CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 63/068,101, filed 20 August 2020, the disclosure of which is now expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Hair curling irons use heat to impart curls or waves in a user’ s hair. In most designs, hair curling irons include a cylindrical handle with a heated cylindrical barrel extending from the handle all along a single axis. Hair can be wrapped around the heated cylindrical barrel and optionally held in place by a clip or clamp to impart a curl or wave when the hair is removed from the heated cylindrical barrel.

SUMMARY

[0003] A curling iron in accordance with the present disclosure includes a handle assembly and a head assembly with multiple, spaced apart curler barrels. The curler barrels are configured to be selectively heated to impart curls into hair wrapped around the curler barrels.

[0004] In illustrative embodiments, the curler barrels are configured to selectively vibrate to discourage sticking of hair to the curler barrels during use and/or removal of hair from the barrels. The head assembly of the disclosed embodiment includes a housing that supports the curler barrels and that houses a powered vibrator adapted to generate vibration.

[0005] In illustrative embodiments, the handle assembly extends along a handle axis the curler barrels extend along barrel axes spaced apart from the handle axis. In the disclosed embodiment, the barrel axes are generally perpendicular to the handle axis.

[0006] According to various methods of using the curling iron of the present disclosure, a user may wrap a first piece of hair around a first curler barrel and a second piece of hair around a second curler barrel while the first hair is heated to impart curl. A user may wrap a weft of hair around both curler barrels in an oval shape or in a figureeight shape to impart selectively shaped curls into the weft. [0007] Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dual-barrel curling iron including a handle assembly that extends along a handle axis and a head assembly with two spaced apart curler barrels configured to be heated and vibrated based on control selections, showing that the curler barrels extend along barrel axes that are generally perpendicular to the handle axis;

[0010] Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the curling iron of Fig. 1 showing that handle assembly includes a latch-release button adapted to free the head assembly from the handle assembly as suggested in Fig. 3 so that the head assembly can be replaced with various other head assemblies with various other barrel arrangements;

[0011] Fig. 3 is a side elevation view like Fig. 2 showing the head assembly decoupled from the handle assembly after a user pressed the latch-release button;

[0012] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the curling iron of Figs. 1-3 showing that the handle assembly includes a grip, a control unit, and a head mount for selectively coupling a head assembly to the handle assemble; and further showing that the head assembly includes a housing, a vibrator arranged in the housing, curler barrels that extend from the housing, and heating elements arranged in each of the curler barrels; and

[0013] Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a method for using the dual-barrel curling iron to create different curls or styles in the hair of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A curling iron 10, shown in Fig. 1, includes a number of spaced apart curler barrels 41, 42 that can be heated and, optionally, vibrated to impart curls or waves into a users hair. The spaced apart curler barrels 41, 42 allow a user to wind hair around a first curler barrel 41 while other hair already wound on a second curler barrel 42 is heated to impart curl. Alternately, hair can be wound in large loops or figure-eight shapes around the first and second curler barrels 41, 42 to obtain desired curl shapes. [0015] In the illustrative embodiment, the curling iron 10 is a dual-barrel curling iron including a handle assembly 12 and a head assembly 14 as shown in Figs. 1-3. The handle assembly 12 extends along a handle axis 12A and provides a hand-hold for users or stylists. The head assembly 14 is removably coupled to the handle assembly 12 and is heated to impart curl to a user’s hair. In some embodiments, other more traditional and other novel heads with heated barrels may be removably coupled to and used with the handle assembly 12 thereby creating a hair curling system or kit.

[0016] The handle assembly 12 illustratively supports controls for a user of the curling iron 10 as suggested in Fig. 1. The handle assembly 12 includes a grip 16, a control unit 18, and a head mount 20 as shown in Fig. 4. The grip 16 is illustratively includes shell pieces 16A, 16B and provides a hand-hold for users of the curling iron 10. The control unit 18 manages heating and vibrating operations of the curling iron 10. The head mount 20 selectively couples the head assembly 14 to the handle assembly 12 as suggested in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0017] The control unit 18 distributes power from an electrical grid (wired operation) or from optional batteries (wireless operation) to drive heating and vibrating operations of the curling iron 10. In the disclosed embodiment, the control unit 18 includes a circuit board 24, user inputs 25, 26, and a display 28 as shown in Fig. 4. The temperature user input 25 toggles temperature of the curler barrels among OFF/WARM/HOT settings, thought other gradations of temperature are possible. The vibration user input 26 toggles vibration of the curling iron among OFF/LOW/HIGH settings, though other gradations and styles of vibration are also contemplated. The display 28 indicates the temperature and vibration selected at any given time.

[0018] The head mount 20 is configured to release the head assembly 14 from the handle assembly 12 as suggested in Figs. 2 and 3. The head mount 20 illustratively includes a guide 30, a latch 32, and a latch-release button 34 as shown in Fig. 4. The guide 30 is fixed to the grip 16 of the handle assembly 12 and is configured to mate with the head assembly 14 so as to ensure proper alignment of the head assembly 14 with the handle assembly 12. The latch 32 is configured to engage a corresponding catch 33 included in the head assembly 14 and selectively block removal of the head assembly 14 from the handle assembly 12. The latch-release button 34 is coupled to the latch 32 and moves the latch 32 from a normally-engaged position to a released position when pressed by a user.

[0019] The head assembly 14 receives power from the control unit 18 and delivers heating and vibrating functionality to a user’s hair. The head assembly 14 includes a housing 40 and curler barrels 41, 42. The housing 40 is shaped to mate with the guide 30 of the head mount 20 and is shaped to include the catch 33 engaged by the latch 32 of the head mount 20. The curler barrels 41, 42 are coupled to the housing 40 and extend along barrel axes 41 A, 42A that are spaced apart from as well as perpendicular to the handle axis 12A. The curler barrels 41, 42 may be heated and vibrated based on user inputs to the control unit 18.

[0020] The head assembly 14 also includes a vibrator 50 and heating elements 51, 52 as shown in Fig. 4. The vibrator 50 is arranged in the housing 40 and generates vibration when powered. The heating elements 51, 52 are arranged in corresponding curler barrels 41, 42 and heat up when powered so as to heat the curler barrels 41, 42 for imparting curl to hair.

[0021] Each curler barrel 41, 42 is shaped to have a shaft 54 and a cap 56 as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 54 extends from the housing 40 of the head assembly 14 and has a generally cylindrical shape sized to impart curls of a desired size. The cap 56 is arranged at a distal end of the corresponding shaft 54 spaced from the housing 40. The cap 56 is dome-shaped and is sized to block hairs wrapped around the shaft 54 from sliding off the curler barrel 41, 42. It is contemplated that curler barrels 41, 42 may be interchangeable via replacement on the head assembly 14 or via replacement of the entire head assembly 14 to provide a different shaft 54 and cap 56 sizes so as to accommodate desired curl response.

[0022] A method 100 of using the curling iron 10 may include several steps as suggested in Fig. 5. To begin, the user turns the curling iron 10 on and sets a temperature of the curler barrels 41, 42 as suggested by box 110 in Fig. 5. The user uses the temperature user input 25 to toggle the temperature of the curler barrels 41, 42 from OFF to the WARM/HOT settings.

[0023] In some embodiments, the user may set a vibration level of the curler barrels 41, 42 as suggested by box 112 in Fig. 5. The user may use the vibration user input 26 to toggle the vibration of the curling iron from OFF to the LOW/HIGH settings. The display 28 indicates the temperature and vibration selected at any given time.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method includes just setting the vibration level of the curling iron 10 and massaging a scalp of the user with the vibrating curler barrels 41, 42. This can help treat the scalp and potentially increase hair growth.

[0025] Once the curler barrels 41, 42 reach the selected temperature, the user can use the curling iron 10 to create the desired curl shape. The curling iron 10 may be used to create a variety of different curl shape. In the illustrative embodiment, the curling iron 10 may be used to create finger curls 114A, ringlet curls 114B, large curls 114C, and beach waves 114D as suggested by the box 114 in Fig. 5. In other embodiments, the curling iron 10 may create other curl shapes.

[0026] Once the user selects the desired hairstyle 114A-D, the user then separates a section of hair to curl using the curling iron 10 as suggested by box 116 in Fig. 5. The user may then wrap the hair around the curler barrel(s) 41, 42 based on the desired curl shape as suggested by box 118 in Fig. 5.

[0027] Each curl shape 114A-D is done by using a different wrapping technique around the curler barrels 41, 42. For the finger curls 114A, the user wraps a hair section in a figure-eight around the first and second curler barrels 41, 42. For the ringlet curls 114B, the user wraps the hair section around only one of the barrels 41, 42.

[0028] For the larger curls 114C, the user wraps the hair section in large loops around both barrels 41, 42. In the illustrative embodiment, the larger curls are curls that are greater in diameter/size than the ringlet curls, but different from the beach waves. [0029] The user then holds the section of hair in place on the curler barrel(s) 41, 42 for a predetermined amount of time based on the desired curl shape as suggested by box 120 in Fig. 5. The predetermine amount of time may be longer or shorter based on the curl shape.

[0030] For the beach waves 114D, the user may wrap a portion of the hair section in a figure-eight around the first and second curler barrels 41, 42 so that not all of the hair section contacts the barrels 41, 42. The user may then move the curling iron 10 while holding the hair section on the curler barrels 41, 42 to affect the curl shape.

[0031] After the predetermined amount of time, the user releases the hair section from the curler barrel(s) 41, 42 to produce the desired curl shape as suggested by box 122 in Fig. 5. Then the user repeats the last four steps for the rest of the hair as suggested by box 124 in Fig. 5. In other embodiments, the user may only repeat the steps for a portion of the remaining hair.

[0032] The following numbered clauses include embodiments that are contemplated and non-limiting:

[0033] Clause 1. A hair curling iron comprising

[0034] a handle assembly that extends along a handle axis, and

[0035] a head assembly with two spaced apart curler barrels configured to be heated.

[0036] Clause 2. The hair curling iron of clause 1, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the two spaced apart curler barrels extend along barrel axes that are generally perpendicular to the handle axis.

[0037] Clause 3. The hair curling iron of clause 2, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the barrel axes are spaced apart from one another and from the handle axis.

[0038] Clause 4. The hair curling iron of clause 3, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the two spaced apart curler barrels are configured to selectively vibrate to discourage sticking of hair to the two spaced apart curler barrels during use and/or removal of hair from the two spaced apart curler barrels.

[0039] Clause 5. The hair curling iron of clause 4, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the head assembly includes a housing that supports the curler barrels and houses a powered vibrator adapted to generate vibration.

[0040] Clause 6. The hair curling iron of clause 2, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein each of the two spaced apart curler barrels are shaped to include a cylindrical shaft that extends from a housing of the head assembly and a dome-shaped cap arranged at a distal end of the shaft spaced apart from the housing to block hairs wrapped around the shaft from sliding off the corresponding cylindrical shaft while the hairs are being heated to impart curl.

[0041] Clause 7. A method comprising

[0042] providing a hair curling iron comprising a handle assembly that extends along a handle axis and a head assembly with two spaced apart curler barrels configured to be heated, wherein the two spaced apart curler barrels extend along barrel axes that are generally perpendicular to the handle axis.

[0043] Clause 8. The method of clause 7, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising setting a temperature of the curler barrels. [0044] Clause 9. The method of clause 8, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising determining a desired curl shape to be applied to hair of a user.

[0045] Clause 10. The method of clause 9, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising wrapping the hair around at least one curler barrel of the curler barrels based on the desired curl shape.

[0046] Clause 11. The method of clause 10, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising holding the hair in place on the at least one curler barrel of the curler barrels for a predetermined amount of time based on the desired curl shape.

[0047] Clause 12. The method of clause 11, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising releasing the hair from the at least one curler barrel of the curler barrels to produce the desired curl shape.

[0048] Clause 13. The method of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising setting a vibration level of the curler barrels before the wrapping, holding, and releasing steps.

[0049] Clause 14. The method of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, further comprising repeating the wrapping, holding, and releasing steps for the remaining hair of the user.

[0050] Clause 15. The method of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the desired curl shape is a finger curl and the wrapping step includes circling the hair around the curler barrels in a figure-eight shape.

[0051] Clause 16. The method of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the desired curl shape is a ringlet curl and the wrapping step includes circling the hair around only one curler barrel of the curler barrels.

[0052] Clause 17. The method of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the desired curl shape is a large curl and the wrapping step includes circling the hair around an outside of both curler barrels.