Hair straightening iron

Abstract

A hair straightening iron including and an air heating device in air flow with the blower. The hair straightening iron includes a hose functionally coupled to the blower. The hair straightening iron includes an iron in airflow communication with the air heating device. The iron includes a body consisting essentially of a material having a thermal conductivity of greater than about 0.1 kW / (m*K). The iron includes an interior channel within the body having an effective ratio of channel area to cross-sectional flow area greater than about 90. The interior channel includes a plurality of heat transfer vanes. The iron includes a straight edge extending along a length of the body and including an elongated nozzle extending along a majority of the length of the straight edge through which heated air exits the iron. The nozzle includes an array of holes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §120, to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 761,493 to David Muth Hadden filed on Feb. 6, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to hair styling devices, specifically to a forced-air hair-straightening iron.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Hair straightening is a hair styling technique used since 1980 which involves the flattening and straightening of hair in order to give it a smooth, streamlined, and ‘sleek’ appearance. It may be accomplished using a hair iron or hot comb, or chemical relaxers. In addition, some shampoos, conditioners, and hair gels may help to make hair temporarily straight. If done often, flat irons and chemicals may be damaging to hair. Excessive straightening often results in split ends. However, heat protectant sprays may decre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a hair straightening iron that addresses the problems and needs in the current market. It is designed to be highly effective and efficient. The iron includes a blower and an air heating device, which work together to heat the air. The iron has a unique design with a high thermal conductivity, an interior channel with a large ratio of area to cross-sectional flow area, and a straight edge with an elongated nozzle through which heated air exits. The iron also has a heat shield, a funnel, and a comb to help distribute the heat. The features and advantages of the invention include improved hair straightening, faster speed, and better heat distribution.

Problems solved by technology

If done often, flat irons and chemicals may be damaging to hair.

Excessive straightening often results in split ends.

However, heat protectant sprays may decrease the damage.

Hair irons and hot combs may only temporarily modify the shape / texture of hair.

This includes water in styling products such as gels applied after straightening, although careful use of such treatments can still produce usable results not much different from if the user had naturally straight hair before applying the product.

These result in reduced drying time and comfort during and after drying.

The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages, including but not limited to being too heavy, not being ergonomic, being unbalanced, being difficult to use, causing hand / wrist injury, being expensive, not allowing for combined function of drying and straightening in a single device, having too large a hose / handle diameter, being inefficient in heating, being difficult to hold if one has small hands, requiring too much material to build / manufacture, requiring too much waste during manufacturing, requiring two hands to straighten hair, being difficult to straighten hair with, taking too long to straighten hair, not drying at the same time straightening hair, requiring electrical contacts to heat the straightening iron, being dangerous, and being likely to burn skin on contact with the straightening iron.

Images