, 16, which enclose, in a spring-loaded fashion, at least a portion of the circumference 17 of the curler 2 and are arranged in the vicinity of both hooks 6, 7, whereby the hold function is further optimized.
The curlers 2, as a set, have different diameters D. Thus, for example, seven different sets of curlers 2 with different, staggered diameters D (for example, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 mm) with the same length L (for example, 70 mm) of the curler 2 can be provided.
The curler 2 is substantially designed as a hollow cylinder 18.

REFERENCE LIST

1 Holding clamp
2 Curler
3 Strand of hair
4 First clamp end
5 Second clamp end
6 First hook
7 Second hook
8 First edge
9 Second edge
10 First end/curler 2
11 Second end/curler 2
12 Pressure spring device
13 Jacket area
14 Leaf spring
15 First clamping element
16 Second clamping element
17 Circumference/curler 2
18 Hollow cylinder
21 Handle
22 Catch
23 Catch
D Diameter
F Spring force
L Length

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A holding clamp for a curler to hold a strand of hair on the curler, wherein the clamp comprises an elastic spring hook at each of the two ends, and both of the hooks, each comprising an edge, can be snapped in at both ends of the curler, wherein the holding clamp comprises a pressure spring device between the two hooks and the pressure spring device exerts a spring force on at least a portion of a jacket area of the curler.

2. A holding clamp according to claim 1, wherein the pressure spring device comprises at least one leaf spring.

3. A holding clamp according to claim 1, wherein the holding clamp is manufactured along with the pressure spring device as a single piece.

4. A holding clamp according to claim 1, wherein the holding clamp is manufactured along with the pressure spring device as a single piece comprising plastic.

5. A holding clamp according to claim 1, wherein the holding clamp comprises a first and a second clamping element, which enclose, in a spring-loaded fashion, at least a part of a circumference of the curler and are arranged in the vicinity of both hooks.

6. A holding clamp according to claim 1, wherein the curlers comprise a set with different diameters.

7. A holding clamp according to claim 1, wherein the curler is substantially designed as a hollow cylinder.