Cordless Hair Straightener with Dual Hidden Hinges and Swivel Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair straighteners, both wired and cordless, face issues such as exposed hinges that affect aesthetics and durability, wire strain during movement, and interference with charging wires, leading to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A cordless hair straightener with a dual hidden hinge structure where hinges are accommodated within housings, a swivel assembly for cable rotation, and a charging cradle with a hall effect sensor to prevent short circuits and sparks, along with wire recesses and elastic members to alleviate tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a traditional hinge structure is used for allowing movements of the upper and lower arms, then the hair straightener can be operated, but the hinge is exposed to the outside which deteriorates aesthetics and is directly exposed to external shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is nested within the handle body, with the hinge accommodated inside a hinge chamber formed in the handle. The hinge is not exposed to the outside but is contained within the housing structure, achieving both aesthetic improvement and protection from external shocks while maintaining the pivoting function of the arms.
2Ease of operation
If the hair straightener is repeatedly moved between open and closed positions, then the device can be used, but the internal wires are put under strain which causes them to be easily worn out
Solution Approach 1:
A swivel assembly is introduced to dynamically accommodate the cable and wire movements. The swivel assembly allows the cable to rotate and pivot freely as the device is moved between positions, preventing strain accumulation on the wires while maintaining ease of operation. The elastic member also provides dynamic tension relief during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire routing is designed with curved portions and recesses that change the physical path and parameters of wire tension. The elastic member introduces variable tension parameters that absorb strain during repeated movements, reducing wear on the wires while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Volume of moving object
If a handle is sized to be easily held in one hand, then the device is portable, but the wiring structure becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring structure utilizes three-dimensional routing through the handle body, with wires passing through guide holes and recesses in multiple dimensions. The battery is positioned in the lower portion while the output is in the upper portion, creating a vertical wiring path that accommodates the compact handle size without excessive complexity.
4Power
If the output terminal is directly connected to the battery, then power supply is efficient, but sparks may be generated in incomplete contact state
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is configured to perform preliminary detection using the hall effect sensor to detect the magnetic force of the magnet before establishing full electrical contact. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and contact state before power is applied, preventing sparks while maintaining efficient power supply once contact is confirmed.
5Reliability
If the hall effect sensor is used to detect magnetic force for charging control, then short circuits are prevented, but the charging process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical contact-based charging detection is replaced with a magnetic field-based detection system using the hall effect sensor. The sensor detects the magnetic force of the magnet in the charging cradle to determine charging state, eliminating the need for complex mechanical switches or contacts while improving reliability and preventing short circuits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides an aesthetically pleasing, durable, and efficient hair straightener that minimizes power loss, extends usage time, and prevents wire disconnection and short circuits while allowing operation with partially charged batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a charging cradle including a magnet disposed in a lower portion of the body, a hall effect sensor, an output terminal configured to contact the input, and a controller that controls application of external power supply to the output terminal. The controller of the charging cradle is configured to, if the hall effect sensor does not sense the magnetic force of the magnet, block application of the external power supply to the output terminal so as to prevent a short circuit due to short of the output terminal
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a cordless hair straightener includes a body which includes a battery including an input and an output and charged by an external power supply through the input, a first heater unit and a second heater unit which are electrically connected to the output of the battery, a first housing which accommodates at least a part of the body and at least a part of the first heater unit therein and moves the first heater unit between a closed position and an open position, and a second housing which accommodates at least a part of the body and at least a part of the second heater unit therein and moves the second heater unit between a closed position and an open position.