Ceramic hair care heating element

Abstract

There is provided a heating element for a hair styling device, including an electrically insulating inner ceramic layer, an electrically conductive resistive heating layer disposed on and in contact with the inner layer, and an electrically insulating outer ceramic layer disposed on and in contact with the resistive heating layer. There is also provided a method for manufacturing the heating element. There is further provided a hair setting device for curling hair including the heating element a cylindrical barrel surrounding the heating element.

1 . A heating element for a hair styling device, comprising: 
 an electrically insulating inner ceramic layer;    an electrically conductive resistive heating layer disposed on and in contact with said inner layer; and    an electrically insulating outer ceramic layer disposed on and in contact with said resistive heating layer.    
   
   
       2 . The heating element of  claim 1 , further comprising lead wires electrically connected to said resistive heating layer.  
   
   
       3 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein said inner core is bonded to said outer core by a high temperature, thermally insulating adhesive material.  
   
   
       4 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein said inner ceramic layer and said outer ceramic layer are made from aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) ceramics.  
   
   
       5 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein said heating element is a cylindrical tube having an axis.  
   
   
       6 . The heating element of  claim 5 , wherein a combination of a thickness of said outer ceramic layer, a thickness of said resistive heating layer, and a thickness of said inner ceramic layer is between about 1.0 mm and about 8.0 mm.  
   
   
       7 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein said heating element emits far infrared radiation when heated to a selected temperature.  
   
   
       8 . The heating element of  claim 5 , wherein said outer ceramic layer has a length along said axis that is longer than a length along said axis of said resistive heating layer and said inner ceramic layer.  
   
   
       9 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein said resistive heating layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 mm and about 0.3 mm.  
   
   
       10 . A hair setting device for curling hair, comprising: 
 a cylindrical heating element having an electrically insulating inner ceramic layer, an electrically conductive resistive heating layer disposed on and in contact with said inner layer, and an electrically insulating outer ceramic layer disposed on and in contact with said resistive heating layer; and    a cylindrical barrel surrounding said heating element.    
   
   
       11 . The hair setting device of  claim 10 , wherein said cylindrical heating element is tightly fit into said barrel so that said outer ceramic layer is in contact with an interior surface of said barrel.  
   
   
       12 . The hair setting device of  claim 10 , wherein said barrel is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: a heat conductive metal and a high temperature plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The hair setting device of  claim 10 , further comprising a thermal sensor in thermal contact with said heating element and connected to a control device.  
   
   
       14 . The hair setting device of  claim 13 , wherein said thermal sensor is positioned between said barrel and said heating element.  
   
   
       15 . The hair setting device of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a handle attached to an end of said barrel;    a partially cylindrically shaped clamp having a cylindrical portion and a thumb press, wherein said clamp is attached to said barrel via a hinge and a spring mount.    
   
   
       16 . The hair setting device of  claim 10 , wherein said cylindrical heating element is a plurality of cylindrical heating elements electrically connected to a control device.  
   
   
       17 . A method for manufacturing a heating element for a hair setting device, comprising the steps of: 
 depositing an electrically conductive heating film on at least a portion of a surface of an inner cylindrical ceramic base to form a resistive heating layer;    connecting said heating film to electrically conductive wire leads; and    disposing an outer cylindrical ceramic layer on said resistive heating layer.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adhering said film to said surface by sintering.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of depositing is accomplished by spraying a slurry of conductive material to said surface.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 bonding said inner cylindrical ceramic layer to said outer cylindrical ceramic layer by applying high temperature thermally insulating adhesive material to said inner ceramic layer and to said outer ceramic layer.