Barrel for hair styling appliance

A hair styling appliance comprising a barrel assembly, the barrel assembly comprising:

• a barrel having an external surface, an inner surface, and a heater-mounting surface inside the barrel, wherein the heater-mounting surface is integrally formed with the external surface and extends across the inner surface of the barrel, from one side of the barrel to another side of the barrel when the barrel is viewed in transverse cross-section, such that the heater-mounting surface is integrally attached to the external surface on two opposing sides of the barrel and defines a hollow region of the barrel extending between the heater-mounting surface and the inner surface;
• a heater element mounted on the heater-mounting surface, within the hollow region of the barrel;
• and
• a spring clip external to the heater element, and within the hollow region of the barrel;
• wherein the spring clip is inserted within the hollow region of the barrel, between the inner surface of the barrel and the heater element, such that the spring clip provides a force for securing the heater element against the heater-mounting surface.

A method of manufacturing a barrel assembly for a hair styling appliance, the method comprising:

• obtaining a barrel having an external surface, an inner surface, and a heater-mounting surface inside the barrel, wherein the heater-mounting surface is integrally formed with the external surface and extends across the inner surface of the barrel, from one side of the barrel to another side of the barrel when the barrel is viewed in transverse cross-section, such that the heater-mounting surface is integrally attached to the external surface on two opposing sides of the barrel and defines a hollow region of the barrel extending between the heater-mounting surface and the inner surface;
• mounting a heater element on the heater-mounting surface, within the hollow region of the barrel;
• and
• inserting a spring clip within the hollow region of the barrel, the spring clip being external to the heater element and inserted between the inner surface of the barrel and the heater element, such that the spring clip provides a force for securing the heater element against the heater-mounting surface.