Curling Iron and Method for Curling Hair

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a hair curling iron. The hair curling iron of the present invention includes an iron body. The iron body has a heating body having a tapered triangular shape with a triangular cross-section, and a handle which is coupled to an end of the heating body. In the current invention, the triangular heating body provides new types of hair curls as a result of the tapered triangular shape.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This Patent application claims benefit of the following patent application(s): U.S. Application No. 18 / 148,970, titled Curling Iron and method of Curling Hair, filed December 13, 2022, and U.S. Application No. 29 / 753,278, titled Curling Iron, filed on September 30, 2020, which are incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to electric curling irons for hair, and more particularly to an electric curling iron with a triangular shape.

[0003] This relates to hair curling irons, which have been a staple of women's hair styling products for years. Heated hair may be smoothed, manipulated, and styled more easily that non-heated hair. In general, curling irons impart a curl or pattern to hair being styled by sufficiently heating a barrel or mandrel of the curling iron and restraining the hair in physical contact with the barrel to thermally heat the hair. A section of hair is typically wound around the heated barrel of the curling iron and held in contact with the heated barrel for a period of time. Heat from the heated barrel reforms plastic bonds in the hair. When the heat styled hair is removed from the heated barrel the hair retains the shape of the curling iron's barrel.

[0004] The radius of the curling iron barrel has a significant effect on the curling properties of the curling iron. A barrel that has a relatively small radius results in a tighter and longer lasting curl whereas a barrel that has a relatively large radius forms a looser curl (i.e., a more open curl or wave pattern) in hair being styled. Curling irons having a relatively large radius barrel may be used to iron (i.e., straighten) sections of hair.

[0005] Typically curling irons use a cylindrical iron body which contains a heating element, allowing the hair to be curled. As such, there is a need for curling irons with differently shaped barrels for different hairstyles.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present apparatus is a hair curling iron with a tapered triangular shape. The hair curling iron of the present invention includes an iron body which is heated. The iron body has a heating body having a tapered triangular shape with a triangular cross-section, and a handle which is coupled to an end of the heating body. In the current invention, the triangular heating body provides new types of hair curls as a result of the tapered triangular shape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a front plan view thereof;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a right-side elevational view thereof;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a left-side elevational view thereof;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a rear plan view thereof;DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The invention relates to a triangular curling iron. The invention is described herein.

[0015] Referring to the figures there is shown a curling iron 100. Curling iron 100 has a handle 101 for safely manipulating the curling iron, and a triangular iron body 102. The curling iron may have a cool tip provided at a distal end of triangular iron body 102. The cool tip preferably remains substantially cool during heated operation of the curling iron, thereby providing a safe and comfortable location for manipulating the curling iron in addition to handle 101.

[0016] Curling iron 100 preferably receives power from an electrical outlet via power cord 104. It should be appreciated that the curling iron may be powered by, for example, a battery or other suitable sources of electrical power.

[0017] Handle 101 is preferably thermally insulated from triangular iron body 102 that is heated to style hair. Handle 101 preferably provides a substantial surface that can be grasped and manipulated (e.g., turned) during the styling of hair. Handle 101 may also have a triangular shape, similar to the shape of triangular iron body 102, or it may be a round cylindrical shape. The triangular shape of handle 101 makes it easy to determine the orientation of triangular iron body 102, as the orientation of handle 101 matches the orientation of triangular iron body 102. Handle 101 can have a soft-grip covering and / or other features located in or on the handle to facilitate comfortable and practical manipulation of curling iron 100. Handle 101 may also include a raised hand guard, preventing the fingers from touching triangular iron body 102.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, triangular iron body 102 preferably tapers from a proximal end located at or near the handle 101 of the curling to a distal end located at or near the tip. Due to the taper of the triangular iron body 102, the radius (e.g., a first radius) of the triangular iron body 102 at or near the proximal end is greater than the radius (e.g., a second radius) of the triangular iron body 102 at or near the distal end of the triangular iron body 102. Preferably, the transition in the size of the triangular iron body 102's radius is substantially smooth and gradual. The taper of triangular iron body 102 may extend substantially through the entire length of triangular iron body 102, or it may only be for a portion of triangular iron body 102.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, handle 101 contains switches 105 and 106, which control the heating elements of curling iron 100. These heating elements heat up triangular iron body 102, heating the hair so it may be curled. Heating elements in curling irons are well known to those within the art, and may be a ceramic heater, or other heaters known in the art.

[0020] While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims. Thus a curling iron has been described.

Claims

1. A method for styling hair with a curling iron, comprising:engaging a curling iron having a handle and an iron body with a triangular cross-section that tapers from a proximal end near the handle to a distal tip;heating the iron body;contacting a hair lock with the heated iron body;winding the hair lock around the triangular iron body;holding the hair lock against the triangular iron body for a period of time; andremoving the hair lock from the triangular iron body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first radius of the iron body at the proximal end is greater than a second radius of the iron body at the distal tip, and wherein the taper extends substantially along an entire length of the iron body from the proximal end to the distal tip.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transition in size from the first radius to the second radius is substantially smooth and gradual along the entire length of the iron body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handle is insulated from the iron body, and wherein the handle and the iron body are tapered along an entire length of the curling iron from a proximal end of the handle to the distal tip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the handle has a triangular shape corresponding to the triangular cross-section of the iron body such that an orientation of the handle indicates an orientation of the iron body.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the curling iron further comprises a cool tip at the distal tip of the iron body.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the iron body comprises activating a heating element within the iron body by operating at least one switch located on the handle, wherein the heating element is a ceramic heater.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the curling iron receives electrical power from an electrical outlet via a power cord during the heating step.

9. A method for creating triangular curls in hair, comprising:utilizing a hair styling tool comprising a triangular iron body having a triangular cross-section that tapers from a larger proximal cross-section to a smaller distal cross-section at a tip, and a heating element configured to heat the triangular iron body;activating the heating element to heat the triangular iron body;wrapping a section of hair around the heated triangular iron body;maintaining contact between the section of hair and the triangular iron body for a period of time; andunwrapping the section of hair from the triangular iron body.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the taper of the triangular iron body extends substantially along an entire length of the triangular iron body from the proximal cross-section to the tip, and wherein the transition in size from the larger proximal cross-section to the smaller distal cross-section is substantially smooth and gradual.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the hair styling tool further comprises a non-heated handle connected to a proximal end of the triangular iron body, the non-heated handle being thermally insulated from the triangular iron body, and wherein the non-heated handle and the triangular iron body are tapered along an entire length of the hair styling tool from a proximal end of the non-heated handle to the tip.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-heated handle has a triangular shape corresponding to the triangular cross-section of the triangular iron body, such that an orientation of the non-heated handle indicates an orientation of the triangular iron body.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the hair styling tool further comprises a cool tip at the tip of the triangular iron body.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the heating element is a ceramic heater controlled by at least one switch located on a handle of the hair styling tool.

15. A method for thermally styling hair, comprising:heating an iron body having a tapered triangular shape with a triangular cross-section, wherein the iron body tapers from a proximal end having a first radius to a distal tip having a second radius smaller than the first radius, and wherein the taper extends along an entire length of the iron body;positioning a hair lock in contact with the heated iron body;wrapping the hair lock around the iron body; andreleasing the hair lock from the iron body after a period of time.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transition in size from the first radius to the second radius is substantially smooth and gradual along the entire length of the iron body.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the iron body is heated by a ceramic heating element disposed within the iron body.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a non-heated handle connected to the proximal end of the iron body, wherein the non-heated handle is thermally insulated from the iron body, and wherein the non-heated handle and the iron body are tapered along an entire length from a proximal end of the non-heated handle to the distal tip.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-heated handle has a triangular shape corresponding to the triangular cross-section of the iron body, such that an orientation of the non-heated handle indicates an orientation of the iron body.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a cool tip at the distal tip of the iron body.

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