Hair Roller

Abstract

A hair roller ( 300 ) comprising a pair of opposed end members ( 344, 354 ) defining there-between a longitudinally extending hair receiving portion, and a pair of opposed hair engagement members ( 342, 352 ), wherein the hair engagement members are movable relative to each other, and each hair engagement member comprises a plurality of hair engagement protrusions ( 356 ) for engagement with hair received at the hair receiving portion so as to act against movement of the hair relative to the hair receiving portion, —the hair engagement members are movable relative to the end members and are arranged such that, upon movement of the hair engagement members relative to each other, the extent of protrusion of the hair engagement protrusions into the hair receiving portion is adjustable.

1 . A hair roller comprising:
 a pair of opposed end members defining there-between a longitudinally extending hair receiving portion, and   a pair of opposed hair engagement members, wherein said hair engagement members are movable relative to each other, and each said hair engagement member comprises a plurality of hair engagement protrusions for engagement with hair received at said hair receiving portion so as to act against movement of said hair relative to said hair receiving portion;   
       characterised in that said hair engagement members are movable relative to the end members and are arranged such that, upon movement of said hair engagement members relative to each other, the extent of protrusion of said hair engagement protrusions into said hair receiving portion is adjustable. 
     
     
         2 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of end members is disposed intermediate said pair of hair engagement members, and wherein the separation between said pair of hair engagement members is adjustable relative to the separation between said pair of end members. 
     
     
         3 . A hair roller according to  claim 2 , wherein said engagement members are movable relative to each other along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said end members are movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         5 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said end members and said hair engagement members are movable along a common longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of end members is telescopically extendable and retractable. 
     
     
         7 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of said hair receiving portion is adjustable by effecting movement of said end members relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said end members define the radial extent of said hair receiving portion. 
     
     
         9 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposed surfaces of said end members are thermally conductive. 
     
     
         10 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said end members and said hair receiving portion are arranged so that hair is clamped between said pair of end members during use. 
     
     
         11 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said end members are interconnected by a hair curling body, said hair curling body defining the lower radial limit of said hair receiving portion. 
     
     
         12 . A hair roller according to  claim 11 , wherein said hair curling body is of tubular form. 
     
     
         13 . A hair roller according to  claim 11 , wherein said hair engagement protrusions are distributed on said hair engagement member and surrounding said hair curling body. 
     
     
         14 . A hair roller according to  claim 11 , wherein said hair engagement protrusions are circumferentially distributed on said hair engagement member about the longitudinal axis and surrounding said hair curling body. 
     
     
         15 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said hair engagement protrusions are longitudinally extending. 
     
     
         16 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein the hair engagement protrusions on one hair engagement member extend axially towards the opposite hair engagement member. 
     
     
         17 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of apertures is distributed on said end member, and said apertures are distributed at locations corresponding to the hair engagement protrusions of an adjacent hair engagement member so that the hair engagement protrusions are extendable and retractable relative to the end members through said apertures. 
     
     
         18 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said hair engagement members and the hair engagement protrusions thereon are integrally moulded from plastics. 
     
     
         19 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein said end members are movable relative to each other between a hair clamping position and a hair release position. 
     
     
         20 . A hair roller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable locking means for locking the end members in a clamping position and for releasing said end members to return to the hair releasing position. 
     
     
         21 . A hair roller according to  claim 20 , wherein said locking means comprises a ratchet mechanism for locking the movable end member in position. 
     
     
         22 . A hair roller according to  claim 21 , wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises an assembly of serrated teeth and a pivotable pawl member for engagement with the serrated teeth, the pawl member comprising a resilient engagement means for engagement with the serrated teeth under spring bias when in the locking position.