Curling Iron with Rotationally Adjustable Handle

Abstract

A curling iron has a heatable barrel defining a lengthwise axis of the curling iron, a handle assembly having a grip, and a rotation mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the barrel and part of the handle assembly. The rotation mechanism permits rotation of at least part of the handle assembly relative to the barrel about the lengthwise axis of the curling iron between two or more different rotational orientations.

1 . A curling iron comprising:
 a barrel handle with a free end, a connected end, and a grip therebetween;   a barrel having a distal end and a proximal end;   a clamp assembly having a clamp handle and a clamp arm connected to one another at a hinge structure pivotable about a hinge axis, the clamp arm movable by pivoting the clamp handle about the hinge axis between a closed position against the barrel and an open position spaced from the barrel; and   a rotation mechanism located between and coupled to the connected end of the barrel handle and the proximal end of the barrel, the hinge structure pivotally connected to the rotation mechanism whereby the hinge axis is generally orthogonal to a lengthwise axis of the curling iron,   wherein the rotation mechanism permits selective rotational adjustment about the lengthwise axis of the clamp handle relative to the barrel handle between at least two different rotational orientations.   
     
     
         2 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes a locking device moveable between a locked arrangement and an unlocked arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking device permits rotation of the clamp assembly relative to the barrel handle in the unlocked arrangement and inhibits rotation of the clamp assembly relative to the barrel handle in the locked arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking device is a collar rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. 
     
     
         5 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking device permits the barrel and clamp assembly to be detached as a unit from the barrel handle. 
     
     
         6 . A curling iron according to  claim 5 , wherein the unit can be reattached to the barrel handle in any one of the at least two different rotational orientations. 
     
     
         7 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking device includes a spring biased element. 
     
     
         8 . A curling iron according to  claim 7 , wherein the spring biased element include one or more balls carried on a first part of the rotation mechanism and biased toward a positioning surface on a second part of the rotation mechanism having a plurality of ball seats therein. 
     
     
         9 . A curling iron according to  claim 7 , wherein the spring biased element includes a ball biased in a direction generally along the lengthwise axis of the curing iron toward a positioning plate having ball seats therein, the ball seats positioned to define the at least two different rotational orientations, wherein the ball can seat in a selected one of the seats. 
     
     
         10 . A curling iron according to  claim 7 , wherein the spring biased element includes a plurality of balls biased radially outward relative to the lengthwise axis of the curling iron toward a positioning ring having ball seats therein, the ball seats positioned to define the at least two different rotational orientations, wherein the balls can seat in selected ones of the seats. 
     
     
         11 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrel and clamp assembly are detachable as a unit from the barrel handle and attachable thereto in any one of the at least two different rotational orientations. 
     
     
         12 . A curling iron according to  claim 11 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes prongs projecting from one of the barrel handle and the unit and receptacles in the other of the barrel handle and unit, the prongs and receptacles arranged in corresponding patterns permitting attachment of the unit to the barrel handle in any one of the at least two different rotational orientations. 
     
     
         13 . A curling iron according to  claim 12 , further comprising four of the prongs and four of the receptacles each arranged in corresponding square patterns. 
     
     
         14 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising a digital display on the barrel handle and wherein the at least two different rotational orientations includes a first orientation with the clamp handle overlying the digital display and a second orientation with the clamp handle not overlying the digital display. 
     
     
         15 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat control mechanism on the barrel handle and wherein the at least two different rotational orientations includes a first orientation with the clamp handle overlying the heat control mechanism, a second orientation with the clamp handle rotated in one direction about the lengthwise axis and not overlying the heat control mechanism, and a third orientation with the clamp handle rotated in a direction opposite the one direction and not overlying the heat control mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two different rotational orientations includes three optional orientations, and wherein the clamp assembly rotates as a unit between the three optional orientations about the lengthwise axis. 
     
     
         17 . A curling iron comprising:
 a heatable barrel defining a lengthwise axis of the curling iron;   a handle assembly having a grip; and   a rotation mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the barrel and part of the handle assembly,   wherein the rotation mechanism permits rotation of at least part of the handle assembly relative to the barrel about the lengthwise axis of the curling iron between two or more different rotational orientations.   
     
     
         18 . A curling iron according to  claim 17 , wherein the rotation mechanism permits the handle assembly to be detached from the barrel and reattached to the barrel in any one of the two or more different rotational orientations. 
     
     
         19 . A curling iron according to  claim 17 , further comprising a clamp arm pivotally coupled to the curling iron and movable between a closed position against the barrel and an open position angularly spaced from the barrel. 
     
     
         20 . A curling iron according to  claim 17 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises:
 a barrel handle with a free end, a connected end, and a grip therebetween; and   a clamp assembly having a clamp handle and a clamp arm connected to one another at a hinge structure pivotable about a hinge axis that is generally orthogonal to the lengthwise axis, the clamp arm movable by pivoting the clamp handle about the hinge axis between a closed position against the barrel and an open position spaced from the barrel,   wherein the clamp assembly is rotatable relative to the barrel and the barrel handle between the two or more different rotational orientations.