Hair curling system

Abstract

A hair curling system includes a base heating unit, a hair roller, and a hair cover. The base heating unit generates and transports steam (or another medium) to the hair roller for heating and moisturizing the roller. The steam medium carries a separate hair treatment composition for treating the hair. The steam medium and the hair treatment composition are transferred to hair wound on the hair roller and covered by the hair cover. The transfer takes place within a thermally quarantined zone between the hair roller and the hair cover. An optional temperature control system may be provided for independently heating or cooling the hair cover to a temperature that provides a desired temperature gradient between the hair roller and the hair cover. One or more of an optional ionizer, crystal or mineral unit or material may also be provided to further influence the hair treatment.

1 . A hair curling system, comprising:
 a base heating unit;   a hair roller;   a hair cover;   said base heating unit being constructed to generate and transport a steam medium to said hair roller for heating and moisturizing said roller;   said steam medium carrying a separate hair treatment composition for treating hair; and   said hair roller being configured to transfer said steam medium and said hair treatment composition to hair wound on said hair roller and covered by said hair cover, said transfer taking place within a thermally quarantined zone between said hair roller and said hair cover.   
   
   
       2 . The hair curling system of  claim 1  wherein said hair treatment composition comprises one or more of a vitamin, mineral, nutrient, anti-static composition or setting formula. 
   
   
       3 . The hair curling system of  claim 1  wherein said base heating unit comprises a water heater unit adapted to generate said steam medium, a steam-dispensing nipple above said water heater unit adapted to detachably receive said hair roller, and a steam flow pathway from said water to said steam-dispensing nipple. 
   
   
       4 . The hair curling system of  claim 3  further including a hair treatment composition bullet disposed in said steam flow pathway, said hair treatment composition bullet being adapted to dispense said hair treatment composition as a vapor into said steam flow path when heated by said steam medium from said water heater unit. 
   
   
       5 . The hair curling system of  claim 6  wherein said base heating unit comprises a holder for supporting said hair treatment composition bullet and a piercing member for piercing a top cover of said hair treatment composition bullet to release said vaporized hair treatment composition into said steam flow pathway. 
   
   
       6 . The hair curling system of  claim 5  wherein said hair roller comprises a central chamber adapted to receive said steam medium and said hair treatment composition from said base heating unit, one or more perforations adapted to vent said steam medium and said hair treatment composition outwardly from said central chamber, and a moisture absorbent member covering said perforations and adapted to receive and temporarily retain said steam medium and said hair treatment composition. 
   
   
       7 . The hair curling system of  claim 1  wherein said base heating unit further includes a hair cover temperature control system that is adapted to selectively heat or cool said hair cover to a temperature that is above or below ambient temperature to provide a desired transfer of said steam medium and said hair treatment composition from said hair roller to said hair, said transfer being influenced by a temperature gradient between said hair roller and said hair cover that affects the application of said hair treatment composition to said hair. 
   
   
       8 . The hair curler system of  claim 7  wherein said hair cover temperature control system comprises a hair cover-receiving chimney disposed on said based heating unit and a temperature control element on said chimney adapted to control a surface temperature of said chimney. 
   
   
       9 . The hair curler system of  claim 8  wherein said hair cover has a density that is selected to influence heating or cooling of said hair cover. 
   
   
       10 . The hair curler system of  claim 1  wherein said base heating unit further comprises one or more of an ionizer, crystal or mineral unit or material. 
   
   
       11 . A method of use for a hair curling system, comprising:
 a base heating unit;   a hair roller;   a hair cover;   said base heating unit being constructed to generate and transport a steam medium to said hair roller for heating and moisturizing said roller;   said steam medium carrying a separate hair treatment composition for treating hair; and   said hair roller being configured to transfer said steam medium and said hair treatment composition to hair wound on said hair roller and covered by said hair cover, said transfer taking place within a thermally quarantined zone between said hair roller and said hair cover;   said method of use comprising:   curling a person's hair using a heated roller that has been heated and steamed by said base heating unit and which delivers said steam medium and said hair treatment composition to said hair; and   said hair being treated by said hair treatment composition being deposited on said hair as said steam medium evaporates.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said hair treatment composition comprises one or more of a vitamin, mineral, nutrient, anti-static composition or setting formula. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said hair treatment composition is provided by a hair treatment composition bullet disposed in a steam flow pathway in said base heating unit. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said hair curling system further includes a hair cover temperature control system, and said method further includes selectively heating or cooling said hair cover independently of said hair roller using said hair cover temperature control system, said hair cover being selectively heated or cooled to a desired temperature that is above or below ambient temperature to provide a desired transfer of said steam medium and said hair treatment composition from said hair roller to said hair, said transfer being influenced by a temperature gradient between said hair roller and said hair cover that affects the application of said hair treatment composition to said hair. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said hair cover is heated to a temperature that is above ambient temperature. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said hair cover is cooled to a temperature that is below ambient temperature. 
   
   
       17 . A hair curler system, comprising:
 a base heating unit comprising:   a base;   a main body on said base;   a top body on said main body;   a water tank in said top body;   a water heater unit adapted to heat water in said water tank to generate steam;   a steam nozzle unit on said top body having a steam-dispensing nipple configured to detachably receive a hair curler;   a steam flow pathway configured to deliver said steam generated by said water heater to said steam-dispensing nipple;   a holder for supporting a hair treatment composition bullet in said steam flow pathway to release a vaporized hair treatment composition into said steam flow pathway;   a hair roller configured to attach to said steam-dispensing nipple and receive said steam and said hair treatment composition;   a hair cover;   said hair roller being configured to transfer said steam and said hair treatment composition to hair wound on said hair roller and covered by said hair cover, said transfer taking place within a thermally quarantined zone between said hair roller and said hair cover.   
   
   
       18 . The hair curling system of  claim 17  wherein there are at least two steam-dispensing nipples on said steam nozzle unit. 
   
   
       19 . The hair curling system of  claim 17  wherein a bottom side of said steam nozzle unit carries a piercing member for piercing a top cover of said hair treatment composition bullet, and wherein said steam-dispensing nipple is mounted on a top side of said steam nozzle unit. 
   
   
       20 . The hair curling system of  claim 19  wherein said steam nozzle unit is pivotably mounted to said body for pivoting between and open position and a closed position, and wherein said piercing member pierces said top cover of said hair treatment composition bullet when said steam nozzle unit is pivoted to a closed position. 
   
   
       21 . The hair curling system of  claim 17  wherein said hair roller comprises a central chamber adapted to receive said steam and said hair treatment composition from said steam-dispensing nipple, one or more perforations adapted to vent said steam and said hair treatment composition outwardly from said central chamber, and a moisture absorbent foam member covering said perforations and adapted to receive said steam and said hair treatment composition. 
   
   
       22 . The hair curling system of  claim 17  wherein said base heating unit further comprises a hair cover-receiving chimney disposed on said base, said chimney having a temperature control element adapted to control a temperature of said hair cover when mounted on said chimney, said hair cover temperature being controllable independently of a hair roller attached to said steam-dispensing nipple in order to heat or cool said hair cover to a temperature the provides a desired transfer of said steam and said hair treatment composition from said hair roller to said hair, said transfer being influenced by a temperature gradient between said hair roller and said hair cover that affects the application of said hair treatment composition to said hair. 
   
   
       23 . A hair curling system, comprising:
 a base heating unit;   a hair roller;   a temperature gradient control member configured to mount to said hair roller or to hair wound on said hair roller;   said base heating unit being constructed to generate and transport a heated medium to said hair roller for heating said roller;   said heated medium carrying a separate hair treatment composition for treating hair;   said hair roller being configured to transfer said heated medium and said hair treatment composition to said hair on said hair roller; and   said transfer of said heated medium and said hair treatment composition to said hair being influenced by a temperature gradient maintained between said hair roller and said temperature gradient control member that affects the application of said hair treatment composition to said hair.   
   
   
       24 . A hair curling system, comprising:
 a base heating unit;   a hair roller;   a hair cover;   a roller heating system in said base heating unit; and   one or more of:   a hair treatment composition delivery system adapted to deliver a hair treatment composition to said hair roller;   a hair cover heating and/or cooling system in said base heating unit that is independent of said roller heating system; and   an ionizer, crystal or mineral unit or material.