Description CORDLESS HAIR STRAIGHTENER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a hair straightener, and more particularly, to a cordless hair straightener which can be conveniently carried to set hair into a desired hairstyle anytime and anywhere utilizing a DC battery. Background Art

[2] In daily life, the hairstyle expressing one's individuality is an important factor in the beauty of women as well as men. The moderns pursue a change in their hairstyle depending on their styles of clothes, the place and time for meeting.

[3] Therefore, hairdressing equipment has been widely used to apply heat to the hair for setting the hair into a fixed shape or temporary wave shape, so that a variety of hair designs can be performed to obtain a desired hairstyle.

[4] As one of the hairdressing equipment, a hair straightener as shown in Fig. 1 is employed. The hair straightener 10 comprises a pair of main bodies 11 in the form of tongs of which one ends are hinged about a pivot shaft 17 to allow the other ends to be close to or far away from each other, heating plates 12 provided on opposite inner surfaces of the main body 11, heaters 13 embedded in the opposite inner surfaces of the main body 11 to provide heat to the heating plates 12, and a control unit 16 for controlling heating time and temperature to allow a user to utilize the hair straightener in a state where it is set into a desired condition when commercial AC electric power is supplied through a power cord 15. The control unit 16 includes a power ON/OFF switch, a temperature control switch, a heater lamp and the like.

[5] Further, each of the heating plates 12 is generally made of a metal material, but the main body 11 is made of a synthetic resin material to prevent heat generated in the heating plate 12 from being transferred to the main body 11 such that the user does not get burned in his/her hand when dressing hair.

[6] The hair straightener 10 is used to set hair into a desired hairstyle in such a manner that a user grasps handle portions 14 of the main body 11, places hair between a pair of the heating plates 12 already heated by the supplied commercial AC electric power and then exerts a certain force to the main body to allow the heating plates to come into contact with the hair such that the hair can be straightened.

[7] If the hair straightener 10 can be used to apply heat and to set hair into a desired hairstyle, heat with a temperature higher than a certain value should be continuously supplied to the hair. To this end, most of the hair straighteners 10 are manufactured such that the hair straightener can be conveniently employed in the home while being

connected to the commercial AC electric power supplied from the electric supplier through the electric cord 15, as shown in Fig. 1.

[8] The hair straightener 10 is mainly used in the home. However, a user may often simply dress his/her hair in a car, a toilet or an additional space, as a place other than the home, while making a journey or attending a party.

[9] At this time, it is inconvenient for a user to search for an electric outlet, through which the commercial electric power is supplied, and then to connect a power cord to the electric outlet. Further, it is often impossible to connect the power cord to the electric outlet. In addition, it is inconvenient for the user to carry the hair straightener formed integrally with the power cord.

[10] In order to conveniently carry and utilize a hair straightener, therefore, a cordless hair straightener 20 is provided as shown in Fig. 2. In the cordless hair straightener, a DC battery is utilized instead of the commercial AC electric power as an electric power source for continuously generating heat with a temperature higher than a certain value.

[11] However, in a case where the DC battery 25 is used in the conventional hair straightener 20 to continuously generate heat with a temperature higher than a certain value, an amount of heat supplied from the cordless hair straightener is limited as compared with large power consumption of the hair straightener. Therefore, there is a limitation in setting hair into a desired hairstyle due to the restricted capacity of the DC battery 25.

[12] As a result, it is necessary to transmit heat generated in the hair straightener to the hair rapidly as much as possible if a user intends to set hair into a desired hairstyle using heat with a temperature higher than a certain value which is generated by the DC battery 25.

[13] In the conventional cordless hair straightener 20 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a heating plate 22 is closely contacted and fixed to a main body 21. Further, the heating plate 22 to which the heater 23 is mounted is made of aluminum.

[14] In the conventional cordless hair straightener 20, therefore, heat generated in the heater 23 by electric power supplied from the DC battery 25 is transferred to the heating plate 22 in a state where the heating plate 22 is brought into close contact with the main body 21. As a result, the heat in the heating plate 22 is substantially transferred even to the main body 21, and thus, the temperature of the heating plate 22 is lowered due to the loss heat from the heating plate. Consequently, additional time and supply of heat are required in order to set the hair into a desired hairstyle.

[15] In addition, in a case where a user holds handle portions 24 of the main body 21 to place hair between the heating plates 22 heated due to electric power supplied from the DC battery 25 in order to maintain a state where the main body 21 is brought into close contact with the heating plate 22 and to supply heat to hair for setting the hair between

the heating plates 22 into a desired hairstyle, the hair are unevenly pinched between the heating plates when the main body 21 is closed about a pivot shaft 27. Therefore, it is difficult to straighten the hair.

[16] In addition, since the amount of heat transferred to a portion where a large amount of hair is placed differs from that transferred to the other portion where a small amount of hair is placed, additional heat is supplied again to the hair portion where a small amount of hair is placed to set the hair into a desired hairstyle. Further, since the heating plates 22 are made of aluminum, a large amount of heat is radiated to the periphery thereof due to a property of aluminum.

[17] That is, in the conventional cordless hair straightener 20, heat generated in the heater by the electric power from the DC battery 25 is not completely used to set the hair into a desired hairstyle, so that a larger amount of heat is required to set the hair into the desired hairstyle. Further, since the power consumption will be increased, the capacity of the DC battery 25 should be increased. However, it is difficult to increase the capacity of the battery in actual circumstances.

[18] Accordingly, if hair is to be set into a desired hairstyle while a DC battery with restricted capacity is employed in the cordless hair straightener 20, it is necessary to minimize the loss of heat and to rapidly concentrate heat generated in the heating plate on the heat. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[19] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a cordless hair straightener which can be conveniently carried to set hair into a desired hairstyle anytime and anywhere by allowing heat generated by a DC battery with limited capacity to be rapidly transferred to the hair with the minimum loss of heat in order to maintain a heating temperature at a level higher than a certain value. Technical Solution

[20] According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a cordless hair straightener, comprising a pair of main bodies in the form of tongs of which one ends are pivotally hinged to each other such that other ends are close to or far away from each other to pinch hair between or to release the pinched hair from the other ends of the main bodies; and heating plates installed on opposite inner surfaces of the other ends of the main bodies to transfer heat, which is generated by electric power supplied from a DC battery, to the hair. More specifically, each of the main bodies includes a lid formed with an opening in which the heating plate is inserted and provided and a lower plate covered with the lid, the heating plate is

formed with a plurality of catching hooks protruding outwardly from a low side thereof, the lid is formed with a plurality of hook seating grooves on a circumference of the opening thereof corresponding to the catching hooks, and the heating plate is brought into contact with the lid at only portions where the catching hooks are fastened to the hook seating grooves, to thereby minimize the contact between the heating plate and the lid and to prevent the heating plate from being separated outwardly from the lid.

[21] The cordless hair straightener of the present invention may further comprises a heating plate supporting members placed between the lower plate of the main body and the heating plate to elastically support the heating plate at a minimum contact area with the heating plate.

[22] The low plate may be formed with a reinforcing member for fixedly placing the heating plate supporting member thereon to enhance overall strength of the hair straightener.

[23] The lid may be formed with a plurality of protrusions on the circumference of the opening facing an upper side of the heating plate to minimize a contact between the heating plate and the opening and a movement of the heating plate within the opening.

[24] The heating plate may be made of a stainless steel or aluminium material.

Advantageous Effects

[25] As described above, the heating plate and the main body are coupled to each other at a minimum contact area to prevent the heating plate from being separated from the main body, so that heat generated in the heating plate by the electric power supplied from the DC battery is supplied can be effectively transferred to the hair to thereby maintain a heating temperature of the heating plate at a level higher than a certain value. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the cordless hair straightener can be conveniently carried to set the hair into a desired hairstyle anytime and anywhere even though the DC battery with limited capacity is employed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] Fig. 1 is a view showing a general hair straightener utilizing a commercial AC electric power.

[27] Fig. 2 is a view showing a conventional hair straightener utilizing a DC battery.

[28] Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 2.

[29] Fig. 4 is a view showing a cordless hair straightener according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[30] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cordless hair straightener of Fig. 4.

[31] Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 4.

[32] Explanation of Reference Numerals for Designating Main Components in the

Drawings

[33] 10 : Conventional hair straightener

[34] 11, 21 and 110 : Main body

[35] 12, 22 and 120 : Heating plate

[36] 13, 23 and 130 : Heater

[37] 14, 24 and 140 : Handle portion

[38] 15 : Power cord

[39] 16, 26 and 160 : Control unit

[40] 17, 27 and 170 : Pivot shaft

[41] 20 : Conventional cordless hair straightener

[42] 25 and 150 : DC battery

[43] 100 : Cordless hair straightener according to an embodiment of the present invention

[44] 111 : Lid

[45] 112 : Opening

[46] 113 : Hook seating groove

[47] 114 : Heating plate fixing protrusion

[48] 115 : Lower plate

[49] 116 : Reinforcing member

[50] 121 : Catching Hook

[51] 180 : Heating plate supporting member

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [52] Hereinafter, a cordless hair straightener according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [53] Fig. 4 is a view showing a cordless hair straightener according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cordless hair straightener shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig.

4. [54] A cordless hair straightener 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of main bodies 110 in the form of tongs of which one ends are pivotally hinged to each other, and heating plates 120 provided on opposite inner surfaces of the other ends of the main bodies 110. [55] The hair is set into a desired hairstyle by adjusting a force applied to handle portions 140 of the main bodies 110 in such a manner that the other ends of the main bodies opposite to the one ends pivotally hinged about a pivot shaft 170 to each other can be close to or far away from each other to pinch or release the hair between or from the heating plates 120.

[56] Each of the main bodies 110 includes a lower plate 115 defining an outer surface thereof and a Ud 111 coupled to the lower plate 115 to define an inner surface thereof which faces an inner surface of another main body to create an inner space of the main bodies.

[57] The lid 111 is formed with an opening 112 in which the heating plate 120 is inserted and provided.

[58] The opening 112 is formed with a plurality of hook seating grooves 113 corresponding to a plurality of catching hooks 121 each of which protrudes outwardly from a lower side of the heating plate 120.

[59] Further, the opening 112 is formed with a plurality of heating plate fixing protrusions 114 formed on the circumference facing an upper side of the heating plate 120 to keep the heating plate 120 at a stationary state by minimizing the contact with the heating plate 120 and minimize the movement of the heating plate 120 within the opening 112.

[60] Heating plate supporting members 180 are provided near both ends of the heating plate 120 between the heating plate 120 and the lower plate 115 to elastically support the heating plate 120 at a minimum contact area with the heating plate 120.

[61] A reinforcing member 116 is provided on the lower plate 115 to enhance overall strength of the hair straightener by accommodating the elastic supporting members 180 therein and preventing the elastic supporting members from being spaced apart from each other due to the heat.

[62] The main body 110 is made of a thermosetting synthetic resin, for example, HTN commercially available from Dupont, so that the main body can withstand heat with a temperature of 28O ⁰ C for a long time without any deformation.

[63] Heat is generated on the heating plate 120 by an electric power supplied from a DC battery 150 and is then transmitted to the hair. The heating plate 120 has a size smaller than that of the opening 112 of the lid 111 such that the heating plate is not brought into direct contact with the opening 112. Further, the heating plate is formed with a plurality of the catching hooks 121 which are formed on the lower side thereof to protrude to the outside. In the embodiment of the present invention, two catching hooks 121 are formed to protrude downward from each of both sides extending in a longitudinal direction of the heating plate 120 and then to again protrude to the outside.

[64] The heating plate 120 is made of a stainless steel material such that heat can be collected on the heating plate. In the embodiment of the present invention, a temperature of the heating plate 120 is 160 - 200 ⁰ C, and preferably about 180 ⁰ C.

[65] To this end, the heating plate 120 is formed integrally with a heater 130 which converts electric power supplied from the DC battery 150 into heat.

[66] Two AA-size rechargeable or non-rechargeable DC batteries 150 are installed in a

pair of main bodies 110, respectively. In the embodiment of the present invention, the heater utilizing the lithium-ion batteries with maximum capacity of 4 amperes maintains a temperature of 18O ⁰ C for approximately 45 minutes. In this case, power consumption is about 12 to 30 W.

[67] In addition, a temperature of heat transferred to the heating plate 120 is properly controlled. That is, the control unit 160 controls the heater 130 according to hair conditions, for example, such that the heater 130 generates hot heat when the hair is wet.

[68] The heating plate 120 is coupled to the lid 111 of the main body 110 in such a manner that the heating plate 120 is not separated outwardly from the lid 111 while the contact between them is minimized by bringing the catching hooks 121 into contact with the relevant portions of the seating grooves 113.

[69] Accordingly, since a contact area between the main body 110 and the heating plate

120 is minimized, it is possible to minimize heat transferred to a region other than the heating plate 120. Consequently, even though the DC batteries 150 with limited capacity are employed, the temperature of the heating plate can be maintained at a high temperature above a certain temperature level required to set the hair into a desired hairstyle.

[70] In addition, a plurality of the protrusions 114 are formed around the opening 112 of the lid 111 facing the upper side of the heating plate 120, and thus, the contact between the heating plate 120 and the opening 112 can be minimized and the movement of the heating plate 120 within the opening 112 can be restrained to the minimum. Accordingly, the heat transfer from the heating plate 120 to the other portions can be minimized to allow the hair to be conveniently set into a desired hairstyle.

[71] Further, the heating plate supporting members 180 are provided between the opposite longitudinal ends of the heating plate 120 and the low plate 115 of the main body 110, respectively, such that lower portions of the heating plate supporting members can be secured to the low plate 115 to elastically support the heating plate while bringing into contact with the heating plate 120 to the minimum. At this time, the two heating plate supporting members 180 are provided to support the heating plate 120 in a point contact manner. In the embodiment of the present invention, the heating plate 120 may be moved by about 1 mm in a vertical direction with respect to the main body 110 via the heating plate supporting members 180.

[72] In this case, when the hair is pinched between the heating plates 120, each of the heating plates 120 is separated from the main body 110 to prevent heat from being transferred from the heating plate 120 to the main body 110, thereby maximizing an amount of heat transferred to the hair.

[73] Furthermore, although the hair to be set is collected at specific areas on the heating

plates 120 and is then pinched between the heating plates 120, a force applied to the pinched hair can be distributed, for example, by causing the heating plate 120 to be moved downward. Therefore, the hair can be easily set into a desired hairstyle and pain caused on the head of the user when the hair is excessively pinched can also be reduced.

[74] According to the present invention, the loss of heat supplied to the hair when the hair is set into a desired hairstyle can be prevented to the minimum.

[75] While the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and is defined by the appended claims. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

[76] According to the cordless hair straightener of the present invention, a DC battery with limited capacity can be utilized such that the straightener can be conveniently carried, and thus, the hair can be set into a desired hairstyle anytime and anywhere.