BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for treating hair, and, more particularly, relates to a hair curling apparatus having a removable hair clamp or spoon.

2. Background of the Related Art

[0002] Hair styling tools such as hair curling irons are well known in the art. Examples of hair curling irons are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Nos. 4,731,519 and 5,345,055, U.S. Design Patent Nos.: D469576, D457683, D580097 and D578707, the entire contents of each of these disclosures being incorporated herein. These devices or tools have proven to be quite effective for their intended uses.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present disclosure is directed to further improvements in hair styling or treating tools. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a hair curling apparatus includes a handle, a barrel extending from the handle and a relcasablc hair clamp releasably mountablc about the barrel. The hair clamp is selectively positionable between an operative condition mounted about the barrel and a non-operative condition released relative to the barrel. Thus, the user may operate the hair curling apparatus in two modes, a first mode, without the hair clamp and, a second mode, with the hair clamp. [0004] The hair clamp includes a generally annular mount and a clamp element extending from the annular mount. The annular mount is positionable over the barrel when in the operative condition of the releasable hair clamp. The clamp element is adapted for movement relative to the annular mount and the barrel between an open position displaced from the barrel and an approximated position adjacent the barrel to engage hair. The handle may include a mounting bracket and the annular mount of the releasable hair clamp may include a locking latch. The locking latch is selectively movable between an engaged position in secured relation with the mounting bracket corresponding to the operative condition of the releasable hair clamp and a release position released from the mounting bracket corresponding to the non-operative condition of the releasable hair clamp. The locking latch may have a locking detent dimensioned to selectively engage and release the mounting bracket when the locking latch is in respective engaged and release positions. The mounting bracket may include a contoured surface which at least partially accommodating the locking latch when the locking latch is engaged with the mounting bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbclow with references to the drawings, wherein:

[0006] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a hair curling apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, illustrating the handle, the barrel and the removable hair clamp releasably mounted about the barrel; [0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the hair curling apparatus; [0008] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of hair curling apparatus;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to the view of FIG. 1 illustrating the removable hair clamp detached from the hair curling apparatus;

[0010] FIG. 6 is an enlarged isolated view illustrating the mechanism for reieasably mounting the hair clamp to the handle

[0011] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the removable hair clamp;

[0012] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are top, axial and side elevation views, respectively, of the hair clamp; and

[0013] FIG. 12 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 3 illustrating pivotal movement of the hair clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a hair treatment apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. Hair treatment apparatus in the form of a hair curling iron apparatus 100. Curling iron apparatus 100 includes handle 102, barrel 104 defining longitudinal axis "k" and hair clamp or spoon 106 which is reieasably mountable over the barrel 104. FIG. 1 illustrates the hair clamp 106 in an operative condition mounted about the barrel 104. The handle 102 is of a generally cylindrical shape and may be in axial alignment with the barrel 104. In alternate arrangements, the handle 102 may be angularly offset relative to the barrel 104. A power cord 108 is attached to one end of the handle 102 to supply power to the apparatus 100. Alternatively, the curling iron apparatus 100 may be cordless, i.e., operated through a rechargeable battery or the like. The handle 102 may include various controls, represented generally by reference numeral 110, to selectively control operation of the apparatus 100. Such controls 110 may include on/off switches, heat settings, duration of use, automatic shut-off provisions or the like-these controls and programmed heat parameters being effected through conventional circuitry means. LED indicators arc also envisioned.

[0015] With particular reference to FIG. 6, in conjunction with FIG. 2, the handle 102 further includes a mounting bracket 112 at its remote end adjacent the barrel 104. The mounting bracket 112 depends radially outwardly from the handle 102 and includes a scalloped or recessed surface 114. The recessed surface 1 14 defines a locking ledge 1 16 to which the hair clamp 106 releasably engages - as will be discussed in greater detail hcreinbclow.

[0016] The barrel 104 is elongated having, e.g., a generally cylindrical or conical shape. The barrel 104 may incorporate ceramic heater technology such as the Tourmaline Ceramic™ Styling System technology made available through Conair of Stamford, Ct. The barrel 104 may include conventional heat plate or coils for heating the exterior hair contacting the surface of the barrel 104.

[0017] With reference now to FIG. 5, in conjunction with FIGS. 6-11, the hair clamp 106 will be discussed. FIG. 5 illustrates the hair clamp 106 in a non-operative condition released from the handle 102 and/or barrel 104. The removable hair clamp 106 includes an annular mount 118 and a clamp element 120 depending from the annular mount 1 18. The annular mount 118 is positionable over the barrel 104 and may be in the form of a partial or complete ring l ike member. In embodiments, the annular mount 118 defines an inner dimension generally approximating the outer dimension of the barrel 104. In embodiments, the annular mount 1 18 defines a generally circular inner cross-sectional dimension, and may be configured to establish a frictional relation with the barrel segment of the barrel 104 upon which the annular mount 1 18 is ultimately positioned.

[0018] The annular mount 118 includes a latch 122 (FIGS. 6 and 8) depending from its proximal end. The latch 122 defines a locking detent 124 at its remote end. The latch 122 may be a separate component from the annular mount 118 or may be integrally formed with the annular mount 1 18. In embodiments, the latch 122 may be adapted to pivot about its connection point 126 to the annular mount 118 to permit mounting and release of the locking detent 124 relative to the mounting bracket 112 of the handle 102 to effect corresponding mounting and release of the hair clamp 106 relative to the handle 102 and the barrel 104. In some

embodiments, the latch 122 may be resilient having a degree of resiliency permitting segments of the latch 122 to flex outwardly to release the mounting bracket and return due to its resilient characteristics to the original condition best depicted in FIG. 8. The latch 122 may be made from a suitable metallic or polymeric material.

[0019] The clamp element 120 is pivotally mounted to the annular mount 1 18 through at least one, e.g., two diametrically opposed pivot pins 128 extending from the annular mount 1 18 and coupled to the clamp element 120. The clamp element 120 includes a manually engagable tab segment 130 and a hair clamp segment 132 depending from the tab segment 130. The tab segment 130 is displaced from the annular mount 118 to facilitate engagement by the user. The hair clamp segment 132 may define an inner contour generally approximating a segment of the outer contour of the barrel 104. The clamp element 120 is normally biased toward a closed position with hair clamp segment 132 adjacent the barrel 104 through a spring element 134. As best depicted in FIGS. 6 and 8, the spring element 134 may be operatively engaged at on end to the interior of the tab segment 130 or an offset segment 136 of the clamp segment 130 and operatively engaged at its other end to the annular mount 118 in a manner to bias the clamp segment 132 toward an aligned position contacting the barrel 104. Any suitable spring element 134 may be used including coil springs, torsions springs or the like.

[0020] The use of the curling iron apparatus 100 will now be discussed. In certain applications of hair treatment, the curling iron apparatus 100 will be used without the hair clamp 106 mounted about the barrel 104 whereby the barrel 104 will be utilized to treat, e.g., curl hair, by wrapping the hair about the barrel 104. With reference to FIG. 5, when it is decided that the hair clamp 106 is required to continue treatment, the hair clamp 106 is aligned with the barrel 104 and the annular mount 118 of the hair clamp 106 is advanced over the barrel 104 towards the handle 106. With the latch 122 of the hair clamp adjacent the mounting bracket 112 of the handle 102, the hair clamp 106 is further advanced whereby the latch 122 deflects radially outwardly in the direction of directional arrow "m" (FIGS. 2 and 3) due to the engagement of the outer chamfered surface 138 (see FIGS. 6, 8 and 11) of the locking detent 124 with the recessed surface 116 of the mounting bracket 112. This outward movement permits the locking detent 124 to clear the recessed surface 114 of the mounting bracket 112 whereby upon clearance of same the locking detent 124 returns under its normal resiliency of ^" the latch 122 to its initial position with the locking detent 124 in secured relation with the locking ledge 116 of the mounting bracket 112 as depicted in FIG. 6. In this position, the hair clamp 106 is secured onto the barrel 104. It is noted that the contour of the recessed surface 114 of the mounting bracket 112 provides clearance thereby permitting the latch 122 to assume its normal condition in parallel arrangement with the axis "k" of the barrel 104. The curling iron apparatus 100 with mounted hair clamp 106 is used in conventional manner. For example, the clamp clement 120 may be pivoted by depression of the tab segment 130 causing the clamp segment 132 to be displaced to the open position depicted in FIG. 12 for reception of hair. The hair may be wrapped about the barrel 104 and the tab segment 130 released causing the clamp segment 132 and the clamp element 120 to return toward its normal position with the clamp segment 132 engaging the hair for treatment.

[00211 Removal of the hair clamp 106 may be effected by simply pulling on the hair clamp 106 whereby the locking detent 124 deflects outwardly releasing the mounting bracket 114. In the alternative, the locking detent 124 may be manually released by forcing the locking detent 124 in an outward direction with the finger of a user thereby causing the locking detent 124 to clear the locking ledge 116 of the mounting bracket 114, and then sliding the hair clamp 106 along and off the barrel 104.

[0022] Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above description, disclosure, and Figures should not be construed as limiling, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore, that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modificaiions may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.