HAIR CRIMPING IRON

Technical Field The present invention relates to a hair crimping iron, and more particularly, to a hair crimping iron which preprocesses hairs one by one at a straight hair state at a time as a single device and then performs a curling correction of deformities, to thereby maintain volume and soft wave for several months and freely perform an operation of straight permanent hairs as well as wave permanent hairs with the single device.

Background Art

In general, a hair crimping iron is a device which is used for straightening congenital curly hairs into straight hairs and repairing artificial permanent waves, that is, a device which is used for operation of straight permanent or wave permanent hairs.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the case of the hair crimping iron, a power supply cord 102 is connected to a hair crimping iron main body 101. One end of a temperature controller 103 is connected to the power supply cord 102 and a plug 104 is connected to the other end of the temperature controller 103.

The hair crimping iron main body 101 of conventional technology includes upper and lower arms 111 and 121 of a tongs form in which a base portion "a" is combined with a rotating axis 131

to rotate within a given angle range and heating elements 113 and 123 are mounted opposingly in a leading portion "d."

The hair crimping iron main body 101 of conventional technology also includes a grip portion "b" in the middle portion and a force point "c" which is located at the rear side of the heating elements 113 and 123 from the leading end of the grip portion "b."

By this structure, if electric power is applied to the conventional hair crimping iron, the heating elements 113 and 123 are heated by the temperature controller 103. If an operator grips the grip portion "b" and simultaneously puts the thumb and forefinger to the force point "c" to thus apply a force to the force point "c," the upper and lower arms 111 and 121 of a tongs form are narrowed at the leading portion "d." The hairs are closed to each other by the narrowing operation of the upper and lower arms 111 and 121 of a tongs form. Then, the hairs can be corrected and styled by the heating operation of the heating elements 113 and 123, at a desired form.

There are various kinds of hair crimping irons. Accordingly, appropriate irons are used according to styles and wave curls desired to show. The hair crimping irons can be divided into a straight permanent style and a wave permanent style, greatly. These styles are determined by shapes of the heating elements 113 and 123, respectively.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the conventional straight permanent style hair crimping iron includes upper/lower heating

elements 113 and 123 which are formed of flat plates. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9, the conventional wave permanent style hair crimping iron includes upper/lower heating elements 113 and 123 which are formed of curved plates. In the case of the conventional art, users may feel burdensome and expense burden since they should prepare both the straight permanent style hair crimping iron and the wave permanent style hair crimping iron. In addition, it is difficult to perform namely a "Volume straight" permanent style operation, that is, to perform a operation of an introversion wave which is furtively formed only at the bottom in the straight permanent style.

Further, since waves are not clean and hairs are disheveled at the operation of the wave permanent style, trimming is needed as a roll brush and a dryer after washing the hairs. Accordingly, time and expenses may be wasted.

Still further, hair damage may occur by heating elements. Yet further, since sustenance power is weak, an operation state sustenance period may be short.

Yet still further, in the case of the straight permanent style, hairs stick so closely to the scalp because the root sides of the hairs are bent. To prevent this, the shoulder of the operation person should be lifted to keep the hairs of a given length stood erect. Accordingly, the muscle ache of the shoulder may be caused and fatigue may be added. Yet still further, a narrowing force of the upper and lower

arms of a tongs form is gradually weakened toward the leading end of the upper and lower arms, at the step of narrowing the upper and lower arms. As a result, a pressure imbalance may occur that less force is applied to the hairs which are close to one another. As a result, quality characteristics may drop.

Yet still further, short hairs may be pulled out when the hair crimping iron is made to rotate. In this case, a hair pulling phenomenon accompanying sufferings may occur, and correction may be skipped. As a result, style may be vague.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair crimping iron which preprocesses hairs one by one at a straight hair state at a time as a single device and then performs a curling correction of deformities, to thereby maintain volume and soft wave for several months as in the case that permanent hairs have been dried just before at a beauty salon as a roll brush and a hair drier and freely perform an operation of straight permanent hairs as well as wave permanent hairs with the single device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair crimping iron that prevents roots of hairs from being broken, revives volumes of the roots of hairs, and reduces operator's fatigue.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hair crimping iron in which a bearing pressure is uniformly acted

all over the length of heating elements to thus make the operation achieved efficiently, and to perform a curling correction of deformities of even the short hairs without a pulling phenomenon.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a hair crimping iron comprising: upper and lower arms of a tongs form in which a grip portion, a force point and a leading portion are formed from a base portion which is combined with a rotating axis and rotate within a given angle range around the rotating axis; and heating elements which are mounted opposingly in the leading portions of the upper and lower arms, wherein the upper arm is formed in a cover form to enclose even both sides of the lower arm, wherein the lower heating element which is mounted on the lower arm comprises an upper flat portion, and first and second curved portions which are extended and curved to both outer sides from the flat portion, and wherein the upper heating element which is mounted on the upper arm comprises a flat portion corresponding to the lower heating element, inner third and fourth curved portions which are extended to both inner sides of the upper arm, and outer fifth and sixth curved portions which are extended to both outer sides from the upper arm.

Preferably but not necessarily, a protrusion is formed in the middle of the flat portion of the lower heating element, and a recess corresponding to the protrusion of the lower heating element is

formed in the flat portion of the upper heating element.

Preferably but not necessarily, the upper heating element comprises the flat portion, the inner third and fourth curved portions, and the outer fifth and sixth curved portions which are extended from the inner third and fourth curved portions to enclose both lower ends of the upper arm, all of which are integrally formed.

Preferably but not necessarily, a heat insulation material in the upper and lower arms in order to intercept heat of both the heating element from being transferred to the non-heating portions of the upper and lower arms.

Preferably but not necessarily, guide protrusions guiding position of the force point that applies a force are formed in the upper and lower arms, respectively at a permanent operation, and both leading portions and upper portion of the upper arm are rounded. Preferably but not necessarily, an elastic portion is formed in the upper and lower arms, respectively, in order to push the leading portions of the upper and lower heating elements in a clamping direction of the hair crimping iron.

Preferably but not necessarily, the elastic portion is a plate spring or a leaf spring.

Preferably but not necessarily, the upper and lower arms comprise a rotating portion which makes the leading portion rotate and automatically return within a predetermined angle, respectively. Preferably but not necessarily, the rotating portion

comprises a shaft with which the force point and the leading portion are axially combined, a return spring which is installed around the shaft, a fan-shape groove which is formed within a range of a predetermined angle around the shaft, and a stopper which moves in the fan-shape groove and is protruded at the leading portion of the hair crimping iron.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a hair crimping iron according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the hair crimping iron cut along a line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a state of an operation of the hair crimping iron of FIG. 1; FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing the hair crimping iron in order to describe a state of an operation of the hair crimping iron of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a wide state of the hair crimping iron in order to describe a state of an operation of the hair crimping iron of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a narrow state of the hair crimping iron in order to describe a state of an operation of the hair crimping iron of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded side view showing the hair crimping iron according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the hair crimping iron cut along a line B-B of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 a side view showing a conventional hair crimping iron; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the hair crimping iron cut along a line C-C of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the hair crimping iron according to another example in correspondence to FIG. 8.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Hereinbelow, a hair crimping iron according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals are assigned for like elements in the drawings. As illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2, a hair crimping iron 1 includes upper and lower arms 11 and 21 of a tongs form in which a grip portion "b, " a force point "c" and a leading portion "d" are formed from a base portion "a" which is combined with a rotating axis 31 and rotate within a given angle range around the rotating axis 31, and heating elements 13 and 23 which are mounted opposingly in the leading portions d of the upper and lower arms 11 and 21.

Here, the upper arm 11 which is formed in a cover form to enclose even both sides of the lower arm 21.

Here, the lower heating element 23 which is mounted on the lower arm 21 includes an upper flat portion 231, and first and second

curved portions 233 and 234 which are extended and curved to both outer sides from the flat portion 231.

Here, the upper heating element 13 which is mounted on the upper arm 11 comprises a flat portion 131 corresponding to the lower heating element 23, inner third and fourth curved portions 133 and 134 which are extended to both inner sides of the upper arm 11, and outer fifth and sixth curved portions 135 and 136 which are extended to both outer sides from the upper arm 11.

Preferably but not necessarily, a protrusion 2311 is formed in the middle of the flat portion 231 of the lower heating element

23, and a recess 1311 corresponding to the protrusion 2311 of the lower heating element 23 is formed in the flat portion 131 of the upper heating element 13.

Here, the protrusion 2311 is formed at a height of about one mili-meter as an example from the flat portion 131.

The upper heating element 13 includes the flat portion 131, the inner third and fourth curved portions 133 and 134, and the outer fifth and sixth curved portions 135 and 136 which are extended from the inner third and fourth curved portions 133 and 134 to enclose both lower ends of the upper arm 11, all of which are integrally- formed.

A heat insulation material 35 is formed in the upper and lower arms 11 and 21 in order to intercept heat of both the heating element 13 and 23 from being transferred to the non-heating portions of the upper and lower arms 11 and 21.

The heat insulation material 35 plays a role of assisting the hairs whose deformities are corrected via the heating elements 13 and 23 to be cooled and fixed, and which interrupts the heat transfer from the heating elements 13 and 23 to the non-heating portions of the hair crimping iron at maximum to simultaneously heighten a thermal efficiency of the heating elements 13 and 23.

The non-heating portions of the hair crimping iron are the outer portions on which the heating elements 13 and 23 are not installed. That is, the non-heating portions of the hair crimping iron means the upper portion 111 of the upper arm 11, and the bottom portion 211 and part of both the sides of the lower arm 21.

Preferably but not necessarily, as shown in FIG. 1, guide protrusions 15 and 25 guiding position of the force point c that applies a force are formed in the upper and lower arms 11 and 21, respectively at a permanent operation, and both leading portions and upper portion 111 of the upper arm 11 are rounded.

As an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, an elastic portion 33 is formed in the upper and lower arms 11 and 21, respectively, in order to push the leading portions "d" of the upper and lower heating elements 13 and 23 in a clamping direction of the hair crimping iron. At a free state, the leading portions of the respective heating elements 13 and 23 are protruded and sloped. That is, at the free state, the distance between the upper and lower heating elements 13 and 23 is gradually narrowed toward the leading portion of the hair crimping iron.

Preferably but not necessarily, the elastic portion 33 is a plate spring or a leaf spring.

As an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper and lower arms 11 and 21 comprise a rotating portion 50 which makes the leading portion "d" rotate and automatically return within a predetermined angle, respectively.

Preferably but not necessarily, the rotating portion 50 comprises a shaft (51) with which the force point "c" and the leading portion "d" are axially combined, a return spring 53 which is installed around the shaft 51, a fan-shape groove 54 which is formed within a range of a predetermined angle around the shaft 51, and a stopper 55 which moves in the fan-shape groove 54 and is protruded at the leading portion "d" of the hair crimping iron 1.

The width and dimension of the arms 11 and 21 and the heating elements 13 and 23 of the hair crimping iron 1 according to the present invention are formed smaller than those of the conventional case. Accordingly, the weight of the hair crimping iron according to the present invention weighs lighter than that of the conventional case. The operation and functional state of the hair crimping iron according to the present invention having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

A permanent hair medicine that is usually used at the permanent hair operation is impregnated into the hairs. Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an operator winds the hairs 2 around the lower

arm 21 and then narrows the distance between the upper and lower arms 11 and 21, that is, clamps the hair crimping iron 1. Then, the operator winds the rest portion of the hairs 2 over the outer surface of the upper arm 11. That is, the hair permanent operation includes fore or more hair curling correction steps and two or more cooling and fixing steps, according to the following steps.

1) First hair curling correction step (Sl)

A primary curling correction of deformities of the hairs 2 is performed by the third curved portion 133 of the upper heating element 13 and the first curved portion 233 of the lower heating element 23 at a position distant by about lcm from the scalp 3.

Accordingly, the roots of hairs are prevented from be broken that the volume of the hairs is revived. Therefore, the hairs 2, are prevented from closely sticking to the scalp 3.

Here, a volume curling operation is performed upwards at a position distant at a predetermined distance from the roots of the hairs even if the operator does not lift the shoulder by the upper arm 11 which is combined in a manner of covering the lower arm 21 downwards .

2) Second hair curling correction step (S2)

After having performed the first hair curling correction step

(Sl) , the hairs 2 are straightly spread one by one between the flat portion 131 of the upper heating element 13 and the flat portion

231 of the lower heating element 23 through which the hairs 2 pass. During the time of correcting curling of the hairs 2 at a straight state, an inconspicuous volume distortion of the hairs 2 is achieved by the protrusion 2311.

3) Third hair curling correction step (S3)

The hairs 2 which have been straightly spread via the flat portions 131 and 231 at the second hair curling correction step (S2) pass again between the fourth curved portion 134 of the upper heating element 13 and the second curved portion 234 of the lower heating element 23 and are secondarily curling-corrected.

4) Primary cooling and fixing step (Cl)

The hairs 2 having undergone the third hair curling correction step (S3) pass through the bottom portion 211 of the lower arm 21 which is the non-heating portion. Accordingly, the corrected wave is primarily cooled and fixed.

5) Fourth hair curling correction step (S4) The hairs 2 which have been curling-corrected and then primarily cooled and fixed pass through the fifth curved portion 135 of the upper heating element 13, and curling-corrected again.

6) Primary cooling and fixing step (C2) The hairs 2 which have been curling-corrected at the fourth

hair curling correction step (S4) are trimmed in their shapes by the upper portion 111 of the upper arm 11, and cooled and fixed.

7) Fifth hair curling correction step (S5) The hairs 2 which have undergone the secondary cooling and fixing step (Cl) are curling-corrected by the sixth curved portion 136 of the upper heating element 13 once again.

In the case that hair length is short, only the first through the fourth steps among the above-described steps are performed.

As described above, at the first hair curling correction step

(Sl) , volume curling is achieved from a position distant by about lcm from the roots of the hairs. Accordingly, the roots of the hairs are prevented from being broken and the hairs are prevented from closely adhering to the scalps. At the second hair curling correction step (S2), the natively curled hairs or the remaining untrimmed hairs which have been deformed after performing the previous curling correction operation are straightly spread.

The third hair curling correction step (S3) proceeds at the state where the hairs have been straightly spread at the second hair curling correction step (S2) , and thus curling-corrected again. Thus, waves of the hairs 2 are cleanly curling-corrected and then the primary cooling and fixing step (Cl) proceeds, to thus assist the curling-corrected hairs to be fixed. Thereafter, curling correction is performed once again at the

fourth hair curling correction step (S4) and then the secondary cooling and fixing step (C2) proceeds.

As described above, in the case of the hair crimping iron according to the present invention, drying and curling correction are sequentially performed at the particular regions of the hairs where the waves are bent by steps, and finally curling correction of the deformities of the hairs is achieved at the state where the hairs have been completely dried. Accordingly, a conventional defective phenomenon is prevented, that is, the hairs are prevented from returning to the previous before-having-been-corrected state due to water evaporation immediately after having curling-corrected the hairs. Thereafter, the hairs undergo the cooling and fixing step (C2) . Thus, the hairs which have undergone the above-described curling correction steps and the cooling and fixing steps, are formed into soft waves having clean and tidy volume sense, as in the case that permanent hairs have been dried just before at a beauty salon as a roll brush and a hair drier. Then, the hairs are lightly shaken off and dried after permanent hair operation, and then are maintained for about three months. Thus, handling of the hairs using the drier is not needed after performing the permanent hair operation, and thus smart and soft waves of the hairs are maintained without going to a beauty salon.

Meanwhile, in the case of a straight permanent operation that is not a wave permanent operation, the hairs are not wound around the arms of the hair crimping iron, but are passed between the upper

and lower heating elements, at the first to third curling correction steps (Sl) to (S3) . Accordingly, the hairs are curling-corrected into a straight hair style having a sense of a volume . Meanwhile, an elastic portion 33 is formed in the upper and lower arms 11 and 21, respectively, in order to push the leading portions of the upper and lower heating elements 13 and 23 in a clamping direction of the hair crimping iron. Accordingly, the pressures of the heating elements 13 and 23 are uniformly imposed to the hairs arranged at the leading ends of the hair crimping iron 1, to thus make the operation achieved efficiently.

In addition, when the hair crimping iron is rotated at the state of clamping the hairs, the short hairs come out from the hair crimping iron. In this case, a pulling phenomenon, that is, a plucking phenomenon of the hairs occurs. However, since the hair crimping iron according to the present invention includes the rotating portion 50, the leading portions "d" are rotated by the return spring 53 within a predetermined range after rotation of the hair crimping iron, to thus continuously maintain the clamping of the hairs. Accordingly, even the short hairs are cleanly curling-corrected. If the hair crimping iron 1 is released from the clamped position for a moment, the distance between the upper and lower arms 11 and 21 is momentarily widened, and the leading portions of the hair crimping iron are returned to the original position. The curling is achieved by repeating the above-described

curling correction operations .

The predetermined angle range is determined by the fan-shaped groove 54 and the stopper 55 which limitedly moves in the fan-shaped groove 54. As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention.

As described above, a hair crimping iron according to the present invention preprocesses hairs one by one at a straight hair state at a time as a single device and then performs a curling correction of deformities, to thereby maintain volume and soft wave for several months as in the case that permanent hairs have been dried just before at a beauty salon as a roll brush and a hair drier and freely perform an operation of straight permanent hairs as well as wave permanent hairs with the single device.

In addition, the hair crimping iron according to the present invention prevents roots of hairs from being broken, revives volumes of the roots of hairs, and reduces operator's fatigue. In addition, the hair crimping iron according to the present

invention includes an elastic portion which pushes the leading portions of the heating elements in a clamping direction. Accordingly, a bearing pressure is uniformly acted all over the length of heating elements to thus make the operation achieved efficiently, and to perform a curling correction of deformities of even the short hairs without a pulling phenomenon.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a hair crimping iron which preprocesses hairs one by one at a straight hair state at a time as a single device and then performs a curling correction of deformities, to thereby maintain volume and soft wave for several months and freely perform an operation of straight permanent hairs as well as wave permanent hairs with the single device.