US3515851A - Roller curler - Google Patents

Description

1111162, 1970 A. N. D'ELIA ET AL 3,515,851

ROLLER cunLEn Filed Sept. 22, 1966 United States Patent O1 hee 3,515,851 Patented June 2, 1970 U.s. C1. 219-222 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE ,This invention relates to a hair curler comprising an vouter electrically :non-conductive housing including a sleeve portion disposed at its lower end, an insert of refractory material disposed in the housing, a heating coil in the insert, connection means for connecting the heating coil to a source of power electrically operatively connected to the heating coil, a portion of the connection Imeans being disposed within the sleeve portion, and thermostatic control means disposed in the housing and electrically operatively connected to the heating coil for controlling the amount of electrical power passing to the heating coil.

A cosmetic appliance and more particularly to an electrically heated hair curler.

Various typesof roller curlers have been devised for luse in setting hair. Many of these devices employ configurations and/or prongs about which the hair is entrained.

It has been found, however, that when roller curlers are used for obtaining hair settings, especially for straight hair styling, application of heat is often desirable. One form of roller curler for hair previously employed was designed so that the hair curler could be heated by boiling in water, after which the heated curler was then used in setting the hair. This is a time consuming and unhandy procedure due to the fact that the heated curler is o-ften difficult, distasteful or painful to handle and therefore must be allowed to cool suiiciently to allow for the touching thereof by the user thus reducing the effective operating temperature of the curler. However, the optimum temperature for use in setting the hair is in the order of 145 to 160 F. which may be somewhat distasteful to the touch, but when entrained in the hair and `insulated thereby from the skin is unobtrusive. To this end, the y present invention has for its object the provision of a hair curler that may be electrically heated and is so arranged that for a predetermined period after the curler has been subjected to electric heating, the outer surface thereof is not heated so that the curler is completely comfortable for handling in use when setting the hair.

In carrying out the invention, the hair curler employs an insert of a refractory material such as ceramic, porcelain, or the like, which is disposed in an outer housing or covering with the insert being so arranged to receive an electric heating coil in the interior theerof whereby after the heating coil has been excited for a predetermined period of time, the heat from the heating coil does not pass the outer housing for a further predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the hair curler to be employed before the outer surface heats up and thus treats the hair entrained about the particular hair curler.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hair curler which may be safely and eiciently heated in a minimal period of time.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a roller curler for use in setting hair that may be electrically heated by simply plugging into a suitable device, and which is provided with a thermostatically controlled safety means for insuring against the possibility of overheating the roller curler.

vIt is a further object of the invention to provide a hair curler which may be safely and eiiiciently heated in a minimal period of time, which will retain the heat.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a roller curler for use in setting hair that may lbe electrically heated by simply plugging into a suitable device, and which is provided with a thermostatically controlled safety means for insuring against the possibility of overheating the roller curler, which will retain heat after disconnection.

Still further objects and features of the invention reside in the provision of a roller curler that is simple in construction, strong and durable, capable of being manufactured out of readily available materials, yet which may be utilized and employed in conventional hair setting procedures and which will better condition the hair for a particular styling by employing the providing optimum amounts and degree of heat for a predetermined amount of time.

These, together with the Various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by these roller curlers, preferred embodiments being shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, where- 1n:

FIG. l is an exploded vertical sectional view of a hair curler and energizing appliance utilized in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the roller curler looking in the direction of line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded vertical sectional view of a modied form of the invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the hair curler looking in the direction of line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, 'wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a preferred embodiment of the invention, which includes two main portions, an energizing appliance 12 and a roller curler, generally designated at 14. The roller curler 14 includes an outer housing 16 provided with cylindrical side walls 18, an upper end wall or top 20 integral with the side walls and a lower sleeve portion 22 which extends below a ceramic insert 24 securely disposed within the housing 16.

The insert 24 is of a refractory material, preferably formed of a ceramic or porcelain-like material, and is provided with a pair of bores 26 and 28 therethrough disposed centrally and well inwardly from the outer surface of the ceramic insert 24 and which communicate with each other by means of a groove 30. A Nichrome heating element 32 is disposed in the bores 26 and 28 and the groove 30 is of a substantially U-shape. Disposed between the ceramic insert 24 and the top 20 is an insulative disc 34 which is formed of ceramic material or other refractory type material or of a suitable heating insulative and electrically insulative material. The ends of the Nichrome heating coil 32 are connected through conductors 36 and 38 to a disc type thermostat 40 of conventional construction. A phenolic cap 44 holds the disc thermostat 40 and all of the other parts in place within the housing 18 and has a pair of pins 46 and 48 embedded therein during molding and electrically connected in any suitable way such as by conductors 49 and 51 to the disc thermostat 40. The pins are entirely contained within the sleeve portion 22 of the housing 16 and are adapted to be inserted in openings 50 and 52 in a raised receptacle 54 connected in any suitable manner through an electrical cord 56 and an outlet plug 58 to a suitable source of electric power. The receptacle is of such a size that the sleeve portion 22 snugly fits thereover, preventing the possibility of electric shock occurring to the user.

'In use, the hair curler 14 is disposed into engagement with the receptacle 54 for approximately 25 seconds` at which time the disc thermostat 40 will open the circuit. However, the heat supplied by the Nichrome heating element 32 will take a period of approximately 30 seconds to pass from the center of the ceramic insert 24 to the outer surface of the housing 16 so that for approximately one-half a minute, the hair curler 14 is convenient and comfortable to hold. After the hair curler has been inserted in the hair, it will give off an optimum amount and degree of heat for hair setting.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 110 generally designates this form of the invention which includes an exciting device generally indicated at 112 as well as a roller curler generally indicated at 114.

The roller curler 114 includes a housing 116 having cylindrical side walls 118, a top 120, and a lower sleeve portion 122. An insert 124 is disposed within the housing 116 and is hollow for reception of a casing of perforated metal 126 Within which Nichrome heating coil 132 and a thermostat 140 in series with the heating coil 132 is located.

In this form of the invention a single pin 146 recessed within the sleeve portion 122 and which the heating coil 132 is connected is provided for insertion into the opening 150 in the receptacle 152 provided on the exciting device 112, the pin 146 being recessed within the sleeve 122 so as to eliminate the possibility of shock. This form of the invention operates in substantially the same manner as the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that ceramic material utilized is of a nature as will hold the heat which is transmitted therethrough for a period of time as will be sui-licient to eiectuate the curling of the hair.

In use the preheated hair curler will be positioned on the head of the user and the hair will be wound around the curler after which a securement clip or band, not shown, Will be inserted to maintain the hair about the clip.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

We claim:

1. A hair curler comprising an outer electrically nonconductive hollow housing having a closed upper end including a sleeve portion disposed at its lower end, an

insert of refractory material disposed in and substantially lling said housing, a heating coil within'said insert, electrical connection means for connecting said heating coil to a source of power, said heating coil being substantially centrally disposed in said insert so that the refractory material thereof will delay heating of said housing for a predetermined period of time, a portion of said connection means being disposed within said `sleeve portion, and thermostatic electric control means disposed in said housing and electrically operatively connected in circuit between said heating coil and said connection means for controlling the amount of electrical power passing to said heating coil.

2. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said thermostatic control means compresses a disc thermostat disposed between said insert and said connection means, said connection means including a disc of electrically insulative material having a pair of contact pins embedded therein, said connection means being disposed immediately adjacent said thermostat with said pins being disposed within said sleeve portion.

3. A hair curler according to claim 2, including a plate of electrically and heat insulative material disposed between said insert and said housing and overlying said heating coil.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,193 6/1926 Schmitz 132-33 1,641,353 9/1927 Opper et al. 1,901,892 3/1933 Bjorkman et al. 132-33 1,941,439 12/1933 Lewis 132-33 1,995,618 3/1935 Lakenbach 219-222 X 2,060,102 11/1936 Moseley 132-34 1,779,905 10/1930 Dinger 132-36 1,927,001 9/1933 Lewis 219-222 2,394,973 2/1946 Bergen 132-37 X 2,811,629 10/1957 Danner 219-523 3,250,895 5/1966 McNair 219-222 3,257,541 4/ 1966 Jorgensen 219-222 FOREIGN PATENTS 98,026 2/ 1964 Denmark. 629,387 7/ 1927 France.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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