Multi-zone heated hair appliance

Abstract

The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein allows for styling of hair utilizing multiple different heating temperature levels without the need for repeated cool down or heat up periods when a different temperature is desired for a particular use during a styling session. More particularly, a heated member of the appliance is provided in which different heated temperature zones are provided. The multiple temperature zones may be simultaneously heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a user desires a particular temperature for a particular styling technique the desired temperature is readily available by applying the hair to the desired temperature zone. In this manner multiple different styling temperatures are readily available without the need for waiting for the appliance to heat up or cool down.

1 . A hair styling appliance comprising:
 a heating surface;   a first hair styling zone of the heating surface, the first hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a first temperature; and   a second hair styling zone of the heating surface, the second hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a second temperature, the first and second temperatures being different,  1  wherein the hair styling appliance is configured so that simultaneously the first hair styling zone may be heated to the first temperature and the second hair styling zone may be heated to the second temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a third hair styling zone of the heating surface, the third hair capable of being heated to at least a third temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first hair styling zone of the heating surface and the second hair styling zone of the heating surface are each capable of being heated to a plurality of user selectable temperatures. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of temperatures are pre-set temperatures. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of temperatures are variable temperatures. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising separate temperature control switches for each of the first hair styling zone of the heating surface and the second hair styling zone of the heating surface. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a hair styling appliance comprising:
 providing an elongated heating surface;   providing a first hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface;   providing a second hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface;   simultaneously providing different temperatures at the first hair styling zone and the second hair styling zone so that different hair styling temperatures may be available on the hair styling appliance without the need for heating or cooling period of time between application of the different hair styling temperatures.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the hair styling appliance being a curling iron. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , the hair styling appliance being a hair straightener. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first hair styling zone and the second hair styling zone may be user selectably set to a plurality of temperatures. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of temperatures are at least a pre-set high temperature and a pre-set low temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of temperatures are variable temperatures. 
     
     
         13 . An electric curling iron hair styling appliance configured for styling hair, comprising:
 an elongated barrel heating surface;   a first heating zone, the first heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels;   a second heating zone, the second heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels;   a third heating zone, the third heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; and   one or more switches located on the electric curling iron hair styling appliance, the one or more switches providing independent temperature selection for each of the first, second, and third heating zones.   
     
     
         14 . The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the multiple temperature levels of each of the first, second and third heating zones are each pre-set temperature levels. 
     
     
         15 . The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of  claim 14 , the one or more switches providing a high temperature, medium temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and third heating zones. 
     
     
         16 . The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of  claim 13 , the one or more switches providing variable temperature control between a high temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and third heating zones. 
     
     
         17 . The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of  claim 13 , each of the first, second and third heating zones being cylindrical heating zones. 
     
     
         18 . The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of  claim 17 , the one or more switches providing at least a pre-set high temperature setting and a pre-set low temperature setting for each of the first, second and third heating zones. 
     
     
         19 . The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of  claim 17 , the one or more switches providing variable temperature control between a high temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and third heating zones.