Heating element and circuit for a hair management system
First Claim
1. An improved heating element and circuit for a user held portable hair management device comprising:
- a hollow non-heat conductive handle having a base portion and a top portion;
an elongated heat transfer hollow tube in the-shape of a hollow cylinder and having an interior portion, an outer end, and an inner end, the inner end of the hollow tube being coupled to the top portion of the handle;
the elongated heat transfer hollow tube having a circular wall, the circular wall having a thickness in the range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.040 inches and being formed of one of the group consisting of brass, copper, ceramic, and aluminum;
a DC power supply;
at least one light bulb in the interior of the elongated heat transfer hollow tube to receive load current from the DC power supply and to serve as a heat source; and
an ON-OFF switch coupled between the DC power supply and the light bulb for selectively coupling the power supply to the light bulb to generate heat that is transferred to the elongated heat transfer hollow tube.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for improving hair management devices, preferably portable devices, such as curling irons and hot air brushes by including novel heating elements and circuits. A novel elongated heat transfer hollow tube is formed of a metal that is preferable perforated with small holes and that heats and cools quickly such as copper, aluminum, or brass. The hollow tube has sufficient wall thickness for rigidity but is sufficiently thin to allow rapid heating and cooling. In addition, a novel heat source is formed with a light bulb, preferably halogen, located with said hollow tube that likewise heats and cools quickly. The light bulb is removable and replaceable in case of damage. A unique circuit automatically applies full power to the unit until it reaches the desired temperature and then allows a control circuit to automatically reduce the power applied to a value sufficient only to maintain the desired temperature. In the preferred embodiment, a bimetallic switch is coupled in parallel with the control circuit to allow full power to be applied to the heating source to obtain rapid heating of the hollow tube and then allows the control circuit to automatically reduce the power to an amount sufficient only to maintain the desired temperature of the hollow tube.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An improved heating element and circuit for a user held portable hair management device comprising:
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a hollow non-heat conductive handle having a base portion and a top portion;
an elongated heat transfer hollow tube in the-shape of a hollow cylinder and having an interior portion, an outer end, and an inner end, the inner end of the hollow tube being coupled to the top portion of the handle;
the elongated heat transfer hollow tube having a circular wall, the circular wall having a thickness in the range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.040 inches and being formed of one of the group consisting of brass, copper, ceramic, and aluminum;
a DC power supply;
at least one light bulb in the interior of the elongated heat transfer hollow tube to receive load current from the DC power supply and to serve as a heat source; and
an ON-OFF switch coupled between the DC power supply and the light bulb for selectively coupling the power supply to the light bulb to generate heat that is transferred to the elongated heat transfer hollow tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An improved heating element and circuit for a user held hair management device comprising:
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a hollow non-heat conductive handle having a base portion and a top portion;
an elongated heat transfer hollow tube having an interior portion, an outer end, and an inner end, the inner end of the hollow tube being coupled to the top portion of the handle;
a power supply for providing load current;
a heat source in the interior of the elongated heat transfer hollow tube to receive load current from the power supply;
the elongated hollow tube comprising a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and being formed of one of the group consisting of brass, copper, ceramic, and aluminum; and
wherein the hollow cylinder has a preferred thickness in the range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.040 inches. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An improved heating element and circuit for a hair management device comprising:
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a hollow non-heat conductive handle;
an elongated heat transfer hollow tube having an interior portion and being coupled to the hollow non-heat conductive handle;
a heat source located within the elongated heat transfer hollow tube;
a plurality of perforations in at least a portion of the hollow heat transfer tube to enable radiant heat to escape from the heat source externally of the hollow heat transfer tube;
a power supply; and
an ON-OFF switch coupled between the power supply and the heat source for selectively coupling the power supply to the heat source to generate radiant energy as well as conductive heat that is transferred to the elongated heat transfer hollow tube. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method of forming an improved heating element and circuit for a hair management device and comprising the steps of:
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forming said hair management device with a handle and an attached elongated hollow heat transfer tube;
forming an outer surface on the elongated hollow heat transfer tube with a plurality of perforations in the outer surface to enable radiant energy from the heat source to be transferred to the hair of the user;
inserting a single elongated, pencil type, light bulb inside the hollow heat transfer tube as a heat source;
coating the light bulb with a ceramic coating to create greater structural integrity and to reduce the possibility of shattering of the light bulb when a physical shock is applied to the hair management device;
powering the at least one light bulb with a power supply;
coupling an ON/OFF switch between the at least one light bulb and the power supply for selectively coupling power to the at least one light bulb to cause the at least one light bulb to act as a heat source for the hollow heat transfer tube; and
heating the heat transfer tube with maximum applied power from the power supply only until a desired temperature is reached and then automatically reducing the applied power sufficient only to maintain the desired temperature thereby prolonging battery life and light bulb life. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An improved heating element and circuit for a device comprising:
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an electrical load associated with the device that changes temperature with power applied, to the electrical load comprising a single, elongated halogen light bulb;
a power supply;
an electrical switch for selectively coupling the power supply to the electrical load;
a heat sensor in heat exchange relationship with the electrical load for generating an output signal substantially proportional to the heat of the electrical load;
a reference voltage; and
a control circuit for receiving the heat sensor output signal and the reference signal and generating an output signal to the electrical switch so as to enable the electrical load to reach a predetermined desired temperature and then limit the power applied to the electrical load only sufficient to maintain the predetermined desired temperature. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An improved heating element and control circuit for a hair management device consisting of:
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a handle coupled to a hollow heating tube;
the hollow heating tube being formed of a material taken from the group comprising brass, copper, ceramic, and aluminum;
a power supply;
an elongated pencil type halogen light bulb located within the hollow heating tube as a heat source;
at least two filaments in the light bulb; and
a temperature selection switch coupled between the power supply and the light bulb filaments for selectively applying power to both of the at least two filaments to obtain a HIGH temperature or to a first one of the at least two filaments to obtain a MEDIUM temperature or to the other second one of the at least two filaments to obtain a LOW temperature.
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Specification