Hair Straightener Holder

The present invention relates to apparatus for holding hair straighteners, in particular, apparatus for holding hair straighteners which switch off the hair straighteners after a period of time.

In the field of hairdressing and hairstyling, hair straightening irons (more commonly referred to as hair straighteners) are used to straighten hair, typically by applying heat. Most hair straighteners are tong-like, with two opposing, flat, heated plates which are closed together over the hair and drawn from root to tip; in effect ironing the hair flat.

Within an individual hair, the cortex contains the chemical bonds which determine the structure of the hair; i.e. whether it is curly or straight. The heat applied by straighteners breaks hydrogen bonds within the hairs and the application of the downwards force causes the hairs to be temporarily straightened.

More recently, high end hair straighteners have employed ceramic plates which heat up more quickly than prior metallic plates, and also cause less damage to a person's hair. Widespread availability of such professional quality hair straighteners at affordable prices means that many more women, and some men, now have their own for use at home.

The widespread use of such hair straighteners in the home has contributed somewhat to so-called "vanity vandalism", whereby straighteners which have been inadvertently left switched on have caused damage of varying degrees. For example, surfaces may be burned or in fact fires actually started as a result of leaving straighteners switched on. Not only does this carry the obvious fire risk detailed above, but there is also considerable consumption of electricity involved.

A recent study has found that a large number (up to 4 million so far) of insurance claims stem from damage as a result of leaving straighteners left on. That the typical places people leave their hair straighteners after use include on the carpet, on the bed, on the dressing table, on the window sill or draped over the dresser mirror, this trend looks set to continue. It would also appear that leaving straighteners left on by accident is a very common occurrence.

One solution is to place the hair straighteners on a heat resistant mat before and after use. Some modern hair straighteners are supplied with such mats, but typically they are purchased separately. The straighteners are laid on the mat as they heat up and replaced on or

wrapped in the mat when use is finished. However, although the surface upon which the straighteners are placed is protected by the mat, the straighteners may still be left on and other objects placed on top of them. Furthermore, they may fall or roll off of the mat. In a rush, it may also be too time consuming to wrap the straighteners properly before leaving the house. However, people have also been known to return home from functions, restaurants, nights out etc. to check whether they have left their straighteners on and if so to switch them off.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that obviates and mitigates one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for holding hair straighteners, the apparatus comprising: a hair straightener locating means adapted to removeably locate the hair straighteners; and a timing means adapted to provide power to the hair straighteners for a predetermined time interval.

The present invention therefore provides a location for the hair straighteners when not in use or when waiting for them to heat up. Furthermore, the timing means provides power for a predetermined time interval, such that when the time interval expires the hair straighteners are no longer powered thus removing the risk associated with leaving the straighteners on when, for example, leaving the house.

Most preferably, the apparatus comprises a body which houses the timing means.

Most preferably, the locating means is detachable from the body.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises a number of interchangeable locating means.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an indicator means configured to indicate when power is provided to the hair straighteners .

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a indicator means configured to provide an indication prior to the predetermined time interval elapsing.

This will allow the user to restart the timing means if necessary.

Most preferably, the locating means is adapted to hold the hair straighteners spaced from a surface upon which the apparatus is located.

The apparatus therefore protects such a surface from being burned or otherwise suffering damage that placing hot straighteners on or near would cause.

Preferably, the locating means comprises a heat resistant material.

The heat resistant material can prevent transfer of heat from hot straighteners to the holder or to its surroundings .

Preferably, the locating means comprises a recess for receiving the hair straighteners. Preferably, the recess is suitably deep so as to enclose substantially the full length of the plates of the hair straighteners.

Hair straighteners have plates which heat up to a temperature which can burn, amongst other things, human skin. Locating the bulk of the plates within the recess reduces the possibility of hot plates coming into contact with skin or any other surface which might be burned.

Preferably, the recess comprises a heat resistant lining.

The heat resistant lining can prevent damage to the holder, and in particular the recess itself, when the straighteners are located in the recess.

Alternatively, the locating means comprises an elongate recess sized to provide a snug fit for the hair straighteners.

Providing a snug fit reduces the possibility of the straighteners, which are typically also elongate, from falling out of the holder. In fact, providing a snug fit means that a shallower recess can be used, with a corresponding reduction in the footprint of the holder.

Preferably, the locating means comprises ventilation means to provide ventilation for the hair straighteners when located in the locating means.

Alternatively, the locating means comprises a bracket adapted to receive the hair straighteners. Further alternatively, the locating means comprises a protrusion adapted to cooperate with all or a part of the hair straighteners. The protrusion may be a hook adapted to locate a loop on the straighteners or simply to drape the straightener power cord over.

Most preferably, the apparatus comprises a power supply adapted to supply power to the hair straighteners. Optionally, the power supply comprises a socket adapted to provide power to hair straighteners connectable thereto. Alternatively, the power supply is adapted to supply power to hair straighteners integral to the apparatus.

Preferably, the timing means is operable to selectively supply power from the power supply to the hair straighteners.

Preferably, the timing means comprises a variable control means, adapted to allow a user to select the predetermined time interval.

Preferably, the timing means comprises a push button mechanism. The push button mechanism may be of a type which, when depressed to supply power to the hair straighteners, gradually returns under bias to the start position whereupon the power supply is stopped.

Alternatively, the timing means comprises a dial, the dial rotatable to select the predetermined time interval. The dial may simply set the predetermined time interval, or in addition gradually rotate under bias to return to the start or zero position whereupon the power supply is stopped. Indicia may be provided, for example in the form of a marker on the dial and a corresponding scale on the holder, to give a visual indication of elapsed time etc.

Further alternatively, the timing means comprises a timing circuit actuable to supply power to the hair straighteners and stop the supply of power to the hair straighteners after the predetermined time interval. This removes the need for any mechanical means and may therefore reduce the size and the production cost of the apparatus.

Optionally, the timing means comprises a display. The display may comprise, for example, an LCD screen, an arrangement of LEDS, or an organic LED (OLED) display, and provide an indication of the predetermined time interval, elapsed time and/or time remaining.

Preferably, the timing means further comprises a user interface operable to set the predetermined time interval in cooperation with the display.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises an extensible power lead connecting the power supply to the hair straighteners.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises mounting means adapted to allow mounting of the apparatus to a surface. The apparatus may therefore be wall mountable. Alternatively, the apparatus may be adapted to integrate with an article of furniture. In this way the apparatus could form part of a chest of drawers, dresser, or bathroom cabinet for example.

Optionally, the mounting means comprises one or more suction cups. Alternatively, the mounting means comprises a mains plug integral to the apparatus which also acts to connect the apparatus to the power supply.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 illustrates in schematic form a hair straightener holder in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative hair straightener holder in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates another alternative hair straightener holder in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a further alternative hair straightener holder in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a yet further alternative hair straightener holder in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and

Figure 6 illustrates another yet further alternative hair straightener holder in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, there is presented a hair straightener holder 1 as described in detail below. The hair straightener holder has an elongate cuboid body 3, disposed vertically, and comprises a cylindrical recess 5 at a top end extending into the holder 1 to receive the hair straighteners 7 when not in use. The cylindrical recess 5 is lined with a heat resistant material 9, such as a rubber or polyester material, which prevents heat from plates 11 from damaging the holder 1. Furthermore, the recess 5 is deep enough such that the plates 11 will be substantially located within the recess 5 which will prevent unwanted contact with the plates 11, whether it be with a material which could burn or a user's hand. Importantly, the straighteners 7 are held away from the surface upon which the holder 1 is located, e.g. a dresser, table, window sill or chest of drawers, preventing that surface from being burned or otherwise damaged by a hot straightener.

The holder 1 also comprises a hair straightener power supply 13, in this case an AC mains socket for receiving, and supplying electrical power to, a corresponding mains plug 15. This socket 13 provides said power to a set of hair straighteners 7, the mains plug 15 of which is connected thereto. The holder 1 also has a connection to

a mains supply (shown schematically at 17), for example by way of a further mains lead and plug for connecting the holder to a domestic AC mains supply socket.

Power is selectively supplied from the mains supply 17 to the hair straightener power supply 13 by actuation of a push button timing mechanism 19. The push button 19 is depressed when power is required for the hair straighteners 7, whereupon the mains supply 17 is routed to the hair straightener power supply 13. When a predetermined time interval expires, for example when the push button 19 has returned to its start position, the power supply 13 is cut off from the mains supply 17.

In use, the holder 1 is connected to the mains supply 17. A user 21 takes a set of hair straighteners 7 and plugs the corresponding plug 15 into the hair straightener power supply 13, and places the straighteners 7 into the recess 5 at the top of the holder 1. The user 21 then fully depresses the push button 19, corresponding to a maximum predetermined time interval, and power is supplied to the straighteners 7 accordingly. The straighteners 7 then heat up to the required temperature, are used to straighten the user's hair (who depresses the button 19 again if she/he has not finished when the predetermined time interval has expired), then are replaced in the recess 5 at the top of the holder 1. If it has not already done so, eventually the time interval will expire and the button 19 will cut off power to the straighteners 7. Therefore, in addition to being prevented from damaging a surface, the straighteners 7 will never be left on for any significant amount of time once they are finished with.

In an alternative embodiment, the hair straighteners 107 are integral to the holder 101 as will now be discussed with further reference to Figure 2. In this embodiment the hair straightener holder 101 also has an elongate cuboid body 103, disposed horizontally in this case. Similarly, the holder 101 comprises a lined cylindrical recess 105 at a first end extending into the holder 101 to receive the hair straighteners 107 when not in use. The cylindrical recess 105 in this embodiment further comprises ventilation slots 123 to assist in cooling of the hair straighteners 107 when power to the straighteners 107 is off, or to prevent overheating in the recess 105.

In this embodiment, the timing means is provided by a timing dial 125, the indicator 127 of which is rotated to a desired time interval on an adjacent scale 129 whereupon power is routed to the straighteners 107. The dial 125, in analogous fashion to the push button mechanism 19 of Figure 1, rotates to return to the start position (t=0) at which time the power to the straighteners 107 is cut off. The timing dial 125, with its corresponding scale 129, provides an easy way of setting a time interval for powering the hair straighteners 107, and it will also provide a useful visual indication of the time remaining before power is switched off. The maximum permissible time interval that can be set with the timing dial 125 may correspond to a predicted maximum safe time for leaving the straighteners 107 unattended.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative holder 201 suitable for wall mounting, for example in a hotel bathroom suite. In this embodiment the hair straightener holder 201 comprises a plate 203, which can be mounted to a wall by means of mounting screws 227. A heat resistant bracket 205, which provides a snug fit for the hair straighteners 207, is mounted on the plate 203 and holds the straighteners 207 away from the wall. Ventilation slots 223 are provided in the bracket 205 to aid in cooling the straighteners 207 once finished with.

Similarly to Figure 2 above, the hair straighteners 207 are integral to the holder 201. The holder 201 however is directly connected to a mains supply, so there is no need for an additional mains lead. The lead 229 connecting the hair straighteners to the holder is retractable, as indicated by arrows 231. Therefore the straighteners 207 can be extended away from the holder 201 when in use by applying a light pulling pressure, and when returned to the holder 201 the lead 229 is gently retracted.

Timing is provided by means of an electrical circuit mounted on the rear of the plate (indicated by means of dashed line 233) . The timing circuit 233 has a user interface comprising of a small LCD screen 235, two arrow-type "up" and "down" buttons 237, and a start button 239. Using the arrow buttons 237, the required time interval is set (using up and down to increase and decrease the time, respectively) . Once use of the straighteners 207 commences by pressing the start button 239, the time displayed on the LCD screen 235 counts down to zero, at which time power to the straighteners 207 is

cut off. The user can of course restart the countdown by pressing start 239 again if further use of the straighteners 207 is required.

Figure 4 illustrates another hair straightener holder 301. This holder 301 consists of a two-piece construction (best illustrated in the separated view of Figure 4 (b) ) having a base 303 and a detachable bracket 305. The base 303 comprises a socket 313 which is adapted to receive a corresponding plug (not shown) of a pair of straighteners. Power button 319 when pressed allows the holder 301 to provide power to a pair of straighteners connected to the socket 313 for a predetermined time interval.

The base 303 also comprises a plug and lead 316 to connect the base to a mains power supply (not shown) . The detachable bracket 305 comprises a peg portion 320 and the base comprises a corresponding hole 318 into which the peg 320 may locate. The hole 318 and peg 320 are elongate in cross section to allow the bracket 305 to sit on the base 303 without being able to rotate or wobble.

As with previous embodiments, ventilation holes 323 are located on the bracket 305 to allow cooling of the straighteners. An LED 322 indicates when power is being supplied to the straighteners.

In this embodiment, a further feature is included whereby an audible alert (or in an alternative embodimemt a visible alert by means of the LED 322 or otherwise) is provided, say, one minute before the predetermined time

interval elapses. In this way, the user can be prompted that power to the straighteners will shortly be interrupted whereupon the user can select to prolong use by pressing button 319 again (thus restarting the timer) or allow the power to be interrupted.

Having a removable bracket 305 offers a number of advantages. Firstly, the bracket 305 may be replaced with a like bracket should it become damaged or lost. In an all-in-one construction, damage to the bracket may require replacement of the entire device which is obviously more costly to the user. Additionally, a number of different shapes of bracket may be provided, selectable either dependent on the mood of the user (where brackets with fanciful shapes and configurations are provided) or the shape/size of the straighteners. Packaging and transportation of the straightener holder 301 is also made easier by having a removable bracket 305.

Additional embodiments 401,501 are presented in Figures 5 and 6, respectively.

Holders 401 and 501 also comprise a socket 413,513 to which a pair of straigheners can be connected. In these embodiments the bracket 405,505 are integral to the holder body 403,503, however in Figure 5 the bracket 405 is displaced horizontally but aligned vertically to the body 403. In Figure 6 the bracket 505 is displaced vertically but aligned horizontally to the body 503.

Ventilation holes 423,523 are provided to allow straighteners inserted in the bracket 405,505 to cool.

In Figure 5, the holder 401 is located by way of a mains plug 416 which is integral to the body 403. No mains lead is required and the holder 401 can be plugged into a wall socket whereupon it is fixed in place and able to hold a pair of straighteners removed from the floor or other hazards.

In Figure 6, the holder employs a number of suction cups 517 (two of which are visible in this Figure) which allows the holder 501 to be affixed to a vertical surface.

A number of advantages can be had over the state of the art with regard to a number of features of the apparatus as exemplified by the abovementioned Figures. In the first instance, using a locating means provides a place for straighteners to be placed when not in use so as to prevent burning of surfaces or even of skin.

Furthermore, the timing mechanisms turn the straighteners off after a predetermined amount of time which may prevent damage occurring as a result of said straighteners being left, while hot, in contact with a surface.

A further advantage of aspects of the present invention is that the holder can accommodate existing hair straighteners, or alternatively have hair straighteners integral thereto. A hotel suite may therefore have a system located within a bathroom suite in which visitors can plug in their own straighteners and will also be

encouraged to place their straighteners in a holder or recess provided, thus improving safety.

The present invention may also be integrated into new or existing furniture or surfaces. For example, dressing tables or chests of drawers may be produced or modified to integrate appropriate recesses or brackets, or integrated into a bathroom suite, for example in a wall or cabinet.

In summary, the present invention will improve safety in connection with the use of hair straighteners, and also reduce electrical power consumption as a result of leaving such items switched on for extended periods of time.

Further modifications and improvements may be added without departing from the scope of the invention herein described. For example, where an embodiment is described as being wall mounted it will be appreciated that it may equally be adapted to be free standing or to be located on or integrated with another surface, and vice versa.