Hair straightening iron

Abstract

A hair straightening iron including and an air heating device in air flow with the blower. The hair straightening iron includes a hose functionally coupled to the blower. The hair straightening iron includes an iron in airflow communication with the air heating device. The iron includes a body consisting essentially of a material having a thermal conductivity of greater than about 0.1 kW/(m*K). The iron includes an interior channel within the body having an effective ratio of channel area to cross-sectional flow area greater than about 90. The interior channel includes a plurality of heat transfer vanes. The iron includes a straight edge extending along a length of the body and including an elongated nozzle extending along a majority of the length of the straight edge through which heated air exits the iron. The nozzle includes an array of holes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair straightening iron, comprising:
 a) a blower;   b) an air heating device in air flow with the blower;   c) a hose functionally coupled to the blower; and   d) an iron in airflow communication with the air heating device and including:
 d1) a body consisting essentially of a material having a thermal conductivity of greater than about 0.1 kW/(m*K); 
 d2) an interior channel within the body having an effective ratio of channel area to cross-sectional flow area greater than about 90; and 
 d3) a straight edge extending along a length of the body and including an elongated nozzle extending along a majority of the length of the straight edge through which heated air exits the iron. 
   
     
     
         2 . The iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat shield of low thermal conductivity disposed about the iron but not covering the straight edge. 
     
     
         3 . The iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a funnel. 
     
     
         4 . The iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a comb extending from the straight edge. 
     
     
         5 . The iron of  claim 1 , wherein the iron is selectably removable from the hose. 
     
     
         6 . The iron of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes an array of holes. 
     
     
         7 . The iron of  claim 1 , wherein the interior channel is textured. 
     
     
         8 . The iron of  claim 1 , wherein the interior channel includes a plurality of heat transfer vanes. 
     
     
         9 . A hair straightening iron, comprising:
 a) a blower;   b) an air heating device in air flow with the blower;   c) a hose functionally coupled to the blower;   d) an iron in airflow communication with the air heating device and including:
 d1) a body consisting essentially of a material having a high thermal conductivity; 
 d2) an interior channel within the body having an effective ratio of channel area to cross-sectional flow area greater than about 90; and 
 d3) a straight edge extending along a length of the body and including an elongated nozzle extending along a majority of the length of the straight edge through which heated air exits the iron; and 
   e) a heat shield disposed about the iron but not covering the straight edge.   
     
     
         10 . The iron of  claim 9 , further comprising a funnel. 
     
     
         11 . The iron of  claim 10 , further comprising a comb extending from the straight edge. 
     
     
         12 . The iron of  claim 11 , wherein the iron is selectably removable from the hose. 
     
     
         13 . The iron of  claim 12 , wherein the nozzle includes an array of holes. 
     
     
         14 . The iron of  claim 13 , wherein the interior channel is textured. 
     
     
         15 . The iron of  claim 14 , wherein the interior channel includes a plurality of heat transfer vanes. 
     
     
         16 . A hair straightening iron, comprising:
 a) a blower;   b) an air heating device in air flow with the blower;   c) a hose functionally coupled to the blower; wherein the iron is selectably removable from the hose;   d) an iron in airflow communication with the air heating device and including:
 d1) a body consisting essentially of a material having a thermal conductivity of greater than about 0.1 kW/(m*K); 
 d2) an interior channel within the body having an effective ratio of channel area to cross-sectional flow area greater than about 90; wherein the interior channel is textured; wherein the interior channel includes a plurality of heat transfer vanes; and 
 d3) a straight edge extending along a length of the body and including an elongated nozzle extending along a majority of the length of the straight edge through which heated air exits the iron; wherein the nozzle includes an array of holes; 
   e) a heat shield disposed about the iron but not covering the straight edge;   f) a funnel; and   g) a comb extending from the straight edge.