HAIR STYLING APPARATUS HAVING HAIR-PROTECTION FUNCTION

• US 20120291797A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovcal Inc. (Spectrum Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: deGrood, Michael John, McMurray, Gary Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/211
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 1/04 by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 1/28 with means for controlling or indicating the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2/001 Hair straightening appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2001/004 with a ceramic component, e.g. heater, styling surface

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes a hair-heating device for applying heat to hair. The hair-heating device has a moisture-temperature setting and a dry-temperature setting less than moisture-temperature setting. A moisture sensor detects a moisture-indicating parameter of the hair, and generates a moisture-indicating signal indicative of whether the hair is at or below a predetermined moisture threshold level. A control circuit adjusts the temperature of the hair-heating device from the moisture-temperature setting to the dry-temperature setting in response to the moisture sensor generating a moisture-indicating signal indicative of the hair being at or below the predetermined moisture threshold level. The hair-heating device is active in the dry-temperature setting.

Claims

1. A hair styling apparatus comprising:

a hair-heating device for applying heat to hair, the hair-heating device being operable in a moisture-temperature setting and a dry-temperature setting less than moisture-temperature setting;

a moisture sensor adapted to detect a moisture-indicating parameter of the hair, and generate a moisture-indicating signal indicative of whether the hair is at or below a predetermined moisture threshold level; and

a control circuit in operative communication with the hair-heating device and the moisture sensor, the control circuit being configured to adjust the temperature of the hair-heating device from the moisture-temperature setting to the dry-temperature setting in response to the moisture sensor generating a moisture-indicating signal indicative of the hair being at or below the predetermined moisture threshold level, wherein the hair-heating device is active in the dry-temperature setting.

2. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 210°

C., and wherein the moisture-temperature setting is greater than 210°

C.

3. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 200°

C., and wherein the moisture-temperature setting is greater than 200°

C.

4. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 195°

C., and wherein the moisture-temperature setting is greater than 195°

C.

5. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 190°

C., and wherein the moisture-temperature setting is greater than 190°

C.

6. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

first and second arms secured to one another for selective movement toward one another to configure the hair styling apparatus between an open position and a closed position, wherein the hair-heating device is disposed on at least one of the first and second arms, and wherein the moisture sensor includes an electrode assembly disposed on at least one of the first and second arms.

7. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein the control circuit is configured to set the hair-heating device to the moisture-temperature setting when the hair-styling apparatus is in the open position.

8. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 7 further comprising an open/closed switch for detecting when the hair styling apparatus is in the open position, wherein when the hair-heating device is set to the dry-temperature setting, the control circuit is configured to set the hair-heating device to the moisture-temperature setting in response to the hair styling apparatus being in the open position.

9. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein the control circuit is further configured to adjust the hair-heating device from the moisture-temperature setting to the dry-temperature setting only if the hair styling apparatus is in the closed position.

10. The hair styling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the hair styling apparatus comprises a control to facilitate selective enabling and disabling of the control circuit adjusting the temperature of the hair-heating device from the moisture-temperature setting to the dry-temperature setting.

11. A method of styling hair using a hair styling apparatus comprising:

heating a hair-heating device of the hair styling apparatus to a moisture-temperature setting;

applying heat to the hair using the hair-heating device;

determining, using a moisture sensor and a control circuit of the hair styling apparatus, that the hair is at or below a predetermined moisture threshold level; and

decreasing the temperature of hair-heating device, using the control circuit, from the moisture-temperature setting to a dry-temperature setting in response to said determining that the hair is at or below the predetermined moisture threshold level, wherein the hair-heating device is active in the dry-temperature setting.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

opening said hair styling apparatus;

automatically adjusting the heating member to increase the temperature of the hair-heating surface from the dry-temperature to the moisture-temperature in response to said opening said hair styling apparatus.

13. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 210°

C.

14. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 200°

C.

15. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 195°

C.

16. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is less than or equal to about 190°

C.

17. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is from about 160°

C. to about 200°

C.

18. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is from about 165°

C. to about 195°

C.

19. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the temperature of the hair-heating surface in the dry-temperature setting is from about 170°

C. to about 190°

C.

20. A hair styling apparatus comprising:

first and second arms secured to one another for selective movement toward one another to configure the hair styling apparatus between an open position and a closed position;

a heating member assembly on the first arm, the heating member assembly including

a thermally conductive heating member having an imaginary axis and a hair-heating surface in generally opposing relationship with the second arm, the heating member defining a recess in the hair-heating surface extending generally axially along the heating member, and

a heating unit in thermal contact with the heating member, wherein the heating unit is adapted for selectively heating the heating member to a temperature sufficient to evaporate moisture in hair when the hair is disposed between the hair-heating surface and the second arm and when the hair styling apparatus is configured in the closed position;

a moisture sensor adapted to produce a moisture-indicating signal indicative of whether hair disposed between the hair-heating surface and the second arm is at or below a predetermined moisture threshold level, the moisture sensor including an electrode assembly disposed in the recess of the first arm, the electrode assembly including a pair of spaced apart electrodes extending axially along the heating member; and

a control circuit in electrical communication with the moisture sensor, the control circuit being configured to receive the moisture-indicating signal from the moisture sensor and determine whether the hair is at or below the predetermined moisture threshold level using the moisture-indicating signal.

21. The hair styling apparatus of claim 20 wherein the electrodes are disposed below the hair-heating surface of the heating member.

22. The hair styling apparatus of claim 21 wherein the electrode assembly further includes an electrical insulator in the recess disposed between the electrodes and the heating member to electrically insulate the electrodes from the heating member.

23. The hair styling apparatus of claim 22 wherein the electrical insulator is disposed below the hair-heating surface of the heating member.

24. The hair styling apparatus of claim 22 wherein the electrodes are embedded in the electrical insulator and have exposed hair-contacting peripheral portions for contacting hair when the hair is disposed between the hair-heating surface and the second arm.