Crimping hair

Abstract

A device for curling hair comprises a barrel (20) comprising a heat sink (22). The heat sink (22) includes a curly surface (24), and a first set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (26) is coupled to the heat sink (22). The heat sink (22) is configured to transfer residual thermal energy from the first set of LEDs (26) to heat hair wound around the curling surface (24) via conduction. The device for curling hair further comprises a housing (28) surrounding the barrel (20). The housing (28) and the barrel (20) define a hair chamber (14) therebetween. A second set of LEDs (12) is coupled to the housing (28). The second set of LEDs (12) is configured to emit light energy towards the hair curling surface (24) to heat hair wound around the hair curling surface (24) via absorption of the emitted light energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to the field of curling hair, and more particularly to devices and methods for curling hair. Background Art

[0002] Devices for curling hair typically include a curling surface for curling hair and a heating element for heating the hair to make it more easily curled. In some prior art devices, the heating element may include light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to heat the hair via absorption of light radiation.

[0003] WO 2019 / 048357 A1 discloses a hair styling device that includes a heat source for heating hair by conduction through direct contact between the hair contact surface of the heat source and the hair.

[0004] The object of the subject matter of the present disclosure is to improve the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for curling hair, the device comprising a barrel that includes a heat sink. The heat sink includes a curling surface, and a first set of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is mounted to the heat sink. The heat sink is configured to transfer residual heat energy from the first set of LEDs by conduction to heat hair wound around the curling surface. The device for curling hair further includes a housing surrounding the barrel. The housing and the barrel define a hair chamber therebetween. A second set of LEDs is mounted in the housing. The second set of LEDs is configured to emit light energy towards the curling surface to heat hair wound around the curling surface via absorption of the emitted light energy.

[0006] In this way, the hair is heated by using conduction of residual heat energy from the first set of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and by absorption of light energy from the second set of LEDs, thereby providing effective heating of the hair. Additionally, in this way, the energy from the two sets of light-emitting diodes is used to heat the hair, thereby providing rapid heating of the hair.

[0007] In one embodiment, the heat sink is configured to transfer residual heat energy from the first set of light-emitting diodes by conduction to heat hair wound around the curling surface, and the second set of light-emitting diodes is configured to emit light energy towards the curling surface to simultaneously heat hair wound around the curling surface via absorption of the emitted light energy.

[0008] In one embodiment, the housing further includes a heat sink, and the second set of light-emitting diodes is mounted to the heat sink, wherein the heat sink is configured to transfer residual heat energy from the second set of light-emitting diodes by conduction to hair wound around the curling surface of the heat sink.

[0009] In this way, compared to heating using only the first set of LEDs, heating using the second set of LEDs with light energy and residual heat energy provides more efficient hair heating. The first set of LEDs requires a lower intensity than the LEDs of prior art hair curling devices. A second set of LEDs is required that has a lower intensity than the LEDs of prior art hair curling devices. In this way, the hair is heated more quickly compared to when the heating does not occur simultaneously.

[0010] In one embodiment, the barrel is an inner barrel and the housing is an outer barrel, wherein the device further includes a connecting bridge between the inner barrel and the outer barrel, and wherein the inner barrel, the outer barrel, and the connecting bridge are integrally formed.

[0011] In this way, more efficient heat conduction is provided compared to having a connection between the inner barrel, the outer barrel, and the connecting bridge.

[0012] In one embodiment, the barrel includes a waveguide, and a first set of light emitting diodes is embedded within the waveguide.

[0013] In one embodiment, the waveguide is configured to allow the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes to heat the hair wound around the surface of the curly hair via the light energy absorbed from the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes.

[0014] In this way, more efficient heating of the hair using the light energy from the first set of LEDs is provided.

[0015] In one embodiment, the waveguide is configured to block the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes from reaching the hair wound around the surface of the curly hair.

[0016] In this way, in embodiments where the light in the hair receiving chamber is too bright, the light is blocked from being seen.

[0017] In one embodiment, the waveguide is configured to selectively block the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes from reaching the hair wound around the surface of the curly hair.

[0018] In one embodiment, the waveguide includes a curly hair surface that provides a continuation of the curly hair surface of the barrel.

[0019] In this way, the curly hair surface is not disrupted to provide the first set of LEDs on the barrel. This allows for a smooth hair curly surface that produces smooth curls. This also reduces the risk of the hair being caught or stuck by the hair curling device.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first set of light-emitting diodes is divided into a plurality of groups, where a group includes a plurality of first light-emitting diodes longitudinally arranged along the length of the barrel, and where the group is circumferentially separated from adjacent groups of the plurality of groups. In one embodiment, the second set of light-emitting diodes includes a plurality of second light-emitting diodes that are substantially evenly spaced around the inner surface of the housing.

[0021] In this way, a uniform distribution for heating the hair and the curling surface is provided.

[0022] In one embodiment, the curling surface is made of a light-absorbing material for absorbing the light energy from the second set of light-emitting diodes. In one embodiment, the inner surface of the housing facing the curling surface is made of a light-absorbing material configured to absorb the light energy emitted by the first set of light-emitting diodes.

[0023] In this way, more efficient heating of the hair is provided because any light energy not absorbed by the hair can be absorbed by the surface and used to heat the hair via conduction.

[0024] In one embodiment, the barrel is hollow.

[0025] In one embodiment, the barrel includes an air inlet and an air outlet, and the device further includes a fan configured to move air into the air inlet and out through the air outlet.

[0026] In this way, a cooling mechanism for cooling the device and / or the hair is provided.

[0027] In one embodiment, the device further includes a hair collector mechanism for winding the hair around the curling surface.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of curling hair using the device according to any one of the preceding claims is provided, the method comprising: winding the hair around the curling surface; operating the first set of light-emitting diodes to generate residual heat energy so as to heat the hair around the curling surface by conduction via the heat sink; and operating the second set of light-emitting diodes to generate light energy to heat the hair around the curling surface by absorbing the light energy.

[0029] In this way, the hair is heated by using the conduction of the residual heat energy from the first set of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and by the absorption of the light energy from the second set of LEDs, thereby providing effective heating of the hair. Additionally, in this way, the hair is heated using the energy from both sets of light-emitting diodes, thereby providing rapid heating of the hair.

[0030] In one embodiment, the method further includes operating the first set of light-emitting diodes and the second set of light-emitting diodes simultaneously.

[0031] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention may be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of an apparatus for curling hair according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 2 is shown Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the apparatus for curling hair is shown;

[0035] Figure 3 is shown Figure 1 A flowchart of a method of operating the apparatus for curling hair is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] At least some of the example embodiments described herein may be constructed, in part or in whole, using dedicated special-purpose hardware. At least some of the example embodiments described herein may be constructed, in part or in whole, using dedicated special-purpose hardware. Terms used herein such as "component", "module" or "unit" may include, but are not limited to, hardware devices such as circuitry in the form of discrete or integrated components, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which perform certain tasks or provide related functionality. Various combinations of optional features have been described herein, and it should be understood that the described features may be combined in any suitable combination. In particular, the features of any one exemplary embodiment may be suitably combined with the features of any other embodiment, unless such a combination is mutually exclusive. Throughout the specification, the term "comprising" or "includes" means including the specified components but not excluding the presence of other components.

[0037] Referring Figure 1 , an apparatus 8 for curling hair includes a barrel 20 and a housing 28.

[0038] The barrel 20 is an inner barrel. The barrel 20 is a straight cylinder. An air inlet 36 is located at a first end of the barrel 20 on its first circular face 30. An air outlet 16 is located at a second end of the barrel 20 on the second circular face 18 of the cylinder. The barrel 20 includes a heat sink 22. The heat sink 22 is the main structure of the apparatus 8. The heat sink 22 provides a structure to which components of the apparatus may be mounted, including (for example) components located within the barrel 20. The heat sink 22 is made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum.

[0039] In some embodiments, the cylinder 20 can be hollow. The cylinder 20 can be of any suitable shape, such as a prism. For example, the cylinder 20 can be conical instead of cylindrical. The components of the device 8 can be mounted to the heat sink 22.

[0040] The heat sink 22 includes a curly surface 24. The curly surface 24 is made of a heat-conductive material such as aluminum. The curly surface 24 is made of the same material as the heat sink 22. The curly surface 24 is smooth. In use, the user's hair is wound around the curly surface 24 such that at least a portion of the user's hair is in direct physical contact with the curly surface 24. The user can wind the hair around the curly surface 24 using any number of complete or incomplete turns.

[0041] In some embodiments, the heat sink 22 can include a main portion and a separate curly surface 24, which allows different materials to be used for the curly surface 24 of the heat sink 22 and the main portion of the heat sink 22. The curly surface 24 can be made of a light-absorbing material for absorbing the light energy 34 from the second set of light-emitting diodes 12. This provides more efficient heating of the hair because any light energy 34 not absorbed by the hair can be absorbed by the curly surface 24 and used to heat the hair via conduction.

[0042] The first set of LEDs 26 is mounted to the heat sink 22 of the cylinder 20 such that when the LEDs are turned on, the heat energy generated by the first set of LEDs 26 can be transferred to the heat sink 22 via conduction. The first set of LEDs 26 is mounted such that when the LEDs are turned on, the light energy generated by the first set of LEDs 26 can be transferred to the hair wound around the curly surface 24 via optical radiation absorption.

[0043] The heat sink 22 includes a plurality of elongated grooves. Each groove extends along the length direction of the cylinder 20. The groove is circumferentially separated from the adjacent grooves in the set of grooves. The waveguide 10 is disposed in each groove. Thus the waveguides are parallel to each other. Each waveguide 10 includes a curly surface 24. The curly surface 24 of the waveguide is a continuation of the curly surface of the heat sink such that the combination of the heat sink of the cylinder and the waveguide 22 is cylindrical. This allows the hair to be wound and curled around a smooth surface. This prevents the hair from getting caught on the device that curls the hair and prevents kinking in the curl produced by the device, thus enabling a smooth curl. The first set of LEDs 26 is embedded within the waveguide 10. The waveguide 22 is made of a transparent material to allow the light energy from the first set of LEDs 26 to pass through the curly surface 24 to heat the hair.

[0044] In some embodiments, the curly surface 24 of the waveguide 10 may be made of a partially or selectively light-transmissive material. The curly surface 24 of the waveguide 10 may include gaps through which light energy can pass. The curly surface 24 of the waveguide 10 may have any other suitable configuration to allow the light energy emitted by the first set of LEDs 26 to heat the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24.

[0045] In some embodiments, the waveguide 10 may be made of a selectively or completely opaque material. The waveguide 10 may be made of a material that selectively or completely absorbs the light energy generated by the first set of LEDs 26. The curly surface 24 of the waveguide 10 may convert the light energy generated by the first set of LEDs 26 into heat energy, which is transferred to the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24.

[0046] The housing 28 is a circular hollow cylinder positioned around the barrel 20. The housing 28 may have a substantially cylindrical inner surface. The housing may be disposed around the barrel 20 to provide a hair chamber therebetween. The housing 28 is connected to the barrel 20 by a connecting bridge 40. The housing 28 may be a heat sink and may form part of the heat sink 22. The connecting bridge 40 may be a heat sink and may form part of the heat sink 22. The overall formation of the barrel 20, the housing 28, and the connecting bridge 40 provides more efficient heat conduction compared to the connections between the inner barrel, the outer barrel, and the connecting bridge 40. The housing 28 and the connecting bridge 40 may be made of the same material as the barrel 20.

[0047] In some embodiments, the inner surface of the housing 28 and / or the connecting bridge 40 facing the curly surface 24 may be made of a light-absorbing material configured to absorb the light energy emitted by the first set of light-emitting diodes 26. The connecting bridge and the housing may be made of a metallic material, which may be aluminum.

[0048] The second set of LEDs 12 is mounted to the inner surface of the housing. The second set of LEDs 12 is mounted to the heat sink 22 such that when the LEDs are turned on, the residual heat energy generated by the second set of LEDs 12 can be transferred to the heat sink 22 via conduction. The second set of LEDs 12 is mounted such that when the LEDs are turned on, the light energy 34 generated by the second set of LEDs 12 can be transferred to the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. The second set of LEDs 12 includes a plurality of LEDs that are substantially evenly distributed around the inner surface of the housing.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first set of LEDs 26 and the second set of LEDs 12 may simultaneously generate light energy and heat energy, and the corresponding transfer of the light energy and heat energy to the hair may occur simultaneously.

[0050] Refer to Figure 2, the connecting bridge 40 extends between the cylinder 20 and the housing 28 at the first end of the cylinder 20. The connecting bridge 40 is an annular planar structure. The inner circumference of the connecting bridge 40 is defined by the circumference of the first end of the cylinder 20, and the outer circumference of the connecting bridge 40 is defined by the circumference of the first end of the housing 28. The radiator 22 is the cylinder 20, the connecting bridge 40 and the housing 28.

[0051] The air inlet 36 allows air 32 to enter the hollow part of the cylinder 20, and the air outlet 16 allows air 32 to leave the hollow part of the cylinder 20. The cylinder 20 includes a fan 38 configured to move air 32 into the cylinder 20 through the air inlet 36 and out of the cylinder 20 through the air outlet 16. The fan 38 is located at the first end of the cylinder 20, inside the air inlet 36.

[0052] When the first group of LEDs 26 is turned on, the LEDs generate light energy and residual heat energy. The residual heat energy is mainly transferred by conduction to the radiator 22. The residual heat energy is transferred by conduction through the radiator 22 to the curly surface 24 portion of the radiator 22. The residual heat energy is mainly transferred by conduction from the curly surface 24 to the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. This heats the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. Additionally, the light energy emitted by the first group of LEDs 26 passes through the hair chamber 14 and is absorbed by the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. This heats the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24.

[0053] When the second group of LEDs 12 is turned on, the LEDs generate light energy 34 and residual heat energy. The residual heat energy is mainly transferred by conduction to the radiator 22. The residual heat energy is transferred by conduction through the radiator 22 to the curly surface 24 portion of the radiator 22. The residual heat energy is transferred from the curly surface 24 to the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. This heats the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. Additionally, the light energy 34 emitted by the second group of LEDs 12 passes through the hair chamber 14 and is absorbed by the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24. This heats the hair wrapped around the curly surface 24.

[0054] By reusing the light energy and heat energy of the first group and the second group of LEDs 12, the efficiency of the device is improved compared to previous hair curling devices. As described above, by using two groups of LEDs and the energy from the two groups of LEDs, the hair is heated faster than previous hair curling devices. Additionally, compared to heating using only the first group of LEDs 26, the heating using the light energy 34 and residual heat energy by the second group of LEDs 12 provides more effective and faster hair heating. The first group of LEDs 26 requires a lower intensity than the LEDs of previous hair curling devices. The second group of LEDs 12 requires a lower intensity than the LEDs of previous hair curling devices.

[0055] In some embodiments, the device for curling hair includes an automatic hair collection mechanism for winding the hair around the curling surface 24. Automatic hair collection mechanisms are known in the art. The automatic hair collection mechanism can be provided using any suitable arrangement.

[0056] Referring Figure 3 , a method of using the device is shown, the method comprising the steps of: winding the hair around the curling surface 41; operating a first set of light emitting diodes to generate residual heat energy so as to heat the hair around the curling surface by conduction via the heat sink 42; and operating a second set of light emitting diodes to generate light energy to heat the hair 43 around the curling surface by absorption of the light energy.

[0057] When the user uses the device, in a first step 41, the user winds the hair to be curled around the curling surface 24. In a second step 42, the user operates a first set of LEDs 26 to generate residual heat energy so as to heat the hair around the curling surface 24 by conduction via the heat sink 22. In a third step 43, the user operates a second set of LEDs 12 to generate light energy 34 so as to heat the hair around the curling surface 24 by absorption of the light energy 34. The user operates the LED sets using an input such as a switch. When the LEDs are operating, they are in an on configuration. In some embodiments, the user can operate the first and second sets of LEDs 12 simultaneously. The order of the steps described is not critical to the present invention.

[0058] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0059] By studying the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and realize other variations of the disclosed embodiments when practicing the claimed invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may implement the functions of several items recited in the claims. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An apparatus for curling hair, the apparatus comprising: A cylinder (20) including a heat sink (22) having a curling surface (24) and having a first set of light emitting diodes (26) coupled thereto; A housing (28) surrounding the cylinder to define a hair chamber (14) therebetween, the housing having a second set of light emitting diodes (12) coupled thereto, Wherein the heat sink is configured to transfer residual heat energy from the first set of light emitting diodes via conduction to heat the hair wound around the curling surface, and the second set of light emitting diodes is configured to emit light energy (34) towards the curling surface to heat the hair wound around the curling surface via absorption of the emitted light energy.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes the heat sink to which the second light emitting diodes are coupled, Wherein the heat sink is configured to transfer residual heat energy from the second set of light emitting diodes via conduction to the hair wound around the curling surface of the heat sink.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cylinder is an inner cylinder and the housing is an outer cylinder, wherein the apparatus further includes a connecting bridge (40) located between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and wherein the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder and the connecting bridge are integrally formed.

4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cylinder includes a waveguide (10), and the first set of light emitting diodes is embedded within the waveguide (10).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the waveguide is configured to allow the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes to heat the hair wound around the curling surface via absorption of the light energy of the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the waveguide is configured to block the light emitted by the first set of light emitting diodes from reaching the hair wound around the curling surface.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the waveguide includes a curling surface that provides a continuation of the curling surface of the cylinder.

8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first set of light emitting diodes is divided into a plurality of groups, wherein the groups include a plurality of first light emitting diodes longitudinally arranged along the length of the cylinder, and wherein the groups are circumferentially separated from adjacent groups of the plurality of groups.

9. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second set of light emitting diodes includes a plurality of second light emitting diodes substantially evenly spaced around the inner surface of the housing.

10. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curling surface is made of a light absorbing material for absorbing the light energy from the second set of light emitting diodes.

11. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner surface of the housing facing the curling surface is made of a light-absorbing material configured to absorb the light energy emitted by the first set of light-emitting diodes.

12. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrel is hollow.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the barrel includes an air inlet (36) and an air outlet (16), and the apparatus further includes a fan (38) configured to move air (32) into the barrel through the air inlet and out through the air outlet.

14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a hair collector mechanism for winding the hair around the curling surface.

15. A method of curling hair using the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: wrapping (41) the hair around the curling surface; operating (42) the first set of light-emitting diodes to generate residual heat energy so as to heat the hair around the curling surface by conduction via the heat sink; and operating (43) the second set of light-emitting diodes to generate the light energy to heat the hair around the curling surface by absorption of the light energy.

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