Heating appartus for heat retaining hair clips

Abstract

Apparatus for heating hair clips having a heatable member comprises a base, a heating structure, and means for providing electricity to the heating structure. The heating structure can comprise an elongated electrical heater having opposed sides, a plurality of thermally conductive heating elements in pairs on each side of the electrical heater, and a thermal insulator between the heating elements separating the heating elements from each other.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for heating hair clips having a heatable member, the apparatus comprising:
 a. two or more heating structures wherein the heating structures are substantially parallel, the heating structures comprising:
 i. an elongated heater having opposed side surfaces; and 
 ii. a plurality of thermally conductive heat conductors in thermally conductive relationship with the heater for heating the heatable members of multiple hair clips, the heat conductors being in pairs with one on each of the opposed side surfaces, the heat conductors having double convex surfaces and being spaced apart from each other, the heat conductors being formed of a thermally conductive material and separated from each other by a thermal insulator made of a thermally insulating material; 
 iii. wherein the heating structure comprises at least one heat balancer positioned proximate to the heater for distributing heat from the heater to the heat conductors; 
   b. an electrical connector for providing electricity for powering the heater; and   c. a temperature controller for use in controlling the temperature of the heater.   
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for heating hair clips having a heatable member, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a heating structure comprising:
 i. a heater having opposed side surfaces; and 
 ii. a plurality of thermally conductive heat conductors in thermally conductive relationship with the heater for heating the heatable members of multiple hair clips, the heat conductors being in pairs with one on each of the opposed side surfaces, the heat conductors having double convex surfaces and being spaced apart from each other, the heat conductors being formed of a thermally conductive material and separated from each other by a thermal insulator made of a thermally insulating material; and 
   b. an electrical connector for providing electricity for powering the heater.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein there are at least two heating structures. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the heating structures are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , comprising a temperature controller for use in controlling the temperature of the heater. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the heating structure comprises at least one heat balancer positioned proximate to the heater for distributing heat from the heater to the heat conductors. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the heating structure comprises a bracket with openings for holding the heat conductors in place. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising hair clips having a heatable member. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus for heating hair clips having a heatable member, the apparatus comprising a heating structure comprising:
 a. an elongated heater having opposed side surfaces; and   b. a plurality of thermally conductive heat conductors in thermally conductive relationship with the heater for heating the heatable members of multiple hair clips, the heat conductors being in pairs with one on each of the opposed side surfaces, the heat conductors having double convex surfaces and being spaced apart from each other, the heat conductors being formed of a thermally conductive material and separated from each other by a thermal insulator made of a thermally insulating material.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein there are at least two heating structures. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the heating structures are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , comprising a temperature controller for use in controlling the temperature of the heater. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the heating structure comprises at least one heat balancer positioned proximate to the heater for distributing heat from the heater to the heat conductors. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the heating structure comprises a bracket with openings for holding the heat conductors in place. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising hair clips having a heatable member. 
     
     
         33 . A method of styling hair using the apparatus of claim  1 ,  19  or  26  comprising the steps of:
 a. electrically heating the heat conductors; 
 b. before or after or during step (a), positioning hair clips having a heatable member on the heat conductors and allowing the heatable member on the hair clip to heat; 
 c. placing at least some of the heated hair clips on the hair; and 
 d. removing the placed hair clips from the hair after they cool, thereby styling hair.