Hair styling apparatus with retractable styling heads

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes a handle, a styling head and a heater. The handle has a pair of pivotally joined arms, and the head includes a pair of styling members which cooperate to form styling surfaces of the styling head. Each styling member is extendable from and retractable into the handle.

1 . A hair styling apparatus comprising a handle, a styling head and heating means, wherein the handle comprises a pair of pivotally joined arms, and the head comprises a pair of styling members which cooperate to form styling surfaces of said styling head, and wherein each styling member is extendable from and retractable into the handle. 
     
     
         2 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each styling member is telescopically extendable from and telescopically retractable into a corresponding one of said pair of pivotally joined arms. 
     
     
         3 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said pair of pivotally joined arms comprises a hollow receptacle, and each one of said styling members is slidable in and out of said hollow receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each one of said styling members is elongate, each said hollow receptacle is elongate, and each said styling member is movable relative to said hollow receptacle along an axis which is orthogonal to the pivotal axis of said pair of pivotally joined arms. 
     
     
         5 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said pair of styling members is individually movable such that one of said styling members is slidably movable relative to another one of said styling members. 
     
     
         6 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of pivotally joined arms are movable between an opened configuration when said pair of styling members are not in contact, and a closed configuration when said pair of styling members are in compressive contact, and wherein, when said pair of pivotally joined arms are at said closed configuration, said pair of styling members are mutually engaged such that retraction or extension of one of said styling member will respectively bring about retraction or extension of the other one of said styling member. 
     
     
         7 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said styling member comprises a built-in electric heating means for heating hair engaged by said pair of styling members. 
     
     
         8 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said styling member comprises a thermally conductive hair styling surface, each said thermally conductive hair styling surface is mounted on an insulated housing, and the thermally conductive hair styling surfaces of said pair of styling members are oppositely facing. 
     
     
         9 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein each said thermally conductive hair styling surface is surrounded by said insulated housing. 
     
     
         10 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the pair of hair styling members are movable between a closed position for engaging hair and an opened position for releasing hair, and the thermally conductive hair styling surfaces of said pair of hair styling members are sandwiched between a pair of insulated housings in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein an electric heating means is mounted within a compartment defined between said thermally conductive housing and said insulated housing of said styling member. 
     
     
         12 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a said styling member is connected to a said arm through a rail-and-track arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein electric power is supplied to said heating means via a pair of rails, said pair of rails extending axially along said arms, being insulated for a substantial portion, and exposed at the distal end such that electrical contacts are made between the heating means and said rails when said styling members are extended to a predetermined length. 
     
     
         14 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a slide button is formed at one proximal end of said styling head, and wherein said proximal end is adjacent a pivotal hinge joining said pair of arms, and said slide button protrudes laterally from said styling head. 
     
     
         15 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the slide buttons of said pair of hair styling members are operable by a single thumb when the handle is in the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the slide button extends laterally from both sides of the styling head. 
     
     
         17 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the styling members are retractable towards the pivotal joint of said handle. 
     
     
         18 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is adapted for single-handed operation. 
     
     
         19 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heated styling surfaces and/or the handle contain nano silver substances. 
     
     
         20 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a hollow plastic housing which defines a hollow receptacle. 
     
     
         21 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said styling member comprises an electric heating means, and power is supplied to said heating means only when said styling member has been extended for a predetermined length from said pivotal joint.