Hair treatment accessory

Abstract

A hair curling apparatus includes a handle, a barrel extending from the handle and a releasable hair clamp releasably mountable about the barrel. The hair clamp is selectively positionable between an operative condition mounted about the barrel and a non-operative condition released relative to the barrel.

1 . A hair curling apparatus, which comprises:
 a handle;   a barrel extending from the handle;   a releasable hair clamp selectively positionable between an operative condition mounted relative to the barrel and a non-operative condition released relative to the barrel, the hair clamp including a manually engageable tab segment and a clamp segment depending from the tab segment, the hair clamp being adapted to pivot when in the operative condition between an open position with the clamp segment displaced from the barrel and a closed position with the clamp segment adjacent the barrel to engage hair; and   a locking latch independent of the tab segment and the clamp segment of the hair clamp, the locking latch being selectively movable between an engaged position in secured relation with the handle corresponding to the operative condition of the hair clamp and a release position released from the handle to permit positioning of the hair clamp to the non-operative condition thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The hair curling apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the hair clamp includes a generally annular mount positionable over the barrel when in the operative condition of the releasable hair clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the handle includes a mounting bracket and the annular mount of the releasable hair clamp includes the locking latch, the locking latch being selectively movable between the engaged position in secured relation with the mounting bracket corresponding to the operative condition of the releasable hair clamp and the release position released from the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the locking latch has a locking detent, the locking detent dimensioned to selectively engage and release the mounting bracket when the locking latch is in respective engaged and release positions. 
     
     
         5 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the mounting bracket includes a contoured surface, the contoured surface at least partially accommodating the locking latch when the locking latch is engaged with the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the locking latch is radially offset relative to the tab segment of the hair clamp. 
     
     
         7 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the locking latch is disposed in general diametrical opposed relation relative to the tab segment of the hair clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the locking latch is normally biased to the engaged position. 
     
     
         9 . A hair curling apparatus, which comprises:
 a handle;   a mounting bracket associated with the handle;   a barrel extending from the handle;   a hair clamp releasably mountable to the barrel, the hair clamp including:
 a generally annular mount positionable about the barrel; and 
 a clamp element pivotally connected to the annular mount, the clamp element being adapted to pivot between an open position and a closed position; and 
   an external locking latch connected to the annular mount, the locking latch being selectively movable between an engaged position in secured relation with the mounting bracket to secure the hair clamp relative to the barrel and a release position released from the mounting bracket to permit release of the hair clamp relative to the barrel.   
     
     
         10 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the locking latch is normally biased to the engaged position. 
     
     
         11 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the clamp element includes a manually engageable tab segment and a hair clamp segment depending from the tab segment. 
     
     
         12 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the locking latch is positioned in general diametrical opposed relation relative to the tab segment of the clamp element. 
     
     
         13 . The hair curling apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the locking latch is radially offset relative to the tab segment of the clamp element.