WO2008075384A1

WO2008075384A1 - Device for hair fashioning

Info

Publication number: WO2008075384A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arturo Morgandi; Alberto Aguti; Claudio Mosconi; Monica Wilhelm
Original assignee: Tenacta Group S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-12-18
Filing date: 2006-12-18
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Also published as: ATE533375T1; EP2124667B1; CN101563002B; EP2124667A1; CN101563002A

Abstract

The invention refers to a device for hair fashioning, comprising a handle (2), an extended heating body (3) for hair heating, a terminal element (4) and a mechanism (19) for the releasable locking of the hair ends to be fashioned, said heating body having a first end portion associated with the handle and a second end portion opposite this first end, said terminal element being associated with the heating body at the second end portion, said mechanism (19) for the releasable locking of the hair ends is associated with the terminal element and it allows not to subject the hair ends to the same high temperatures to which the remaining part of the hair tuft is subjected, for a prolonged period of time.

Description

Device for hair fashioning

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a device for hair fashioning. In particular, the device of the invention has a preferred application in the field of electric hair ■curling devices.

As is known, the electric devices for hair curling are largely used ^■ both at home and in professional salons. Generally, such devices are composed of an element for gripping the device and an element for the curling.

The curling element is typically equipped with a tong, which is connected to a lever adapted to be operated by the device user, as shown, for example, in the European patent application EP 1,417,905 and in the American^' patent applications US 2005-0022836 and US 2006-076032.

When the electric device is operating, the curling element is heated by means of a heating element positioned inside the device itself. Pressing on the lever, the tong opens, favouring the insertion of the ends of a hair tuft between the curling element and the tong; releasing the lever, the tong returns in contact with the curling element, therein locking the hair ends.

Once the ends of a hair tuft are locked between the tong and the curling element, the user rotates the device, manually or by means of a motor, so to curl the remaining part of such hair tuft around the curling element itself. Consequently, the entire length of the tuft is wound on the heated curling element and therein remains in position for a time sufficient to give the requested form to the hair. At the end of such operation, the user presses once again the lever for opening the tongs thus releasing the hair.

These devices, however, have the drawback that the pressing action of the lever for releasing the hair tuft is made rather difficult by the hair wound around the curling element, tong included. Moreover, following the rotation of the device for putting the hair in position, the lever which operates the tong for the release of the hair is often not found in a position to be easily operated by the user. Moreover, when the hair is wound around the curling element, it can also inadvertently be wound around the handle part wherein the lever is situated for the release of the hair itself, making the pressing of such lever even more problematic.

Another drawback of such devices for hair curling is given by heat exposing the hair ends for a prolonged period of time; the hair ends represent the most fragile and exploited part of the hair, which thus tend to be further weakened.

The patent US 4,479,047 describes an electric hair curler comprising a handle and a cylinder adapted to be heated, open from top to bottom to form two semi-cylindrical portions and having a blade at its inside along the entire length of the cylinder. In rest conditions, the blade is parallel to the inner faces of the two semi- cylinders, so that it is easy to insert the hair. Once the hair is inserted, by manual pressing a button, the blade is rotated so to diagonally touch the inner walls of the cylinder and to hold the hair.

Such device allows the lever and tong elimination for locking the hair, but nevertheless still has the drawback of the abovementioned devices which is given by the fact of heat exposing the hair ends for a prolonged time period, thus further weakening them.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a device^' for hair fashioning which allows 'to reduce the stress to which the hair ends are subjected during the fashioning of the hair itself.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this problem is solved by a device as defined by the attached claim 1.

According to the invention, it has in fact been found that a device for hair fashioning, in which the locking mechanism of the hair ends is associated with a terminal element of the device, allows to treat the hair ends in a different way with respect to the remaining part of the hair tuft, which is instead treated by the heating body.

In particular, the device according to the present invention allows not to subject the hair ends to the same high temperatures to which the remaining part of the hair tuft is subjected, for a long period of time.

The device of the present invention has a particularly advantageous and preferred use when it is used as hair- curler.

Preferably, the device of the present invention is an electric device.

Preferably, said terminal device is separated from the heating body.

This advantageously allows to reduce the heat transfer from the heating body to the terminal element. Moreover, it allows to make the terminal element in an insulating material . In a preferred embodiment, the terminal element is such as not to transfer heat to the hair ends therein locked.

Preferably, said terminal element of the device of the present invention has a ^'portion adapted to be in contact with the hair ends to be fashioned which is made in ■ thermally insulating material.

By this way, the ends of such hair in contact with such portion of the terminal element are not subjected to thermal treatment.

Preferably, said terminal element comprises a slot for the insertion of the hair ends.

By this way, the advantage of easily inserting the hair ends, by means of such a slot, in the terminal element of the device of the present invention is obtained.

Preferably, said mechanism for locking the hair ends comprises at least one elastic element which is housed inside said slot and which is adapted to allow the insertion and the releasable locking of the hair ends between the elastic element itself and a wall of the .slot.

By this way, the advantage of locking the hair ends in such a position during the hair fashioning step and of easily releasing them at the end of such step is obtained.

Preferably, said elastic element is actively pushing against said wall of the slot.

By this way, the locking of the hair ends and their subsequent release is further facilitated.

Preferably, said wall of the slot is made in a thermally insulating material, so not to transmit heat to the hair ends with which it is in contact.

Preferably, said terminal element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis and said slot extends along such a longitudinal axis.

More preferably, said slot is a through slot.

By this way, the insertion in the slot of the hair ends is facilitated.

Preferably, said terminal element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis and comprises a base and two tongues, said tongues being extended along such axis and defining said slot between them.

More preferably, each of the two tongues has a first substantially curved lateral surface turned outside the terminal element.

By this way, the advantage of easily winding a hair tuft around said tongues and/or inserting said terminal element in a cylindrical shaped element is obtained.

Preferably, each of the two tongues has a second lateral surface turned towards the interior of the terminal element, said second lateral surfaces being facing and spaced from each other so as to form said slot of said terminal element.

Preferably, each of said second lateral surfaces of said tongues comprises a first surface portion on the side of said base and a second surface portion, at the opposite end side with respect to said base, which is tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal element so as to form a substantially frustoconical shaped entry zone for the hair ends. By this way, the advantage of having an entry space comprised between said second surface portions having such a shape to ease the insertion of the hair ends in the device of the present invention is obtained, further minimising the possibility that such hair ends come into contact with the outer surface of the heating body, which conducts heat.

In a preferred embodiment, each of said first portions of said second lateral surfaces is substantially flat.

By this way, the advantage of having a constant distance between said first portions is obtained.

Preferably, said substantially flat first ^' portions are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the terminal element .

By this way, the advantage of having the slot portion formed between said first substantially flat lateral surface portions is obtained, the slot being adapted to receive a substantially parallelepiped shaped body.

In another preferred embodiment, each of said first portions of said second lateral surfaces is substantially curved with the curvature turned towards the interior of the terminal element.

By this way, the advantage of not mechanically stressing the end of the hair tuft is obtained, avoiding edges and too narrow curves and easing the setting of the end of the hair tuft, facilitating the hair curling, also at the hair ends .

In a^' further preferred embodiment, each of said first portions of said second lateral surfaces is substantially curved, with the curvature turned towards the outside of the terminal element .

By this way, the advantage that the slot obtained between said second lateral surfaces is such to be able to house at its inside an accessory element of substantially cylindrical shape is obtained.

In a preferred embodiment, the two tongues are substantially symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal element.

By this way, the advantage of a symmetric use of the device by the user is obtained, which is easier and more^' direct .

In another preferred embodiment, one of said tongues extends more than the other one along the longitudinal axis of the terminal element.

By^' this way, the division of the hair into tufts is facilitated, particularly adapted for long hair fashioning.

Preferably, said elastic element inside said slot is actively pushing against said first surface portions of the second lateral surfaces of the two tongues of the terminal element .

By this way, the elastic element is locked in such space between said first surface portions of the terminal element so to avoid undesired movements or spontaneous removal of the elastic element from such position following rotation of the device of the present invention, for example during the hair winding steps around the heating body.

More preferably, the elastic element comprises elastic means, such as, for example, compression springs or leaf springs, elastomers or a permanent or modifiable magnetic field. By this way, the advantage of having an element which is elastic enough to be lightly moved, following a pressing, to allow an easy insertion of the hair ends in the locking mechanism, and to return to the initial position after such insertion, is obtained. Moreover, said elastic means exert a pressure on said first surface portions of the terminal element, providing a good adhesion of the elastic element to said surface portions.

More preferably, the hair ends are locked in a releasable way between the elastic element and one of said first surface portions of the terminal element.

This allows the hair ends to be locked in a position which is spaced from the entry space, more protected from any object which can randomly cause damage to the hair ends themselves.

The elasticity of the elastic element of the device of the present invention also allows the hair tufts to be easily released at the end of the hair fashioning step. In ' fact, at the end of such step, when the ends of the hair tufts are still in the locking mechanism and the remaining part of the tuft is wound around the heating body, a force is developed by means of an appropriate movement of the device of the present invention by the user such to ensure that such elastic element is loosened, so to allow the tufts to be unthreaded from the locking mechanism.

By this way, it is not necessary to use tongs or other mechanical devices for the tufts release at the end of the fashioning step, eliminating possible problems of interference with the hair and the problem of the random positioning of the tong after the rotation. Preferably, said elastic element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis.

By this way, the extended shape elastic element can be easily housed inside said slot.

More preferably, said elastic element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis and has a flat surface which is tilted with respect to such axis and facing a wall of said slot.

Such tilted flat surface constitutes a guide for facilitating the insertion of said hair ends in the locking mechanism and their subsequent release.

In a preferred embodiment, said mechanism for locking the hair ends moreover comprises an accessory element housed inside said slot, so to project from said terminal element.

By this way, the advantage of having an accessory capable of facilitating the division of the hair into tufts is obtained, particularly adapted for long hair fashioning.

Preferably, said accessory element has an elongated shape and has an external lateral surface conjugated to that one of the first portions of the second lateral surfaces turned towards the interior of said tongues.

By this way, the housing of the accessory element within said slot is facilitated.

Preferably, said elastic element is housed inside said accessory element.

By this way, the advantage of protecting said elastic element from possible collisions is obtained. Moreover, said accessory element advantageously has a rounded end to avoid hair damaging.

Preferably, the elastic element of the device of the present invention can furthermore comprise an adjustment device of the _.hair gripping force depending on the hair type (fine, average, thick, straight, curly) .

For example, the elastic element is pushed by one or more compression springs, having one end based on the elastic element and the opposite end based on the adjustment element, which varies its compression and thus the hair gripping force. The same is also when the compression spring is substituted by one or more leaf springs or by an elastomer. In the case of a magnetic field, the adjustment element varies • the force exerting on the elastic element by varying the intensity of the magnetic field, leading to an adjustment of the hair gripping force .

By this way, the hair ends are furthermore protected, preventing them to be pulled away when subjected to an over-strong gripping at the entrance or release step from the locking section.

Preferably, said terminal element has a forked portion for facilitating the insertion of the hair ends.

Preferably, said heating body has a substantially cylindrical form.

By this way, the hair tufts can be easily wound around the heating body during the hair fashioning^' step.

In a preferred embodiment thereof, the second end portion of said heating body is hollow, so as to at least partially house said terminal element at its inside. - 12 -

By this way, by exiting from the heating body, the second surface portions of the two tongues are adapted to more greatly protect the hair ends from exposure to the heat emitted by the heating body when the hair ends are brought closer to the terminal element so to be inserted at its inside, or when they are released after the fashioning step.

Preferably, said heating body comprises an electric heating element ^"at its inside adapted to transmit heat to the hair tuft wound around such heating body during the hair fashioning step.

Preferably, said terminal element lacks electric heating elements. By this way, the only heating elements present in the device of the present invention are found inside the heating body.

Preferably, the device handle of the present invention has a substantially cylindrical shape. More preferably, the heating body, of cylindrical shape, is connected to said handle of substantially cylindrical shape along a longitudinal axis common to the heating body and to the handle, such that the heating body is a kind of continuation of the grip.

By this way, an improved manageability of the device of the present invention is obtained.

Preferably, said device is a device for hair curling.

Preferably, the device of the present invention can furthermore comprise a timer device adapted to point out the end time for the setting of each hair tuft. - 11 -

Preferably, the first surface portions of the two tongues and the base of the terminal element are housed in the cavity of said heating body.

By this way, the advantage of having a part of the terminal element which is inserted for a certain length inside the heating body is obtained, so as to house and protect the hair ends which will be wound around the heating body for the remaining part of their length, during the fashioning step.

Preferably, said slot of said terminal element is a through slot, said heating body has a substantially cylindrical shape and the second end portion of said heating body comprises two longitudinal openings, diametrically opposed at said through slot.

By this way, the hair ends can be advantageously inserted in the terminal element through the through slot and from here, due to the diametrically opposed openings of the heating body placed at said through openings, the remaining part of the hair tuft can be easily wound around the heating body itself.

Preferably, the first surface portions of said tongues and the base of the terminal element are housed in the cavity of said heating element.

By this way, a greater protection of that part of the terminal element housed in said cavity during the hair fashioning step is obtained. In particular, the hair ends locked inside the slot between said first surface portions are more protected.

Preferably, the second surface portions of said two tongues exit out of said cavity of said heating element. In this case, the device advantageously comprises means adapted to set a desired time period for holding the hair ends locked in the locking mechanism for hair fashioning.

Preferably, the timer device is adapted to emit an acoustic signal adapted to advise the user of the device of the present invention when the hair fashioning time has terminated.

In such a way, the hair tuft can be released at the proper time, without running the risk of inadvertently leaving it for too much time in contact with the heat or removing too soon, before the hair has assumed the desired form.

In one embodiment, the timer device can be manually activated by the user of the device of the present invention.

In another embodiment, wherein the device comprises an electric motor to rotate the heating, body, the timer device can be properly activated by a sensor connected to the rotation of the cylindrical body.

In a second aspect, the present invention refers to the use of the above described device for hair curling.

Further characteristics and advantages of the device of the present invention will be more evident from the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments thereof, made only as exemplifying and non- limiting example with reference to the attached drawings . In such drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of the device shown in figure 1 wherein the heating body and the terminal portion have been separated;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the terminal portion shown in figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of the embodiment shown in figure 1;

Figure 5 ,is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a view of the device shown in figure 5 wherein the heating body and the terminal portion have been separated.

With reference to figures 1-3, indicated with 1 is a device for hair fashioning according to the present invention, with 2 the handle, with 3 the heating body, with 4 the terminal element and with 19 the locking mechanism of the hair ends. The heating body 3 has cylindrical shape and has a first end portion 21 associated with the handle 2 and a second end portion 22 opposing such first portion 21. The terminal element 4 is associated with the heating body 3 at the second portion

22^'. Moreover, as is .evident from figures 2 and 3, the locking mechanism 19 is associated with the terminal element 4.

The heating body 3 comprises a cavity 5 at its inside and the terminal element 4 is shaped such that it can be inserted in such cavity 5.

The terminal element 4 has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis and is formed by two tongues (βa,βb), extended along such axis a"nd connected to a base 7. Each of the two tongues (6a, 6b) comprises a first portion

(8a, 8b) entirely contained inside the heating body 3 and a second portion (9a, 9b), connected to the first portion (8a, 8b) and which exits outward from the heating body 3.

The two tongues (6a, 6b) define a through slot 10 between them extending along such longitudinal axis, such slot being adapted for inserting the hair.

The two tongues (6a, 6b) have a first substantially curved lateral surface (23a, 23b) , turned towards the outside of the terminal element 4 and a second lateral surface (24a,

24b) turned towards the interior of the terminal element

4, said second lateral surfaces (24a, 24b) being faced and spaced one each other so as to form the slot 10 of said terminal element 4.

The terminal element 4 is made with material so as to not transfer heat to the hair ends. In ^"particular, the second lateral surfaces (24a, 24b) of the terminal element 4, adapted to be in contact with the hair ends, are made in thermally insulating material.

The space 11 comprised between the second lateral surfaces (24a, 24b) of the second portions (9a, 9b) of the tongues (6a, βb) has frustoconical shape so as to favour the insertion of the hair.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1-3, the two tongues (6a, 6b) are substantially symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal element 4.

The locking mechanism 19 comprises an elastic element 12 placed inside the slot 10 and actively pushing against at least one of the second lateral surfaces (24a, 24b) of the two tongues (6a, 6b). The elastic element 12 comprises a pliable means and springs 13 to give elasticity to the pliable means and a guide 14 for inserting the hair ends.

Material examples of the pliable element and insulating material are the plastic materials in general, which have the characteristic of being thermal insulators and which are economically advantageous for assuming the desired shapes by means of moulding.

With reference to figure 4, in order to hair fashion by using the device 1 of the present invention, the hair tuft ends to be fashioned are made to pass through the space 11 of frustoconical shape and brought close to the guide 14 of the elastic element 12. Such guide 14 directs the hair ends towards the second lateral surface 24b of the tongue βb. Following a light pressing of the hair ends on the elastic element 12, the latter is moved towards the second lateral surface 24a of the tongue 6a, allowing the hair ends to be inserted in the locking section 15, between the elastic element 12 and the second lateral surface 24b of the tongue βb. After the insertion of the hair ends in such locking section 15, the elastic element 12 returns to its starting position, pushing against the inner wall of the two tongues (6a, βb), locking the hair ends in such locking section 15. The remaining part of the hair tuft, whose hair ends were locked as described above, is then wound around the heating body 3 with a rotation movement of the device 1 of the present invention around the longitudinal axis of the heating body 3 itself.

The rotation of the device for setting the hair can be carried out by the user manually or by means of an electric motor activated by the user by means of an appropriate control.

The hair remain wound around the heating element 3 _ for a period of time necessary for the hair fashioning, during which the device 1 is activated so as to heat the heating body 3.

The heating body contains an electric heating element at its inside which heats and maintains it at the desired temperature .

At the end of the fashioning step, a pressing of the hair ends on the elastic element 12 causes the movement of the elastic element 12 itself, which allows the hair tufts to be unthreaded from the locking section 15 and to exit from the device 1 through the space 11 of frustoconical shape.

By this way, during the fashioning step, the hair ends remain in the locking section 15 which is not subjected to heat, thus preventing their being damaged. Moreover, at the end of the fashioning step, it is not necessary to use tongs or other mechanical devices for the release of the hair tufts.

With reference now to figures 5 and 6, a second preferred embodiment is shown of a device for hair fashioning according to the present invention. In such figures, an accessory element 16 is visible which is housed in the slot 10 comprised between the two tongues (6a, 6b) so to partially exit outward from them (18) . Inside said accessory element 16, a depression 17 is made, adapted to house the elastic element 12. The outer surface of the accessory element 16 is conjugated with that of the second lateral surfaces (24a, 24b) turned towards the interior of said tongues (6a, 6b) .

The part 18 of the accessory element 16 which exits outward from the slot 10 is adapted to divide the hair into tufts, particularly useful in the case of long hair fashioning. Moreover, the accessory element 16 has a rounded end 25 to avoid hair damaging.

Naturally, the above-described embodiments must be intended as mere non-limiting illustrations of several possible embodiments ■ of the device of the present invention, it remaining clearly intended that any element pertaining to the device itself can be varied by the man skilled in the art so to satisfy specific and contingent needs, while remaining within the scope of what is claimed.

Claims

1. Device for hair fashioning, comprising a handle, an extended heating body for hair heating, a terminal element and a mechanism for the releasable locking of the hair ends to be fashioned,, said heating body having a first end portion associated with the handle and a second end portion opposite this first end portion, said terminal element being associated with the heating body at the second end portion,

characterized in that said mechanism for the releasable locking of the hair ends is associated with the terminal element .

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said terminal element is separated from the heating body.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said terminal element is such as to not transfer heat to the hair ends .

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said terminal element has a portion adapted to be in contact with the hair ends which is made in a thermally insulating material .

5. Device according to any one of the claims 1-4, wherein said terminal element comprises a slot for the insertion of the hair ends.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least one elastic element which is housed inside said slot and which is adapted to allow the insertion and releasable locking of the hair ends between the elastic element itself and a wall of the slot.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said wall of the slot is made of a thermally insulating material.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said elastic element is actively pushing against said wall of the slot.

9. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said terminal element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis and said slot is extended along such a longitudinal axis.

10. Device according to any one of the claims 5-9, wherein said slot is a through slot.

11. Device according to any one of the claims 5 to 10, wherein said terminal element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis and comprises a base and two tongues, said tongues being extended along such axis and defining said slot between them.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein each of the two tongues has a first substantially curved lateral surface turned towards the outside of said terminal element and a second lateral surface turned towards the interior of said terminal element, said second lateral surfaces being facing and spaced from each other so as to form said slot of said terminal element.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein each of said second lateral surfaces of said tongues comprises a first surface portion on the side of said base and a second surface portion at the opposite end with respect to said base, said second portion being tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal element so as to form a substantially frustoconical shaped entry zone for the hair ends.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein said elastic element inside said slot is actively pushing against at least one of said first surface portions of the second lateral surfaces of the two tongues of the terminal element .

15. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the two tongues are substantially symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal element.

16. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein one of said tongues extends more than the other one along the longitudinal axis of the terminal element.

17. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 17, wherein said elastic element has an extended shape along a longitudinal axis .

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein said elastic element has a flat surface which is tilted with respect to said longitudinal axis and facing a wall of said slot so as to form a guide for easing the insertion of said hair ends.

19. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 18, wherein said mechanism for locking the hair ends furthermore comprises an accessory element housed inside said slot so to project from said terminal element and wherein said elastic element is housed inside said accessory element.

20. Device according to claim 13 and 19, wherein said accessory element has an elongated shape and has an external lateral surface having a shape conjugated to that one of the first portions of the second lateral surfaces turned towards the inside of said tongues.

21. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said terminal element has a forked portion.

22. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heating body has a substantially cylindrical shape.

23. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end portion of said heating body is hollow, so as to at least partially house said terminal element at its inside.

24. Device according to claim 23, wherein said terminal element comprises a through slot, said heating body has a substantially cylindrical shape and the second end portion of said heating body comprises two diametrically- opposed longitudinal openings at said through slot.

25. Device according to claim 13 and 23, wherein the first surface portions of said tongues and the base of the terminal element are housed in the cavity of said heating body.

26. Device according to claim 13 and 23, wherein said second surface portions of said two tongues exit outward from said cavity of said heating body.

27. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heating body comprises an electric heating element at its inside.

28. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said terminal element lacks of electric heating elements .

29. Use of a device according to any one of the preceding claims for hair curling.