Hair styling apparatus

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus comprising a first hair clamping member which defines a first hair clamping surface and a second hair clamping member which defines a second hair clamping surface, wherein the first and second hair clamping surfaces are opposite facing and are to cooperate to apply heat and clamping pressure to style hair clamped there-between during use, wherein the apparatus comprises a third hair styling surface which is to curl hair by heat and by a curling tension applied by a user against the third hair styling surface during use.

1 . A hair styling apparatus comprising a first hair clamping member which defines a first hair clamping surface and a second hair clamping member which defines a second hair clamping surface, wherein the first and second hair clamping surfaces are opposite facing and are to cooperate to apply heat and clamping pressure to style hair clamped there-between during use, wherein the apparatus comprises a third hair styling surface which is to curl hair by heat and by a curling tension applied by a user against the third hair styling surface during use. 
     
     
         2 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second hair clamping surfaces are hair straightening surfaces or complementary hair curling surfaces, and a hair curling edge is integrally formed on a corner edge of at least one of the first or the second hair clamping surfaces to define the third hair styling surface, the corner edge being on a side through which hair enters or exits from the hair clamping surfaces which are clamped together during use; and wherein the corner edge is one that is most proximal to the other one of the first or the second hair clamping surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of indentations to receive hair is integrally formed on and distributed along the length of the hair curling edge, and the indentations are distributed to receive hair such that heat and curling tension can be imparted by the curling edge to hair entering or emerging from the first and the second hair clamping surfaces during use. 
     
     
         4 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each said indentation comprises a concave edge portion, and adjacent indentations are joined by a tooth portion which protrudes in a direction that is parallel to the hair clamping surface of the hair clamping member on which the tooth is formed. 
     
     
         5 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tooth portion is flush with its associated hair clamping surface. 
     
     
         6 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the projection of the tooth portion from the edge of its associated concave edge portion does not exceed the radius of curvature of the concave edge portion. 
     
     
         7 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the concave edge portion cuts through its associated hair clamping member. 
     
     
         8 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the concave edge portion intersects its associated hair clamping surface and its associated hair clamping member to form a hair curving portion, the hair curving portion defining a hair curving curvature which extends in a direction that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the associated hair clamping surface. 
     
     
         9 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the hair curling edge is serrated. 
     
     
         10 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second hair clamping surfaces are complementary hair curling surfaces defining a first hair curing curvature, and the hair curling edge defines a second hair curling curvature; and wherein the radius of curvature of the second curling curvature is substantially smaller than the radius of curvature of the first curling curvature. 
     
     
         11 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first clamping member is mounted on a first elongate arm and the second clamping member is mounted on a second elongate arm, wherein the first and second elongate arms extend along a longitudinal axis and are hinge joined at a hinge axis such that the first and second clamping members are moveable towards each other about the hinge axis between a closed position at which hair is clamped between the hair clamping surfaces and an open position at which hair is not clamped, and wherein the hair curling edge is or the hair curling edges are parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the hair curling edges are serrated and formed on both sides of a hair clamping surface and/or on both hair clamping members, and the serration on adjacent hair curling edges of the first and the second hair clamping members are aligned when the first and the second clamping members are in the closed position such that protrusions and indentations on the hair curling edges are respectively aligned in an overlapping manner. 
     
     
         13 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein serrated hair curling edges are formed on both the first and the second hair clamping members, and the hair curling edges are exposed when the first and the second clamping members are in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the hair curling edge is or the hair curling edges are extending in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis and the hair clamping surfaces are parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and the second clamping members is mounted on a base portion, and the hair curling edge overhangs its associated base portion. 
     
     
         16 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein electric heating elements are mounted inside the base portion, and the base portion is an integral part of the hair clamping member. 
     
     
         17 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the electric heating elements are mounted for contact heating the first clamping surface, the base portion is mounted on a plastic housing portion of the first elongate arm, and a thermal insulating layer is disposed intermediate the plastic housing portion and the first clamping member to insulate heat transfer from the first clamping surface to the first elongate arm.