Hair curling device

• US 6,990,986 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rudolfo Valentini
• Original Assignee: Rudolfo Valentini
• Inventors: Valentini, Rudolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comstock, David
• Application Number:
  US10/258,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 132/207, 132/210, 132/222, 132/226, 132/243, 132/245, 132/246, 132/247, 132/248, 132/250, 132/254, 132/267, 132/55, 2 2/1, 216/3, D28/10
• US Class Current: 132/245
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2/00 Hair-curling or hair-waving appliances heated curling-tongs, curling-irons A45D1/00 ; Appliances for hair dressing treatment not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2/20 Elastic curlers

Abstract

A hair curler suitable for retaining curls of hair and allowing the administration of hair treatment products to the hair curls while in their retained position, comprising a permeable elastic tube (10) open at one end (10b), the open end and a circumferential region (14) of the tube intermediate the ends being either of a smaller diameter or higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube. The hairdresser draws the tube (10) over his or her forefinger and winds the hair around the portion of the tube (10) between the end (10a) and the waist (14). Once fully wound, the open end (10b) is drawn “inside out” to secure the curl in place, without the need for the hairdresser to apply any manual gripping action. The permeability of the tube allows the administration of hair treatment products while the curl is in the secured position and, when treatment has finished, the tube is easily removed by drawing the rim (16) of the open end (10b) back over the treated hair curl.

Claims

1. A hair curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, and wherein the end of said tube opposite said first end is closed and is less permeable to fluid than the remainder of the curler, and

wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.

2. A hair curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, wherein said tube is of an elastic fabric formed by weaving or knitting elastic yarn and wherein the end of said tube opposite said first end is closed and is less permeable to fluid than the remainder of the curler, and wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.

3. A hair curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, and wherein said tube comprises an elastomeric film or wall rendered fluid permeable in selected regions by holes formed through such film or wall and the end of said tube opposite said first end is closed and is less permeable to fluid than the remainder of the curler, and wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.

4. A curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, wherein said tube comprises an elastomeric film or wall rendered fluid permeable in selected regions by holes formed through such film or wall, and wherein the end of said tube opposite said first end is closed and has a gripping tab extending therefrom, and wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.

5. A curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, wherein said tube is of an elastic fabric formed by weaving or knitting elastic yarn, and wherein the end of said tube opposite said first end is relatively stiff and is formed with a notch or indentation to receive a strand of hair extending from the curler in use, and wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.

6. A curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, wherein said tube comprises an elastomeric film or wall rendered fluid permeable in selected regions by holes formed through such film or wall, and wherein the end of said tube opposite said first end is relatively stiff and is formed with a notch or indentation to receive a strand of hair extending from the curler in use, and wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.

7. A curler comprising a permeable elastic tube which is open at a first end thereof and wherein said first end and a circumferential region of the tube intermediate the ends of said tube are either of smaller diameter than the major part of the tube in an unstressed condition of the latter, or have a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of said tube, or both, and said circumferential region has an outwardly projecting annular band, and wherein the major part of the tube is located on both sides of the intermediate circumferential region having either a smaller diameter than the major part of the tube or a higher modulus of elasticity than the major part of the tube.