Expandable Roller

Abstract

A hair roller includes a longitudinally extending hair curling portion defined between a pair of opposed end members. The hair curling portion is expandable and retractable in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hair curling portion, in response to relative movement of the end members with respect to each other.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A hair roller comprising a longitudinally extending hair curling portion defined between a pair of opposed end clamping members wherein, upon relative rotary movement of said end clamping members with respect to each other, said hair curling portion is expandable and retractable in a radial direction and the axial separation between said end clamping members is variable. 
     
     
         23 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein the effective length of said hair curling portion is variable upon relative rotation of said end clamping members. 
     
     
         24 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein axially extending hair engaging protrusions are formed on said end clamping members. 
     
     
         25 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein said hair curling portion assumes a longitudinally convexly curved hair curling region located intermediate the end clamping members responsive to said relative rotary movement of the end clamping members. 
     
     
         26 . A hair roller according to  claim 25 , wherein said convexly curved region extends circumferentially around said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         27 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein said end clamping members are interconnected by a rigid tube, and wherein at least one of said end clamping members is moveable relative to said rigid tube such that the longitudinal separation between the end clamping members is variable upon relative rotary movement between said at least one of said end damping members and said rigid tube. 
     
     
         28 . A hair roller according to  claim 27 , wherein said rigid tube is formed from a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         29 . A hair roller according to  claim 27 , wherein said at least one of said end clamping members is mounted on said rigid tube by threaded engagement. 
     
     
         30 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein said hair curling portion defines a hair curling surface, and wherein said hair curling surface is reconfigurable between a cylindrical surface having a substantially uniform cross-section along its length and a bulged surface having an arcuate longitudinal profile. 
     
     
         31 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein said hair curling portion comprises a flexible or resiliently deformable cage, said cage comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending flexible or resiliently deformable elongate members which collectively define a hair curling surface. 
     
     
         32 . A hair roller according to  claim 31 , wherein said flexible or resiliently deformable cage overlays said rigid tube and is moveable relative to said rigid tube. 
     
     
         33 . A hair roller according to  claim 31 , wherein said deformable cage bulges at or about the middle of its length when subjected to an axial compressive force acting at the axial ends of said cage. 
     
     
         34 . A hair roller according to any of  claim 31 , wherein said deformable cage is integrally formed from a resilient metallic sheet, foil or cylinder. 
     
     
         35 . A hair roller according to any of  claim 31 , wherein the resiliently deformable cage is formed of steel, aluminium or like resilient materials. 
     
     
         36 . A hair roller according to any of  claim 31 , wherein said deformable cage comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending strips defining a plurality of longitudinally extending channels located there-between, and wherein the totality of said longitudinally extending strips forms a convexly curved bulging surface surrounding said rigid tube when subjected to an axial compressive force applied at the axial ends of said cage. 
     
     
         37 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein each end clamping member comprises a circular cap member and wherein at least one of said circular cap members is rotatable relative to said hair curling portion and about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         38 . A hair roller according to  claim 22 , wherein protrusions are distributed along the length of said hair curling portion for hair retention by friction.