Automatic curling mechanism
OwnerMasood Habibiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic curling iron includes at least two parallel prongs defining a gap aligned along a longitudinal axis. A rotation mechanism drives at least one of the prongs around the longitudinal axis. A thermally insulated handle holds the revolving mechanism with the two prongs extending. An electrical circuit housed in the housing powers the revolving mechanism heats at least one of the prongs. Optionally, the apparatus includes a stationary outer styling shell coupled to the housing and enclosing at least a portion of the prongs. The outer styling shell can be separated into sections so enable access to the gap and may be expandable. One or more fins of elastomeric high temperature material may be mounted to an interior of the styling shell and positioned to hold strands of hair against a heated one of the prongs.
Claims20
An apparatus for curling hair, comprising:
- at least two parallel prongs defining a gap there between and aligned along a longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the prongs is thermally conductive;
- a rotation mechanism coupled to at least one of the prongs at a base of each prong, configured to rotate at least one of the prongs around the longitudinal axis;
- a thermally insulated housing comprising a handle portion, holding the rotation mechanism with the two prongs extending away from the handle portion;
- a stationary outer styling shell coupled to the housing and substantially enclosing the prongs along their length;
- at least one fin of elastomeric high temperature material mounted to an interior of the styling shell extending along a length thereof from the interior towards the prongs and positioned to hold strands of hair against a heated one of the prongs;
- and
- an electrical circuit for powering the rotation mechanism and for heating the at least one of the prongs, housed in the housing.
A method of using an automatic curling iron to style hair, the method comprising:
- inserting a bundle of hair between parallel prongs of an automatic curling iron under a stationary outer styling shell coupled to the housing and enclosing at least a portion of the prongs, wherein at least one fin of elastomeric high temperature material mounted to an interior of the styling shell extending along a length thereof from the interior towards the prongs is positioned to hold strands of hair against a heated one of the prongs;
- heating at least one of the prongs to a desired operating temperature;
- rotating by an electrical motor at least one of the prongs around a common longitudinal axis of the prongs while moving a protruding end of the bundle of hair along the longitudinal axis, causing the bundle of hair to wrap in a helix around at least one of the prongs under the styling shell;
- and
- releasing the bundle of hair once heated.
An apparatus for curling hair, comprising:
- at least two parallel prongs defining a gap there between and aligned along a longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the prongs is thermally conductive;
- a rotation mechanism coupled to at least one of the prongs at a base of each prong, configured to rotate at least one of the prongs around the longitudinal axis;
- a thermally insulated housing comprising a handle portion, holding the rotation mechanism with the two prongs extending away from the handle portion;
- an outer styling shell coupled to the housing and substantially enclosing the prongs along their length, wherein the outer styling shell comprises at least two longitudinal sections of a cylinder separated so as to expose a length of the gap from an open end of the prongs to near the base and is pivotable between open and closed positions;
- an adjustment mechanism positioned at an end of the prongs proximal to the base for adjusting separation between the prongs;
- and
- an electrical circuit for powering the rotation mechanism and for heating the at least one of the prongs, housed in the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.