Hair styling appiance with heated plates and hot air fan

Abstract

A hair appliance ( 10 ) has a combination of heating plates ( 14, 15 ) and a fan ( 19 ) source of heated, forced air to selectively apply either or both to a user's hair.

1 . A hair appliance comprising
 a first handle portion;   a second handle portion;   a hinge pivotally joining said first handle portion to said handle portion at a respective proximal end of each;   a first heat plate located on a distal end of said first handle portion;   a first heat element associated with said first heat plate for heating said first heat plate;   a second heat plate located on a distal end of said second handle portion;   a second heat element associated with said second heat plate for heating said second heat plate;   a first interior passage within said first handle portion;   a fan mounted in said first interior passage for moving air within said first interior passage;   a fan heater mounted near said fan for heating air that is moved by said fan;   an electrical energy input channel for delivering electricity to operate said first heat element, said second heat element, said fan, and said fan heater;   a plurality of air outlet openings in communication with said first interior passage for said air to exit after it is heated and moved by said fan; and   at least one air inlet opening in communication with said first interior passage for enabling external air to be delivered to said first interior passage.   
   
   
       2 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second interior passage within said second handle portion; and   a plurality of vent openings on said second handle and in communication with said second interior passage to allow air to flow therethrough.   
   
   
       3 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 an internal switch system mounted within at least one of said first handle portion or said second handle portion that is activated when said first handle portion and said second handle portion are in an at least partially closed condition and that is de-activated when said first hand portion and said second handle portion are in an opened position, wherein activation of said internal switch causes said fan to operate and de-activation of said internal switch causes said fan to cease operation.   
   
   
       4 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a display mounted on one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion for visually indicating an operating condition of said appliance.   
   
   
       5 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a metal plate having a non-smooth surface portion mounted to one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion.   
   
   
       6 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a raised ridge between a proximal end and a distal end of one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion.   
   
   
       7 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a heat setting control for selectively adjusting temperature of said heat plates.