WO2009007823A2

WO2009007823A2 - Hair crimper

Info

Publication number: WO2009007823A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/001774
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lik Man Wong; Tak Keung Cheung
Original assignee: Dickson Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-07-10
Filing date: 2008-07-07
Publication date: 2009-01-15
Also published as: WO2009007823A3

Abstract

A hair crimper (100,200) comprising a pair of complementary hair crimping surfaces (122,142,222,242) which are configured for hair crimping by application of heat and pressure to hair when cooperatively engaged, and said pair of hair crimping surface collectively defines a transversal hair shaping profile, wherein said transversal hair shaping profile is adjustable.

Description

HAIR CRIMPER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair styling apparatus, and more particularly, to a hair crimping apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A crimping apparatus, or a hair crimper in short, is a type of hair styling apparatus which is designed for hair styling by application of heat and pressure to hair engaged between a pair of form-defining members. A typical hair crimper comprises a pair of complementary hair crimping members each having a transverse hair shaping profile. The transversal hair shaping profiles of the pair of hair crimping surfaces are substantially complementary, and the pair of crimping members are arranged so that when the pair of crimping members are cooperatively engaged, a length of hair transversely engaged between the crimping members will be under a crimping pressure exerted by the pair of crimping members. When heat is applied to the hair engaged between the pair of crimping surfaces, the engaged hair will be thermally set by the applied heat under crimping pressure. As a result, the hair will be set to follow the transverse hair shaping profile of the crimping members. Curls, ripples, waves, folds, creases or other corrugated styling shapes are common hair styling variations which are provided for by known hair crimpers.

In a conventional hair crimper, a hair crimping surface is usually formed as an integral part of a hair crimping member. The hair crimping member is usually formed as a moulded metallic block on which there is disposed a plurality of elongate and parallel hair shaping members protruding from the base of the moulded metallic block which defines the hair crimping surface. The plurality of parallel and elongate hair shaping members collectively defines a corrugated surface having a transverse hair shaping profile, and the transverse hair shaping profile in turn defines the longitudinal profile of a length hair after crimping has been performed in the usual manner. The metallic blocks on the pair of crimping members are heated simultaneously in order to provide the necessary crimping heat.

Although conventional hair crimpers are largely adequate in so far as hair styling is concerned, improvements in relation to the design of the crimping members, especially a design which leads to improvements in flexibility in application, are still desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a hair crimping apparatus, or a hair crimper in short, comprising a pair of complementary hair crimping surfaces which are configured for hair crimping by application of heat and pressure to hair when cooperatively engaged, and said pair of hair crimping surface collectively defines a transversal hair shaping profile, wherein said transversal hair shaping profile is adjustable.

A hair crimper with an adjustable transversal hair shaping profile provides users with enhances flexibility in hair styling, since users can select the preferred styling profile.

As an example, the ruggedness or amplitude of said transversal hair shaping profile may be adjustable.

Typically, the hair crimper may have a corrugated crimping surface, the pitch of corrugation of said crimping surface may be adjustable to adjust the transversal hair styling profile to meet requirements of a user.

In an embodiment, each said crimping surface may comprise a plurality of elongate hair shaping members which collectively define said transversal hair shaping profile, the transversal profile of each one of said hair shaping members being adjustable. Each elongate hair shaping member may comprise a ridge portion located intermediate a pair of troughs or grooves, the depth of said troughs or grooves relative to said ridge portion being adjustable.

In addition, the hair crimping sub-assemblies can be configured so that they are extendable to define a flattened hair crimping surface. Therefore, in another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair styling apparatus which is convertible between a hair crimper and a hair straightener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in further detail below by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a top view of a hair crimper of a first embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side view of the hair crimper of Figure 1 ,

Figure 2A is a side view of the lower portion of the hair crimper of Figure 2,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the hair crimper portion of Figure 2A,

Figure 3A shows a front view of the hair crimper portion of Figures 2A and 3,

Figure 3B is a transversal cross-sectional view of the hair crimper of Figure 1 along the section line A-A with coil springs 188 removed,

Figure 3C is a transversal cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the hair crimper of Figure 1 along the section line A-A,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hair crimper portion of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hair crimper of Figure 1 in its release configuration,

Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the component relationship of the hair crimper portion of Figure 2A, with the components of the hair crimping sub-assembly shown in reversal for better clarity,

Figure 6A is an exploded view of the hair crimper of Figure 1 ,

Figure 7 is a top view of a hair crimper of a second embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 8 is a side view of the hair crimper of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a transversal cross-sectional view of the hair crimper of Figure 7 along the section line A-A,

Figure 9A is a transversal cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the hair crimper of Figure 7 along the section line A-A, and

Figure 10 is an exploded view showing the component relationship of the hair crimper of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A hand-held hair crimper 100 illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1-6A. The hair crimper 100 comprises a pair of hair crimping members 120, 140 which are respectively mounted at corresponding locations on a housing 160 which in turn comprises a pair of hinge 162 joined handle portions 164, 166. The housing 160, including the handle portions 164, 166, comprises parts moulded from an insulating material such as durable plastics. Each of the hair crimping members 120, 140 comprises a hair crimping surface 122, 142 which defines a transversal hair shaping profile, as more particularly shown in Figures 3A and 5.

The hair crimping surfaces 122 142 are complementarily shaped so that when the hair crimping members 120, 140 are cooperatively engaged, a length of hair transversely engaged between the pair of crimping members 120, 140 will be set following the transversal hair shaping profile of the hair crimping surface 122 142.

As shown in the accompanying Figures, the hair crimping members are respectively mounted on the handle portions at corresponding locations distal from the hinged end of the handle portions and with their respective hair crimping surface opposite each other.

To facilitate hair shaping and releasing, the handle portion is moveable between a crimping position, at which the pair of crimping members are cooperatively engaged, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and a release position, at which hair can be inserted for crimped styling or removed after styling has been completed, as shown in Figure 5.

Each hair crimping surface is defined by a hair crimping member, or more appropriately, a hair crimping assembly, which comprises a plurality of elongate hair shaping members and which collectively defines the transverse hair shaping profile of the hair crimper. The pair of crimping members is arranged such that, during crimping operation, that is, when the crimper is at its crimping position, the ridge portion 130 of a hair shaping member of a hair crimper surface will engage with the corresponding trough portion on a hair shaping member of the opposite hair crimping surface. To facilitate this, the ridge portion of a hair shaping member is aligned with a corresponding trough portion on the other, opposite, hair shaping member. A typical transverse hair shaping profile for hair crimpers is corrugated, as shown in Figures 3B and 3C, and comprises peak and trough portions which collectively determine the ruggedness of the hair crimping surface. Generally, the ruggedness of a hair crimping surface is primarily determined by the amplitude of hair ripples or waves to be formed after crimping.

The peak and trough portions, or their functional equivalents, are substantially definitive of the transversal hair shaping profile upon crimping, since the peak and trough portions determine the locations or intervals at which the direction of hair changes upon crimping.

Each elongate hair shaping member is intermediate a pair of trough portions and comprises a ridge portion which is distal and protrudes from the base portion of the hair crimper housing. The ridge portion of a hair shaping member is defined by a pair of elongate side members which are hinge joined together along their respective lengths on a side opposite to the other, opposite, hair crimping surface.

With the hinge or pivot joint connecting a pair of adjacent side members 126,

146, the side members can pivot about their common axis, that is, the axis joining the distal sides of the side members to change the amplitude or ruggedness of the hair shaping member. Specifically, the ridge portion of a hair shaping member is formed at a junction where the pair of side members meet or intercept. More particular, each side member has a characteristic sloping surface which defines the transversal hair shaping profile intermediate a ridge portion and a trough portion. The hair crimping surface is formed by a side-by-side connection of a plurality of elongate hair shaping members in a serial manner to define the overall transversal hair shaping profile. Adjacent hair shaping members are hinge joined together at their respective lengthwise sides, which are free, with the resulting assembled hair crimping member resembling a folding door with multiple foldable members of the same width on the shorter sides.

Similar to a folding door, the ruggedness of the hair crimping member is increased when the folding side members are compressed together transversely, and the ruggedness is reduced when the folding members are extended transversely.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3B and 3C, the ridge portions of the plurality of hair shaping members define peaks on the transversal hair shaping profile, while the hinge joints connecting an adjacent pair of hair shaping members define troughs on the transversal hair shaping profile. It will be appreciated that the ridge portion of a hair shaping member is the narrowest portion, and has the maximum curvature, on the transversal profile of the hair shaping member.

Upon cooperative engagement between a pair or crimping surfaces, the ridge portions of a hair crimping surface will be pressed against the trough portions, more particularly the bottom of the trough portions, of the other, opposite, hair crimping surface. As a result, an effective crimping pressure will be applied at the ridge portions against hair engaged for hair crimping when opposite hair crimping members are cooperative engaged at the hair crimping position. Stated simply, the ridge portion and the pair of side members collectively define the transversal hair shaping profile of a hair shaping member. While the peak and trough portions of the hair shaping members will operate to determine the amplitudes or extremities of the hair ripples to be formed, the pair of side members will determine the shape of hair intermediate the extremities upon crimping. In this example, the side members together define a pair of sloping surfaces which are divergent from the ridge portion.

An exemplary construction of the hair crimper of Figures 1-5 will now be explained in further detail with particular reference to Figure 6, in which the components are shown in an exploded view. The hair crimping members 120, 140 are respectively mounted on respective housings of the pair of handle portions. Each one of the handle portions comprises a moulded plastic housing which defines a hollow compartment for accommodating the various components for the crimper to function, including a hair crimping member. A hair crimping member 120, 140 is formed by connecting a plurality of elongate panels 126, 146, as an example of an elongate side member, along their respective lengthwise sides, similar to the construction of a folding door. For a hair crimping member with an evenly heated crimping surface, the side panels can be metallic and made of aluminium, an aluminium alloy, or other thermally conductive materials. Alternatively, for a hair crimper with localized heating at intervals along the transversal hair shaping profile, the side panels may be made of plastics with a heated ridge portion sandwiched between a pair of adjacent side panels. In either case, the assembly of foldable side members is supported by a support structure 180 which is connected to a drive mechanism for compressing and extending the foldable hair crimping member transversely. The support structure comprises a base member which is extendible and retractable transversely. The base member comprises a plurality of elongate members each comprising a longitudinally rail member 184 which extends upwardly from a base portion 186.

The elongate members are connected side-by-side along their respective lengthwise sides in a serial manner by extendible connecting means, whereby the transverse separation between adjacent elongate members is adjustable telescopically through extension and contraction of the extendible connectors. To maintain extension tension among the elongate members so that they are always urged to expand transversely, a plurality of coil springs 188, as a form of resilient members, is disposed on the extensible connectors intermediate adjacent elongate members.

Heating means or heating elements 150 are attached to the back- or underside of the hair crimping surface, and more particularly, to the under-side of the side members, to provide crimping heat to the hair crimping surface. The heating elements are connected to the mains supply via a swivel cord 152 and the power supply to the heating means is controllable by a switch, as is known to persons skilled in the art. An extension of the power cord runs through the portion of the insulated housing compartment in order to connect to the heating elements.

When the hair crimper is assembled, a hair crimping member comprising a plurality of hinge connected side panels is mounted on the extendible support structure. The hair crimping sub-assembly comprising the foldable side panels and the support structure is then moveably mounted inside a moulded insulated tray 192, which is in turn mounted onto the handle housing. The sub-assembly is kept in place within the moulded tray by a pair of guard flanges 194 which extend transversely across the longitudinal ends of the sub-assembly to limit upward movement of the sub-assembly while permitting transversal extension and retraction of the sub-assembly. The sub-assembly is connected to a drive mechanism comprising a pair of driver members 196 which are mounted on the handle housing and which are transversely moveable. When the driver members move towards each other, the foldable hair crimping member is compressed, and when the driver members move away from each other, the foldable hair crimping member is extended. Movements of the driver members are controlled by a rotary knob 198 as an example of movement mechanism and by way of a spiral groove and follower arrangement, as shown in Figure 6. Such an arrangement is exemplified by a pair of studs 172 formed on an upward surface of the driver members which studs are configured to engage with a spiral groove 174 formed on the underside of the rotary knob so that the driver member will move transversely to compress and extend the foldable hair crimping members in response to rotary motion of the knob. Since a hair crimping sub-assembly mounted in each of the two handle portions is connected to its corresponding individual drive mechanism and movement mechanism, the transverse hair shaping profile defined by each of the hair crimping sub-assembly can be individually adjustable by means of its own driver mechanism upon actuation by the movement mechanism.

Furthermore, the transverse extension or contraction movements of a hair crimping member when the hair crimper is at its crimping position will bring about consequential or reactive extension or contraction movements of the opposite hair crimping member. As a result, a single driver mechanism could cause transverse movements of the pair of hair crimping surfaces to change their transversal hair shaping profile.

During operation, a user will turn on the heating elements and choose the appropriate profile by rotation of the rotary knob. The heating elements will heat up the ridge portions and a display will provide a visual indication when an appropriate crimping temperature has been reached. At this instance, a user can lay a length of hair transversely across the hair shaping members and then close the pair of handle portions for an appropriate time. The heat and pressure applied by the ridge portions will then set the hair according to and in conformity to the transverse hair shaping profile defined by the pair of hair shaping members to complete crimping. The hair will be released by opening the pair of hair crimping surfaces when crimping has been completed.

In a second embodiment of a hair crimper 200 as shown in Figure 7-10, the construction is substantially identical to that of Figures 1-6 above, with like numerals plus 100 used to refer to like parts. In this embodiment, a pair of driver members is driven by a translational control means comprising a tab 250 and guide rail 258 arrangement as shown more particularly in Figure 7. A pair of divergent guide rails is formed on the drive members and the drive members are moved transversely to compress or retract the hair crimping members due to longitudinal movement of the pair of driving tabs along the axial direction of the hair crimper.

In both embodiments, the hair crimping surface can be configured to be expandable to define a flattened hair styling surface, which is characteristic of a hair straightener. Thus, in addition to the ability to change the transverse hair shaping profile, this invention has also provided a hair styling apparatus convertible between a hair crimper and a hair straightener.

Further, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, although in the presented embodiments the hair shaping members of the crimping surfaces are depicted as extending transversely to the pivot axis of the hair crimper, in other or alternate embodiments the hair shaping members may be provided in an oblique manner with respect to the placement of hair of a user, whilst still imparting a hair shaping profile that is transverse to the hair.

Further, as will also be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art, any hair shaping member of the crimping members which is capable of providing an adjustable crimping profile to the hair of a subject which is transverse to the hair, should be considered to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

While the present invention has been explained by reference to the examples or preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that those are examples to assist understanding of the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive. Variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made thereon, should be considered as equivalents of this invention.

Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained by reference to a hair crimper in which each ridge portion is formed by hinged or pivotal joining of a pair of side members, it should be appreciated that the invention can apply, whether with or without modification, to other embodiments, for example, by web-joined side members, without loss of generality.

Claims

1. A hair crimper comprising a pair of complementary hair crimping surfaces which are configured for hair crimping by application of heat and pressure to hair when cooperatively engaged, and said pair of hair crimping surface collectively defines a transversal hair shaping profile, wherein said transversal hair shaping profile is adjustable.

2. A hair crimper according to Claim 1 , wherein each said crimping surface is corrugated, and the pitch of corrugation of said crimping surface is adjustable.

3. A hair crimper according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein each said crimping surface comprises a plurality of elongate hair shaping members which collectively define said transversal hair shaping profile, the transversal profile of each one of said hair shaping members being adjustable.

4. A hair crimper according to Claim 3, wherein each elongate hair shaping member comprises a ridge portion intermediate a pair of troughs or grooves, the depth of said troughs or grooves relative to said ridge portion being adjustable.

5. A hair crimper according to Claim 4, wherein the ridge portions of said plurality of elongate hair shaping members are parallel.

6. A hair crimper according to Claim 3, wherein each elongate hair shaping member comprises a ridge portion intermediate a pair of grooves, the separation between a pair of adjacent grooves being adjustable.

7. A hair crimper according to Claim 6, wherein the grooves are parallel to said ridge portion.

8. A hair crimper according to Claim 3, wherein each said elongate hair shaping member comprises a pair of elongate side members which are hinged or pivotally joined together to define a ridge portion, said ridge portion defining a peak on said transversal hair shaping profile.

9. A hair crimper according to Claim 8, wherein the ridge portions of said plurality of hair shaping members define peaks on said transversal hair shaping profile, and each peak is intermediate a pair of parallel grooves, the peaks on one said hair crimping member being aligned with grooves formed on another one of said hair crimping member.

10. A hair crimper according to Claims 8 or 9, wherein a said ridge portion is defined by interception of said pair of side members each defining a sloping surface, and sloping surfaces of said pair of side members converge at said ridge portion.

11. A hair crimper according to Claim 10, wherein the separation between a pair of adjacent grooves is adjustable.

12. A hair crimper according to Claim 10, wherein relative inclination between said sloping surfaces is adjustable by adjusting separation between a pair of adjacent grooves.

13. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims 4-12, wherein said ridge portion is configured for applying crimping heat and pressure to hair engaged between said pair of complementary hair crimping surfaces.

14. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the ruggedness or amplitude of said transversal hair shaping profile is adjustable.

15. A hair crimper according to any of Claims 3-14, wherein each elongate said hair shaping member comprises a pair of hinge joined side members, the transversal hair shaping profile of a said hair shaping member being adjustable by folding or un-folding of said pair of sloping surfaces about said hinge.

16. A hair crimper according to Claim 15, wherein said plurality of elongate hair shaping members is arranged such that the ruggedness is increased by compressing said plurality of elongate hair shaping members transversely and the ruggedness is decreased by extending said plurality of elongate hair shaping members transversely.

17. A hair crimper according to Claim 15 or claim 16, wherein a said side member defines the transversal hair shaping profile between a ridge portion and an adjacent groove portion.

18. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims 3-17, wherein the cross-sectional profile or ruggedness of said plurality of hair shaping members is adjustable by a single adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being arranged to transversely drive said plurality of hair shaping members simultaneously to increase or decrease ruggedness of said hair crimping surface.

19. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims 3-18, wherein the cross-sectional profile or ruggedness of said hair crimping surface is adjustable by an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism comprising a pair of transversely moveable drive members which are arranged to transversely drive said plurality of hair shaping members to increase or decrease ruggedness of said corrugated hair styling surface.

20. A hair crimper according to Claim 19, wherein said pair of transversely moveable drive members is drivable to move transversely by a rotary driving member.

21. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims 3-20, further comprising a handle portion which is pivotally movable between a hair crimping position and a release position, wherein the plurality of said elongate hair shaping members are parallel and extend transversally to the pivotal axis of said handle portion.

22. A hair crimper according to Claim 21 , wherein said pair of hair crimping surfaces are mounted on said handle portion and distal from the pivot of said handle portion.

23. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims 3 to 22, wherein at least one heating means is attached to a said elongate hair shaping member on the surface underneath said hair crimping surface.

24. A hair crimper according to any of the preceding Claims and convertible to become a hair straightener.