Hair volumizing device that utilizes individual treatment elements without leaving a visible pattern

Abstract

A hair volumizing device is designed specifically for adding lift or volume to any hairstyle. The device comprises two arms with heated interlocking plates that employ interlocking two dimensional arrays of individual treatment elements with alternating spaces. The individual treatment element design and the two-dimensional array pattern provide substantial lift and holding strength. The individual treatment elements of the volumizing device transforms the under layer of hair of a person into a matrix that can support the outer or upper visible layer of hair to create volume. The various embodiments also minimize any discernible pattern left in the hair.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 706,423, filed Dec. 6, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,839,802, issuing on Sep. 23, 2014, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.[0002]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 706,423 claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent applications Ser. No. 61 / 616,955 filed Mar. 28, 2012 and Ser. No. 61 / 637,688 filed Apr. 24, 2012, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0003]1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to hair treatment devices used for styling a person's hair. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a hair volumizing device that creates the outward appearance of greater hair volume without leaving an outwardly visible pattern.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Existing hair treatment devices include a category of devices that crimp hair. These ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]A hair volumizing device is designed specifically for adding lift or volume to any hairstyle. The device comprises two arms with heated interlocking plates that employ interlocking two dimensional arrays of individual treatment elements with alternating spaces. The individual treatment element design and the two-dimensional array pattern provide substantial lift and holding strength. The individual treatment elements of the volumizing device transforms the under layer of hair of a person into a matrix that can support the outer or upper visible layer of hair to create volume. The various embodiments also minimize any discernible pattern left in the hair.

Problems solved by technology

There are many drawbacks to using a known crimping device in a lifting application because the crimping device is not specifically designed for use in a lifting application.

Current hair treatment devices are not specifically designed for lifting and volumizing and do not meet these requirements.

In particular, the saw-tooth ridge design of crimping devices, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,578, does not meet these requirements for volumizing.

There are many problems with the known crimping device with the arrangement of saw-tooth ridges in a hair-lifting or volumizing application including:

The arrangement of saw-tooth ridges leaves a noticeable, undesirable crimped pattern in the under layer of hair that shows through to the upper layers.

Since a goal of a hair treatment device used in a volumizing application is to create lift and volume without creating a visibly crimped hairstyle, any use of ridges, having a saw-tooth or other profile, in such a device is undesirable.

A second problem with the saw-tooth-ridged pattern in crimping devices is that it is not able to create a firm support structure in the lower layers of hair capable of supporting the upper hair layers when used in a volumizing application.

This is because the sharp, saw-tooth-shaped ridges create a series of sharp, accordion pleats in the hair that unfold or collapse under the weight of the upper hair layers resting on them and no longer aid in volumizing the hair.

As one crimped pleat or fold of hair loses structure by folding or collapsing, the load of the portion of the upper layer of hair that the pleat was supporting is transferred to the adjacent crimped pleats of hair, which in turn are now weighted with more weight than they can support, leading to collapse of all pleats of the hair treated by the device in a domino, cascading fashion.

Thus, structural stability is not stable in a volumizing application done with a crimping device having saw-tooth ridges.

A third problem with existing crimping devices, such as found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,578, is that the ridge height is not adequate to lift the hair significantly up and away from the head and scalp, in order to create the appearance of substantially greater hair volume.

A fourth problem with prior art devices is the undesirable appearance of frizzy hair from the crimped under layer poking through to the upper layers of hair, caused by the use of closely-spaced, jagged, saw-tooth ridges.

Frizzy hair appears dull, kinky, and unhealthy.

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